...
Go Back
–+ servings
mai tai recipe

Mai Tai Recipe

No ratings yet
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 Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Drinks, Happy Hour
Cuisine: Hawaiian, tiki
Calories: 180
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

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

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

Method
 

  1. Fill a chilled rocks glass with crushed ice
    prep your glass like a pro
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.
  1. Pour 2 oz light rum slowly into the glass to create a base layer
    layer your rums strategically
Use a bar spoon to control the flow. Never mix both rums at once—it ruins the layering.
  1. Add 1 oz fresh lime juice, ½ oz orange curaçao, and ¼ oz orgeat syrup
    add acidic components first
Fresh lime juice is key to cutting sweetness and balancing flavor—always squeeze right before using.
  1. Transfer everything into a Boston shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously for 18–20 seconds.
    master the professional shake
I count “Mississippi-style” to time it right. Double strain into the glass to remove pulp.
  1. Gently float 1 oz dark rum on top using layering technique.
    execute perfect presentation
Garnish with a mint sprig behind a fresh orange wheel and a maraschino cherry on a pick

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 11gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 40mgSugar: 8gVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.1mg

    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

    Tried this recipe?

    Let us know how it was!