The Mai Tai is a tropical alcoholic cocktail made with two types of rum, light and dark, orange curaçao, orgeat, and lime juice. Its invention is attributed to Trader Vic's restaurant in Oakland, California, in 1944, while the name recalls the Tahitian word maita'i, meaning "very good": it is likely, in fact, that the drink was born as a tribute to Polynesian culture.
Here, we're going to show you how to make it at home in a few simple steps: just collect all the ingredients in a shaker, shake it vigorously for a few moments to mix them perfectly, then pour them into a glass tumbler already filled with ice cubes.
All that remains is to garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint: the result is a fresh, bold and aromatic drink, ideal to serve to your guests as a home aperitif or to sip as an after-dinner drink at the end of a dinner with special guests.
Mai Tai's History
The Mai Tai is one of the most iconic tiki cocktails, with origins that trace back to 1940s California, not the South Pacific where its flavors might suggest. The drink is widely credited to Victor J. “Trader Vic” Bergeron, a restaurateur and pioneer of tiki culture, who created it in 1944 at his Oakland bar. According to the often-told story, he mixed a drink featuring aged Jamaican rum, lime, orgeat (almond syrup), and orange curaçao for friends visiting from Tahiti. After tasting it, one of them reportedly exclaimed, “Maita’i roa ae!” — meaning “out of this world” in Tahitian — which gave the cocktail its name.
Over time, the Mai Tai became a symbol of mid-century American fascination with Polynesian-inspired escapism, spreading through tiki bars and tropical-themed restaurants across the country. As it gained popularity, the original recipe was often altered, with versions becoming sweeter and more elaborate, sometimes including pineapple juice or grenadine — ingredients not present in the original. Today, there’s renewed appreciation for Trader Vic’s classic formula, which highlights the balance of rum, citrus, and almond rather than excess sweetness, restoring the Mai Tai to its original, more refined character.
What is The Best Rum to Use for a Mai Tai?
As for the type of rum to use, Trader Vic suggests a Jamaican amber and a Martinican one, but you can use any variety you have available, as long as it is of excellent quality.
Ingredients
How to Make Mai Tai Cocktail
Collect some ice cubes in the shaker jug, then add the squeezed lime juice.
Collect some ice cubes in the shaker jug, then add the squeezed lime juice.
Pour the dark rum, then continue with the light rum, the orange curaçao and the orgeat syrup.
Pour the dark rum, then continue with the light rum, the orange curaçao and the orgeat syrup.
Close the jug with the appropriate cap equipped with a filter and shake vigorously for about ten seconds.
Close the jug with the appropriate cap equipped with a filter and shake vigorously for about ten seconds.
Pour the drink into the glass already filled with ice cubes.
Pour the drink into the glass already filled with ice cubes.
Top with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint and enjoy your Mai Tai!
Top with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint and enjoy your Mai Tai!
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