Mai Tai Recipe
This mai tai recipe blends tropical flavors with professional bar technique for a perfectly balanced, refreshingly layered cocktail. Whether you’re hosting friends or just treating yourself, this island classic hits the sweet, citrusy, and complex notes every time.
Print Pin Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 180kcal
Cost: $4.50
Equipment
- 1 Boston shaker For proper ice dilution and cocktail mixing
- 1 Bar spoon To float dark rum for layered effect
- 1 Citrus reamer To extract fresh lime juice right before mixing
- 1 Fine mesh strainer Used for double straining to remove pulp
- 1 Rocks glass Chilled, used for serving
Ingredients
- 2 oz light rum I use Bacardi Silver , nothing fancy needed
- 1 oz dark rum Myers’s or Gosling’s work great
- 1 oz fresh lime juice freshly squeezed,never bottled
- ½ oz orange curaçao I like Pierre Ferrand or Cointreau
- ¼ oz orgeat syrup small-batch brands like Liber & Co. shine here
- Crushed ice use blender or ice crusher for best texture
- garnish (mint, orange wheel, cherry) optional but highly recommended
Instructions
- Fill a chilled rocks glass with crushed ice
I use my Vitamix on ice crush setting for 3 seconds. A room temperature glass kills the chill instantly, so I always keep mine in the freezer for 10 minutes before making drinks.
- Pour 2 oz light rum slowly into the glass to create a base layer
Use a bar spoon to control the flow. Never mix both rums at once—it ruins the layering.
- Add 1 oz fresh lime juice, ½ oz orange curaçao, and ¼ oz orgeat syrup
Fresh lime juice is key to cutting sweetness and balancing flavor—always squeeze right before using.
- Transfer everything into a Boston shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 18–20 seconds.
I count “Mississippi-style” to time it right. Double strain into the glass to remove pulp.
- Gently float 1 oz dark rum on top using layering technique.
Garnish with a mint sprig behind a fresh orange wheel and a maraschino cherry on a pick
Notes
This mai tai recipe is your island escape in a glass, featuring:
- Sweet and tangy flavors
- Perfectly layered rums
- Served ice-cold in a chilled glass
- Fresh, vibrant garnishes
Nutrition
Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 40mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg