I recently received some important feedback from one of my readers. It was something along the lines of, “You talk a lot about miles and points, but what about Mai Tais?” The title of this blog is Miles, Points, and Mai Tais, right? Well, you asked for it, so here it is…everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the world’s best drink.
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Welcome to Maui
The legendary Mai Tai is more than just a drink, it’s a lifestyle. Sitting on a beach, watching the sunset, sipping Mai Tais- it’s what I hope to do more of once I reach Million Miler status and retire in a few years. So what’s so special about this orange-and-brown tropical cocktail that would make you aspire to such greatness? That is an excellent question.
So what exactly is a Mai Tai? To tackle that question, let’s first take a look at what it isn’t. Contrary to popular belief, the Mai Tai is not Hawaiian. It was actually invented in California in the 1940′s, either by Trader Vic or Don the Beachcomber, depending on whose story you believe. The second big misconception about the drink is what its made of. There is no juice in a Mai Tai, aside from a squeeze of fresh lime. I’ve often seen this excuse used to rationalize drinking before 9 in the morning, but nope, no juice. I’m not one to judge, and lord knows I’ve indulged in my share of early morning Mai Tais onboard United flights to Hawaii over the years, but a true Mai Tai consists of lots of alcohol, sugary syrup, and maybe some ice. It’s like liquid candy in a glass. Finally, there is also no pineapple in the Mai Tai (aside from a garnish). The traditional flavors are orange (orange curacao) and almond (orgeat syrup). Oh yeah, and rum. Rum is important. If you’ve been drinking Mai Tais made with pineapple, or any other juice for that matter, you’re missing out on the real deal.
So now that we’ve established what a Mai Tai isn’t, let take a look at what makes up a couple of good ones. Here are two of the most famous recipes:
The Original Trader Vic Mai Tai
- 2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice
- Add juice from one fresh lime
- 1/2 oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curaçao
- 1/4 oz Trader Vic’s Rock Candy Syrup
- 1/2 oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup
- Shake vigorously.
- Add a sprig of fresh mint
The story goes something like- Trader Vic’s friend wanted him to make him a really good drink, and the above is what he made with a bunch of random stuff he had sitting around the bar. The friend was very impressed and exclaimed “Maita’i”, which means really good in Tahitian. Made in California. Polynesian name. Nothing Hawaiian about it.
So we all have a very fine bottle of 17-year old rum sitting around our bar, right? I didn’t think so, or at least I don’t…which leads us to the more common adaptation of the drink, and the reason most people actually think the drink hails from the Aloha state
The Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai
- 1/2 oz Orange Curacao
- 2 oz Orange Juice
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Dash Orgeat
- Dash Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Light Rum
- 1 oz. Myers’s Dark Rum
The famous Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki widely popularized the drink, and if you order a Mai Tai in any bar today, what you’ll get is likely closer to their version than the original Trader Vic’s. Perhaps more than any other drink, the Mai Tai has fallen victim to “interpretation” which is probably why we’ve ended up with several other versions containing “tropical juices” (I cringe when I read this on a bar menu). I’m not going to go there. It’s just wrong. I mean, everyone is entitled to his/her own tastes, but still very, very wrong.
So where can you try one? Just about every casual beach bar in the world serves the Mai Tai. They are very popular in tropical destinations, and if you have no other reason to travel to somewhere warm with with a beach, searching for the perfect Mai Tai is a wonderful excuse. My personal favorite is found at the Lahaina Yacht Club on Maui. It’s a members-only kind of place, which I know that doesn’t really help my readers, but the LYC does have reciprocal privileges with other clubs, or you can try tracking me down when I’m in the islands. You’re next best bet (at least on Maui) is Kimo’s down the street. Their version is a little boozey, but still good, and it’s served in a giant glass that looks like a tiki, which is kind of fun. The main draw however is their location on the water, which truly can’t be beat. Watch a sunset here, and you’ll start to understand my obsession.
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LYC Mai Tai
If you’re looking to try one at home, most ingredients can be found in a local liquor store. Orgeat (the very sweet, French, almond-flavored syrup) can be a bit hard to find, so it’s perfectly acceptable to use a mix, however just to be clear, that pre-made Trader Vic’s stuff in the plastic bottle is not a Mai Tai, even if it says so on the label. Don’t be fooled by the name or the fact it already has alcohol in it! It’s often passed off as a Mai Tai, especially on board the airplane nowadays, but that’s another thing…for a Mai Tai to truly be a Mai Tai, it has to be two colors. The signature dark layer on the top, is what makes the drink. Float some Myers’s dark rum on it, add a squeeze of fresh lime, and now we’re talking…
Hulagrrl’s (Easy) Homemade Mai Tai
- Trader Vic’s (if your version doesn’t already include alcohol, add some) or Mr. and Mrs. T’s
- Myers’s dark rum (local Koloa rum found at ABC stores in Hawaii is also good)
- fresh lime
- Magic tiki dude (optional)
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Hulagrrl’s Famous Homemade Mai Tai
So there you have it…everything you’ve probably ever wanted to know about Mai Tais from someone who’s very passionate about them. Stay tuned, as next week I plan to unveil my other SECRET recipe…and the fun story behind it. Cheers!
Mai Tais are best enjoyed with friends, preferably in a tropical setting. Where were your favorite Mai Tai memories?