Mai Tai cocktail in a rocks glass — Lime juice

Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe

tropical nutty boozy

aged rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat, simple syrup

History

The Mai Tai was created in 1944 by Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron at his restaurant in Oakland, California. He mixed aged Jamaican rum with lime, orange curaçao, orgeat, and a touch of syrup for friends visiting from Tahiti. After one sip they exclaimed “Maita’i roa ae!”—“Out of this world, the best!”—and the name stuck. Don the Beachcomber later claimed an earlier version, but Trader Vic’s simpler, balanced recipe became the standard. The original tiki benchmark: nutty, citrusy, and still the gold standard of Polynesian-style cocktails.

Ingredients

aged rum 2 oz

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lime juice 0.75 oz

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orange curaçao 0.5 oz

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orgeat 0.5 oz

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simple syrup 0.25 oz (optional)

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Missing a bottle? Stock your pantry to see what else you can mix.

How to make

Shake all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a double rocks glass over crushed ice.
Garnish with mint sprig and spent lime shell.

Glassware

Rocks glass

Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.

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Mai Tai FAQ

What ingredients are in a Mai Tai?

A Mai Tai is made with aged rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat, and simple syrup. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a Mai Tai?

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a double rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with mint sprig and spent lime shell.

What glass do you serve a Mai Tai in?

Serve a Mai Tai in a Rocks glass. Short and sturdy for spirit-forward drinks served on ice — easy to hold, stir, and sip without watering down too fast.