SHATLER’s Cocktails - Mai Tai

Mai Tai

Only few cocktails are as famous as the Mai Tai. The fruity rum cocktail is a real classic. The long drink supposedly was invented in 1944 in San Francisco, California by Victor Bergeron. He claims to have mixed the first Mai Tai for two of his friends from Tahiti, who were so enthusiastic about the delicious drink, that they shouted out: “Mai Tai – Roa Ae”. In English this means: “Not of this earth – the best”.

Original Mai Tai recipe first revealed in 1972

The Mai Tai is one of the classic tiki cocktails, that were created during the prohibition in the USA. Back then bartenders saw the cocktail recipes as their assets and kept the ingredients and compositions of their drinks secret. Therefore the original Mai Tai recipe of Trader Vic’s – as Victor Bergeron calls himself – was revealed almost 30 years after the first Mai Tai was served. In the book “Trader Vic’s Bartender’s Guide – Revised” he spills the secret of the recipe of the original Mai Tai. According to the book he used 6cl of 17 years old Wray and Nephew rum, 1.5cl of curaçao orange, 0.75cl of both Orgeat syrup and sugar syrup as well as 2cl of fresh lime juice.

But also other bartenders claim to have invented this popular drink. One of them is Don the Beachcomber, one of Trader Vic’s biggest rivals at the time, who says he had created the Mai Tai Swizzle before Bergeron’s Mai Tai. But his recipe does not have a lot in common with the famous Mai Tai we know today, because he used pomegranate juice and Pernod. Also Bergeron was able to win a litigation between the two bartenders, which was settled out of court.

The evolution of a long drink

Today’s Mai Tai recipe differs from the original recipe by Trader Vic. One of the reasons for this is, that the rum originally used by him soon was no longer available and had to be replaced by other kinds of rum. Today most bars use Jamaican or Martinique rum. In a lot of Mai Tais additional juices and other ingredients are used. According to the official recipe of the IBA for a Mai Tai, this cocktail is mixed with 4cl of white rum, 2cl of brown rum, 1.5cl of curaçao orange, 1.5cl of Orgeat syrup and 1cl of fresh lime juice. To garnish the drink a slice of pineapple, a mint leaf and lime peel are used.

SHATLER’s Mai Tai – a sour and fruity long drink

This recipe is also the basis of the recipe of the SHATLER’s Mai Tai. We only use the best ingredients for our long drink and mix it with several kinds of rum, dry orange curaçao, almond and lemon. The result is an extraordinary delicious sour and fruity long drink.

Our Tip

Try a refreshing variation of the Mai Tai by adding soda to the SHATLER’s Mai Tai after pouring it on crushed ice.

Another Tip for cold winter days

Warm up the Mai Tai in a pot together with cloves and half a cinnamon stick, but don’t let it boil! Served in a mug this Hot Mai Tai is a great alternative to gluhwein.