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Drinks
Classic Mai Tai
The quintessential tiki cocktail created by Trader Vic in 1944. A balanced blend of aged Jamaican rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, and orgeat (almond syrup). Not the sugary pink version — the real deal is dark, nutty, and complex. The name comes from the Tahitian word 'maitai' meaning excellence.
Prep5 minutes
Cook0 minutes
Serves1 cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 oz aged Jamaican rum (Appleton Estate Reserve)
- 1 oz aged Martinique rhum agricole (Clément VSOP) or gold rum
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 1/2 oz orange curaçao (Pierre Ferrand preferred)
- 1/4 oz orgeat syrup (almond syrup)
- 1/4 oz rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water)
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish
- Spent lime shell for garnish
Instructions
- 1. Add all liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
- 2. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled.
- 3. Pour unstrained into a double old-fashioned glass.
- 4. Add more crushed ice to create a dome on top.
- 5. Garnish with a spent lime shell and a fresh mint sprig.
- 6. Serve immediately with a short straw.
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