Each year we celebrate the 10 best Mai Tais that we had the pleasure of tasting in the last 12 months. The list includes commercial restaurants and bars, plus Mai Tais we had at home tiki bars and events. For this list the rating is solely about what’s in the glass and does not factor in other elements such as ambiance, food, service, or decor.
Some of the Mai Tais involve rum substitutions from what the bar would normally serve. This presents the reader with more to consider when visiting these places, but highlights that making spirit substitutions is often what changes a good Mai Tai into a great one.
Summary of the Top 10 of 2024
I was completely blown away by the amazing Mai Tai at the Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko that used Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique as a rum substitution, with the grassy and smoky flavors balanced by the lime and sweeteners so well. This rum was ordered on January 6 and sat at the top of the list for most of the year, fighting off formidable competitors to keep the top slot.
Meanwhile, The Kon-Tiki in Oakland sat at number two since January with a great entry made with Hamilton Pot-Still Blonde, a lightly aged rum from Jamaica. As the year progressed, I had Mai Tai after Mai Tai at Kon-Tiki and could not quite beat the J.M. But in October I had an Appleton 12 Jamaica Rum Mai Tai that was so smooth and flavorful I designated it for the top slot.
But the best Mai Tai I had was the last one at Kon-Tiki on the night they closed. This was their world-class standard with a custom rum blend, offering a perfect balance of sweet and savory notes. The Kon-Tiki’s Mai Tai topped the list in 2019 and 2020 and does so again for the last time.
With Kon-Tiki closing, we need to amend our list of Top 10 Mai Tais in the World. Both Cane & Table and The Copper Room showed that great Mai Tais don’t have to be at tiki bars and are strong contenders to take the slot.
View the complete list with additional details
1. The Last Mai Tai at Kon-Tiki
2. The Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko with Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique
3. Ultimate Mai Tai at Tiki Tom’s
4. Trader Sam’s 1944 w/Smith & Cross by Maddie
5. The Copper Room
6. Cane & Table
7. Dr Funk ($8 MTM)
8. Strong Water Anaheim
9. The Beachcomber
10. Matiki