Mai-Tai
The Mai-Tai is an IBA Contemporary Classic: 6 ingredients, shaken and served in a martini glass. That makes 162 ml in the glass: a middling measure.
MethodShaken
GlassMartini glass
In the glass162 ml
Strength18.5%
Ingredients
- 30 mlgold rum
- 30 mlrhum agricole
- 15 mlcuraçao
- 15 mlorgeat
- 30 mlfresh lime juice
- 7.5 mlsimple syrup
Method
- Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
- Shake and pour into a double rocks glass or an highball glass.
- * The Martinique molasses rum used by Trader Vic was not an Agricole Rhum but a type of “rummy” from molasses.
Garnish: Garnish with pineapple spear, mint leaves and lime peel.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- Sweetness shows without covering: it comes from orgeat, with 0.5 out of 10 of bitterness holding it back.
- round → sour
- Citrus shows, but this is no sour: 63rd of 186, and it comes from fresh lime juice.
- light → strong
- 18.5% after dilution: the middle band, 57th of 186.
Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on rum.
Five that come close
- BrambleBuilt on gin and with gin in place of gold rum.
- CaipiroskaBuilt on vodka and with vodka in place of gold rum.
- Whiskey SourBuilt on whisky and with bourbon whiskey in place of gold rum.
- IllegalBuilt on tequila and with mezcal in place of gold rum.
- CaipirinhaMore sour and built on cachaça.
Every drink near the Mai-Tai on the map
Recipe source: IBA · checked on 30 October 2026