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Two mai tais on a marble countertop with a table linen on the side, as well as a small dish of cherries. Wooden board with lime wheels and wedges in the background.
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Mai Tai Recipe

This is the best Mai Tai recipe! Shake up 5 simple ingredients in a cocktail shaker and serve over ice. Balanced, boozy, and smooth.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 serving
Calories 246kcal
Author John Kanell

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker
  • Cocktail spoon
  • Strainer

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces white rum
  • ¾ ounce orange curaçao or Grand Marnier
  • ¾ ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
  • ½ ounce orgeat
  • ½ ounce dark rum
  • Garnish: lime wheel, cherry, mint sprig

Instructions

  • In a cocktail shaker half full of ice, combine the white rum, orange curaçao, lime juice and orgeat. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 to 20 seconds.
  • Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass three-quarters full of ice. Float the dark rum over top (see notes).
  • Garnish with a lime wheel, cherry and mint sprig, if desired.

Notes

  • To properly “float” the dark rum on top of the cocktail, hold the rounded side of a cocktail spoon facing up over the top of the cocktail. Slowly pour the dark rum over the rounded spoon. It should slowly pour over all sides of the spoon and stay on top of the cocktail.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg