The recipe for this Mai Tai riff was included in the 1st edition of Drinks of Hawaii in 1971. Author Paul B. Dick included this recipe, alongside a recipe for what was then the standard issue Mai Tai that included equal parts of Orgeat/Curacao/Rock Candy and both Light rum and Dark Jamaican rum. The illustration is by Harry Lyons.
The Ilikai Hotel was the first high-rise hotel in Waikiki and was at the peak of its cultural popularity in the early 1970s, being seen each week in the opening credits of Hawaii Five-O (the hotel was used the 2010 remake series credits, too). The cocktail is a pretty standard issue Island Mai Tai version, including two ounces of Pineapple Juice and a float of dark flavorful rum. Appleton Punch rum was the successor to the Wray & Nephew Dagger line and was issued at 43% ABV.
Ili Tai
¼ oz Lime Juice
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Sweet & Sour mix
¾ oz Orgeat
¾ oz Orange Curacao
Build over crushed ice, mix, and then float 1 oz Appleton Punch Jamaican Rum
