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Mai Tai – Dark and Light Rum Recipe

Mai Tai – Dark and Light Rum Recipe

By What’s Baking

A tropical symphony of rich dark rum and smooth light rum balanced with zesty citrus and almond notes, creating a vacation in a glass that's both complex and refreshingly quaffable.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
5 mins
Cook Time:
Serves:
1 cocktail
A frosted highball glass showcases a vibrant amber-orange Mai Tai with crushed ice gently mounded above the rim. Golden-hour lighting accentuates the drink's warm hues against a rattan mat background. A mint sprig and tropical orchid perch atop the ice, while a spent lime half floats nearby. Condensation beads the glass, suggesting refreshing coolness. A vintage tiki bar setup is softly blurred in the background with bamboo elements and torches creating a warm, tropical ambiance that complements the cocktail's island heritage.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml dark rum (preferably Jamaican)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml light rum (preferably Puerto Rican)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml orange curaçao (or triple sec)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml orgeat syrup (almond syrup)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml fresh lime juice</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">7.5ml simple syrup</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Mint sprig for garnish</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Lime wheel for garnish</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Crushed ice</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Cocktail shaker</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Hawthorne strainer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Fine mesh strainer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Lewis bag and mallet (or alternative for crushed ice)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Rocks or double old-fashioned glass</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Bar spoon</li></ul>
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Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Prepare your crushed ice by placing ice cubes in a Lewis bag (or wrapped in a clean kitchen towel) and crush with a mallet or rolling pin until you have a fine, snow-like texture. This creates the signature texture needed for a proper Mai Tai.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Add the light rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, and simple syrup to your cocktail shaker. Fill with cubed ice - not the crushed ice.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds until the shaker becomes frosty cold. This properly chills and slightly dilutes the cocktail while thoroughly integrating the orgeat, which can be thicker than other ingredients.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Fill your rocks glass about ¾ full with the crushed ice, creating a mounded surface above the rim if possible. This signature ice presentation helps with the proper dilution and keeps the drink cold longer.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Double-strain the mixture through both strainers (to catch ice chips and any pulp from the lime) into your prepared glass over the crushed ice.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Gently float the dark rum on top by pouring it slowly over the back of a bar spoon. This creates the beautiful layering effect that is signature to a proper Mai Tai. Don't stir after this step - the gradual mixing as you drink is part of the experience.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Garnish with a mint sprig (slap it between your palms first to release the aromatic oils) and a lime wheel. The mint should be placed prominently to provide aromatic notes with each sip.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>For an authentic presentation, you can add a spent lime half to the top of the drink, reminiscent of the original Trader Vic's presentation which symbolized a mountain rising from the sea.</li></ol>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 cookie
🔥 Calories: 245 calories
🥑 Fat: 12 g
🧈 Saturated Fat: 7 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: 32 g
🍭 Sugar: 18 g
🍗 Protein: 3 g
🫀 Cholesterol: 45 mg
🧂 Sodium: 180 mg

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

What's the difference between an authentic Mai Tai and resort versions?

Authentic Mai Tais focus on quality rums and balanced flavours without fruit juices beyond lime. Resort versions often add pineapple or orange juice, grenadine for colour, and use fewer premium ingredients. The original recipe showcases rum complexity with subtle almond and citrus notes rather than excessive sweetness.

Which rums work best for creating an exceptional tropical cocktail?

For a superior Mai Tai, use aged Jamaican rum (like Appleton Estate) for depth and funk, paired with a cleaner Puerto Rican style rum. Avoid spiced rums or cream-based varieties. The combination of funky dark rum with cleaner white rum creates the signature complexity that defines this classic tiki drink.

How important is orgeat syrup in rum-based tiki drinks?

Orgeat is essential for authentic tiki cocktails, providing distinctive almond flavour, subtle sweetness and a silky mouthfeel that cannot be replicated with simple alternatives. This almond syrup creates the characteristic nutty undertone that balances the citrus and rum, elevating the drink from ordinary to extraordinary.

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