The Mai Tai Disputation

First of all I want to say, this is no real disputation. The discoussion about the birth of the Mai Tai is boring. Today, anybody knows that Trader Vic is the father of this drink and this article shouldn't be a comparison, which one is better. It' s just an overview, of drinks wearing the name Mai Tai. Sorry, no red Mai Tai's and other funny creations.


Trader Vic´s Mai Tai

First of all, this is the original Mai Tai from Victor Jules Bergeron. A simple concoction, but it´s a drink for any time. No idea what to drink, take this one!
Originally a 17 year old Jay Wray & Nephew has been used, but soon this rum was not longer available. So, Trader vic recommended to use half Martinique and half Jamaican rum. I prefer a pre-mix of St. James Royal Ambre, St. James Imperial Blanc, Appleton VX, Appleton 12 and Appleton 21.

1 oz Martinique rum
1 oz Jamaica rum
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz orange curacao
1/4 oz orgeat syrup
1/4 oz simple syrup
2 cups crushed ice

Shake the rums, lime juice, orane ciracao, simple syrup and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker and pour into the glass without straining. Garnish with the squeezed lime half, mint sprig, and fruit stick.

I prefer to use 1/3 oz Cointreau, 1/3 oz orgeat, 1/3 oz simple syrup and 1 oz lime juice.


Don The Beachcomber´s Mai Tai Swizzle

This one was invented in the thirties. Interesting, of course, but would it more successfull than Trader Vic´s? Mix it and compare.

1 1/2 oz Myers´s rum
1 oz Havana 3 y.o.
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 oz grapefruit juice
1/2 oz Falernum
2/3 oz Cointreau
2 dashes Angostura
1 dash Pernod
1 cup of cracked ice (size of a dime)

Shake for 1 minute on medium speed. serve in a double old-fashioned glass. garnish with four sprigs of mint. add a spear of pineapple. Sip slowly through mint sprigs until desired effect results.


Charles Schumann´s Mai Tai

Now a variation from German´s barkeeper icon in the eighties. Charles Schumann created this drink. It´s a very strong one and I would stay away from this Mai Tai, but it is very popular in Germany, possibly because you may expect the heaviest hangover at the shortest time.

2/3 oz overproof rum
2 oz dark rum
1 1/3 oz Rose´s lime juice
juice of one lime
dash orgeat
1/3 oz apricot brandy
1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Shake with crushed ice and pour in a double old-fashioned glass without straining. Garnish with a quarter lime and a mint sprig.


The Maui Mai Tai

This drink is served in any bar at Maui as a Mai Tai. No question, this concoction has nothin´ in common with the Mai Tai we know in the rest of the world. It´s a delicious cocktail, but they use fresh pineapple juice and as you know pineapple´s are cheap on the islands.

1 1/3 oz Jamaican silver rum
1/2 oz Jamaican dark rum
1 1/3 oz fresh pineapple juice
3 barspoons Cointreau
3 barspoons orgeat syrup

Put all ingredients beside the dark rum in a double old-fashioned glass, add ice cubes and stirr. Float with dark rum.


Surf Room Mai Tai

This is a nice and fruity one. Perfectly balanced between sweet and sour. Blend with crushed ice and serve in a Tiki mug.

1/2 oz Appleton VX
1/2 oz Demerara rum
1/2 oz Havana 3 y.o.
1/3 oz curacao
1/2 oz pinapple juice
1/2 oz orange juice
1/2 oz lime
1/3 oz lemon
1/3 oz orgeat
1/3 oz simple syrup

Mix all ingredients in an electric blender with one cup of crushed ice. Pour all without straining in a Tiki-mug. Garnish with with a sprig of mint and a slice of lime.