This was one of my favorites on our previous trips to O’ahu, and sometimes I like to make it at home.
The recipe is notable in the use of different proportions of the 1944 Mai Tai recipe template, but also the use of a dark rum float most commonly seen in Island-style Mai Tais.
House without a Key Mai Tai, Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki
1¼ oz Lime Juice
⅓ oz Orgeat
⅓ oz Rock Candy Syrup
⅓ oz Orange Curacao (Cointreau)
¾ oz Bacardi Select/Black Rum
¾ oz Bacardi Gold Rum
Float ½ oz Lemon Hart 151 Rum
Comparing the two photos, it definitely looked better on the beach in Waikiki than it did in my kitchen. But it tasted just fine at home.
We are currently in Honolulu and I have to say that this Mai tai at Room Without a Key was the best! Of course, at $22 a drink I would expect nothing less. Is this the exact recipe from the bar? I look forward to making it when we return to Orange County! Surprised to see that there wasn’t any pineapple juice.
Yes, Jurga. The recipe is posted on their website:
https://www.halekulani.com/our-signature-mai-tai-recipe/
And example of the original 1950s style Hawaiian Mai Tai. See more here:
https://ultimatemaitai.com/about/history/deevolution-hawaiian-mai-tai/