The Search for the Ultimate Mai Tai
Traveling the Bay Area and beyond to find the best Mai Tai in the world! Tiki, cocktails, and adventures by Kevin Crossman
This recipe came to me in a dream a couple nights ago, where it was a deep orange in color and in flavor.
Orange Blossom Dream
1 oz Lime Juice
½ oz Orgeat
1 oz Orange Liqueur (Clement Creole Shrubb)
1 oz Aged Jamaican (“Gold”) Rum (Appleton Signature)
1 oz Aged White Rum (Denizen 3)
4 Maraschino Cherries
Shake with Ice
Turns out that reality isn’t nearly as good as the dream was. This Mai Tai riff wasn’t a winner.
I think I’ve cracked it. I have noticed that Bali Hai does list Orgeat and Triple Sec alongside the rum and other “no juice” ingredients, so my second version without either must not be correct.
This is was based on a comment from @icecrushersd in a previous Instagram post and indeed seems to taste like the Bali Hai Mai Tai that I remember. Except that I didn’t find this too bad. Maybe I’m just so used to drinking straight rum that the tiny affordances of other ingredients is feeling like a luxury. Your actual mileage may vary.
The True Bali Hai Mai Tai
½ oz Sweet and Sour Mix – or ¼ oz Lemon Juice and ¼ oz Simple Syrup
¼ oz Orgeat
¼ oz Triple Sec
2½ oz Cruzan Light Rum
2½ oz Coruba Dark Jamaican Rum
Shake with ice
Yes, five ounces of rum.
I’m looking forward to comparing to the legendary Bali Hai original.