Mai Tai is probably the most famous Tiki drink. According to the story, it was created by Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron.
He had two guests from Tahiti, and he was asked to prepare something special for them; after they tried it, they said, “Maitai — roa ae! i”, which means” out to this world – the best.”
A few years later, when the supplies of the 17-year-old J. Wray and Nephew Jamaican rum and the 15-year-old J. Wray and Nephew Jamaican rum ran out, Victor Bergeron started using a blend of Jamaican rum and aged Martinique rum to emulate the Wray and Nephew rum.
Mai Tai (1940-1950)
Ingredients
- 2 oz aged Jamaican rum
- ¾ oz lime juice
- ¾ oz orange curaçao
- 1 tsp. orgeat syrup – almond syrup
Instructions
Shake well with ice and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
Garnish with lime and mint sprig.
Notes
The rum used in the original recipes was 17-year-old J. Wray and Nephew Jamaican rum.
