Cocktail
Mai Tai
The Mai Tai is the crown jewel of mid-century tiki, a rum cocktail built by Trader Vic in 1944 around aged rum, fresh lime, orange curacao and almond orgeat. For all the umbrella-and-pineapple kitsch that later clung to it, the original is a lean, sophisticated drink — nutty, citrus-bright and unmistakably rum-forward, with not a drop of fruit juice beyond the lime.
Balanced23% ABV
At a glance
Signature
Lemon & Citrus
Nutty
Bright and aromatic on the nose, the Mai Tai leads with tart lime and the bitter-orange peel of curacao, underpinned by the sweet, marzipan nuttiness of almond orgeat and the vanilla, toffee and oak of aged rum, with a tropical lift and a cool mint perfume from the garnish. On the palate it is balanced and rum-forward rather than sugary — sour lime and warm spirit held in check by the curacao and orgeat — finishing dry-leaning, nutty and long, refreshed by the crushed ice.
Taste balance
BitternessSmooth
SmoothBitter
StrengthStrong
LightStrong