Mai Tai – super refreshing, deliciously tropical, fun boozy and fruity drink that could light up any parties. A classic rum-based tiki-themed cocktail that screams nothing but happiness and celebration!
I’ve been meaning to share this with you guys ever since last summer, but I guess this is meant for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebration. (Warning: This part of the post might be a little too personal. So please bear with me.)
Now that a decade has passed, I would like to see those years as a bittersweet one. I’ve fought a couple of hardships, celebrated some wins, lose a few dearests to me and welcomed some new ones. I had my own fair share of lessons learned along the way – both gained the easy and hard way.
But I guess the highlight of it so far, is how this little space of mine on the internet – Immaculate Bites blog– has made me who I’ve become to be.
Just a few years ago (about 3 years ago or so), I was able to quit my job and do this blogging full time.
I’ve been so dedicated to growing this blog – not just from a business perspective, but also growing it as a community.
So in celebration of tonight’s New Year (and new decade), let me share with you a vibrant drink as a toast to dear life. I wish nothing but all the happiness life could give you.
The mai tai combines white rum, dark rum, Grand Marnier, almond-based orgeat syrup and fresh lime juice. The dark rum is aged, giving the cocktail a deep, caramel-like flavor that’s both smoky and sweet. It balances the white rum, which offers a lighter, more subtle fruity flavor.
What Does Mai Tai Taste Like?
This Mai Tai cocktail is purely refreshing in every sip. It has the flavor notes of tart, citrusy, sweet and oh-so-refreshing. Did I mention I had two(2) glasses of this before I started the photoshoot? Yeah. I’m not much of a drinker just so you know, but I say I went overboard with this. Then that means it is THAT GOOD!
The original recipe of Mai Tai uses orgeat syrup. It’s a blend of almonds, sugar, and rose or orange water. You can easily spot this sweet and delicious flavor from other tiki drinks. But instead, I decided to go with the fruitier kind of mai tai to balance out the alcohol and use Grand Marnier (a French brand of orange-flavored liqueur) and Triple sec (another orange-flavored liqueur).
Here’s the complete list of what you need for this rum drink:
- dark rum
- light rum
- orange juice
- pineapple juice
- Grand Marnier (or any brand of orange-flavored liqueur)
- triple sec
- lime juice
- splash of grenadine (for that added sweet and tart flavor and a pop of red hue)
What is a Mai Tai Drink
Mai Tai is a classic rum cocktail. Although it is commonly associated with Hawaii with its tiki-themed style, mai tai drink actually first began in Oakland, California at Trader’s Vic restaurant in 1944. It is said that this cocktail was made by Victor Bergenon, one of the founders of the tiki cocktail culture. And this drink sure does live up to its name; mai tai which is a Tahitian word for “good” or “excellence”.
The Original Mai Tai from 1944
FAQ
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