I read a different recipe for this drink every freakin’ time I open a new bar bible. I honestly don’t believe I’ve ever read the same description twice although they all do seem to result in drinks that taste a lot alike. The Mai-Tai calls for orgeat syrup, an almond syrup that I’ve never been able to find…and I’ve looked, so I came up with my own substitution. Gosh, how I love a good Mai Tai. A while back, I picked up a big ceramic tiki-hut with a spout pour. I never looked back. I just fill the hut up with Mai Tai, invite a bunch of friends over and get settled in for an interesting evening. Like the Martini, the Mai Tai has the hidden ability to turn any partaker into a ramblin’, opinionated, life-of-the-party. One of those drinks you just have to sip, then sit back and watch life unfold in front of you.
Here we go – (multiply by a large number)
- 2 oz Dark Rum
- 1 oz Apricot Brandy
- 1 oz Curacao
- 1 oz Light Rum
- 3 oz Limejuice
- 3 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Almond Syrup (I find mine in the baking aisle of the supermarket. This is the orgeat syrup substitute…Please don’t kill me mai tai purists…I tried to find your syrup, I did)
Mix everything up in a tall glass, tiki mug or bucket, pour over ice. Garnish a Mai Tai with straw, a pineapple spear and a little paper umbrella. After three, tell your guests you’ll see ‘em all again the next day and sit back down for another.
