Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Mai Tai

The tiki icon done right: aged and gold rum, orange liqueur, almondy orgeat and plenty of lime, over crushed ice. Rich, nutty and citrusy — no fruit-juice slush required.

Preparation~3 minEasyStrengthStrongabout 25% ABVMethodShaken10 guided stepsIngredients5Short (rocks) glass

Tropical

In the glassAged rum · Gold rum · Triple sec / Cointreau · Orgeat syrup · Fresh lime juice

See exact amounts

Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

Start making

What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear rocks glass with low straight sides and a heavy base. — Serving glassRocks glass

Set up before you pour

Use a rocks glass.

The low, sturdy bowl suits concentrated drinks and gives one large cube enough width.

Standard size: 300 ml10¼ oz
Ice & serve: Pack it generously with crushed ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a small water tumbler with a heavy base.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your short (rocks) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Aged rum30 ml
Gold rum30 ml
Triple sec / Cointreau15 ml
Orgeat syrup15 ml
Fresh lime juice30 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 30 ml aged rum into your shaker
- Aged rum
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 30 ml gold rum
- Gold rum
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml triple sec / cointreau
- Triple sec / Cointreau
04
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml orgeat syrup
- Orgeat syrup
05
Measure into the shaker
Add 30 ml fresh lime juice
- Fresh lime juice
06
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
07
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
08
Ice the glass
Fill your glass with fresh crushed ice
09
Strain cleanly
Strain into your glass
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
10
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a sprig of mint and a lime wheel
Why it mattersSlap the mint between your palms before planting it — that little hit releases the oils, and the smell is half the drink.

Know your drink

About the Mai Tai

A Daiquiri, minty rum highball and dark rum rocks drink at a sunset terrace bar.

“Maita’i roa a’e!”

Oakland, 1944: Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron shook his best aged Jamaican rum with lime, curaçao and orgeat for Tahitian friends, and one exclaimed "Maita’i roa a’e!" — "out of this world!" The mai tai became tiki’s crown jewel, so popular it allegedly drained the world’s supply of its original rum within a decade.

Common questions

Mai Tai FAQ

Does a real mai tai have pineapple juice?

No — that’s the resort version. Trader Vic’s 1944 original is aged rum, fresh lime, orange curaçao, orgeat (almond syrup) and nothing else, over crushed ice with mint. It tastes of rum and almonds, not fruit punch — and it’s better.

What is orgeat and can I substitute it?

Orgeat is a rich almond syrup scented with orange flower water — the mai tai’s signature. There’s no perfect substitute; amaretto plus simple syrup gets vaguely close in a pinch, but a bottle of real orgeat unlocks a whole family of tiki drinks.

What ingredients are in a Mai Tai?

A classic Mai Tai calls for 30 ml (1 oz) Aged rum, 30 ml (1 oz) Gold rum, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Triple sec / Cointreau, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Orgeat syrup, 30 ml (1 oz) Fresh lime juice. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Mai Tai?

A standard Mai Tai is roughly 25% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it spirit-forward — closer to a Martini than to a beer, so sip it slowly.

Is a Mai Tai shaken or stirred?

A Mai Tai is shaken — the rule of thumb is to shake anything with citrus juice. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

What glass do you serve a Mai Tai in?

Serve a Mai Tai in a rocks glass (old fashioned glass), packed with crushed ice.

How many calories are in a Mai Tai?

One Mai Tai has approximately 230 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique