With any good origin story, there is always a rival account of its beginnings. The Mai Tai may be a simple combination of rum, lime juice, orgeat (almond syrup), and curaçao, but its history is famously muddied, and what once was a sophisticated beverage highlighting the intricate flavours of Jamaican rum has now a bad reputation as a sugary drink that is seemingly open to interpretation. With much debate over where the drink was first created, who truly originated it, and its controversial ties to ‘Tiki’ culture, this cocktail calls for deconstruction.
Who invented the Mai Tai?
Victor Bergeron claimed to have invented the Mai Tai in 1944 whilst running his restaurant Trader Vic’s in Oakland, California. The story goes that he took down a bottle of 17-year-old Wray and Nephew (no longer available) and made up a drink with the above ingredients. Before trying it himself, he served it to his friends, whereupon tasting it, his Tahitian friend exclaimed, “Maita’i roa a’e!”, which translates to “out of this world, the best!”, and voila! the Mai Tai was born.
However, in the 1950s, Tiki pioneer and rival Donn Beach ‘Don the Beachcomber’ got wind of the Mai Tai and claimed that its recipe was based on his own 1930s creation, the Q.B. Cooler, a rum punch which shared many of the same ingredients. Later, in his essay Let’s Set the Record Straight on the Mai Tai (1970), Vic tackled the controversy of its origin head on, rebuking Beach by stating, “Anyone who says I didn’t create this drink is a dirty stinker.”
What is Tiki Culture?
Not only is the Mai Tai caught up historical discrepancy, but it has become entangled with its ties to Tiki culture, a mid-century, retro-American aesthetic that takes inspiration from Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian cultures. Characterised by themed bars and restaurants adorned with over-the-top tropical décor, Tiki culture was born out of a time when perceptions of the Pacific were heavily influenced by colonial narratives. Many have criticised Tiki culture for romanticising a simplified vision of ‘island life’, an imagined paradise shaped by Western desires – a notion now coined as cultural appropriation.
It is important to recognise the history of the Mai Tai whilst enjoying this quintessential tropical drink. A true Mai Tai is a sophisticated, rum-forward drink, far from the overly sweet, fruit-juice-heavy versions that can often be found these days. By enjoying the drink with greater awareness – honouring its history whilst acknowledging the complexities of Tiki culture – we make space for a more respectful and informed appreciation of the cocktail and where it came from.
What is the best Mai Tai Recipe?
Ingredients:
25 ml dark rum
25 ml Martinique rum
22.5 ml lime juice
15 ml Cointreau or dry Curaçao
10 ml orgeat (add more to taste)
7.5 ml simple syrup
Method:
Shake with ice and dirty dump (add to your glass without straining) into a glass . Top with crushed ice and garnish with a lime wheel, a sprig of mint, and a straw.
Which Rum Works Best in a Mai Tai?
Havana Club 7 Year Old Añejo
This rum works well in a Mai Tai due to its lighter, smooth flavour profile. Not only is it easy to get your hands on, but it’s also complex enough to stand up to the tropical tartness of the other ingredients, while remaining butter-smooth and vanilla-forward, making it both versatile and complementary in a drink like this. Aged in ex-bourbon casks, this silky amber spirit is smooth, sophisticated, and full-bodied, delivering biscuity aromas of vanilla, molasses, and warm spices. On the palate, sweet tobacco and tropical fruits mingle with hints of honey, butter, and chocolate making it a full bodied and characterful contender.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: £28.50
Discarded Banana Peel
If you want to give your Mai Tai a tropical punch, Discarded Banana Peel Rum is a funky option to throw into the mix. Use it instead of the orgeat or even as a rum replacement. Made from a blend of Caribbean rums and discarded banana peels, this sustainable spirit offers fabulous notes of banoffee pie, toffee, and caramel. It tastes like banana bread in liquid form (though we wouldn’t recommend swapping it for your usual breakfast), with chocolate and raisin notes lifted by hints of ginger and saffron.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find Here: £30.95
Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve
Smooth, sweet, and light, Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve is another staple choice when selecting a dark rum. Appleton Estate, located in Jamaica, is the oldest continuous sugar factory and rum distillery on the island. Rich with notes of cinnamon, ginger, and pineapple, this rum delivers tropical flavours alongside citrus hints of orange peel and lemon making it a perfect accompaniment to the orange curacau in the cocktail. This honey coloured liquid can shine as the star but is balanced enough to not take away from the other ingredients. It offers oak spice and candied bananas, as well as black tea, salted caramel, peach and vanilla custard.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: £33.75
Black Tot Finest Caribbean Rum
Fun fact: The name Black Tot refers to the day in 1970 when the Royal Navy officially ended the daily naval rum ration, known as a “tot.” This rum draws inspiration from three centuries of naval tradition, blending rums from Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica. Elegant yet full-bodied, it marries notes of chocolate, coffee, and tropical fruits such as papaya and pineapple as well as melon. This richness is an attribute to the Mai Tai, with those heavier notes bringing out a pleasant bitterness against the nutty sweetness of the orgeat and fruity citrus flavours. This rum is fudgy and spicy with notes of vanilla, and cinnamon, resulting in a multi-layered flavour profile – bold and brilliant in a cocktail like this!
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 46.2%
Find Here: £43.75
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum
Distilled with a blend of 12-year-aged Venezuelan rums, Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a favourite among bartenders – and for good reason. Aromatic with hints of raisins, gingerbread, and chocolate, it’s velvety and well-balanced. Expect liquorice, toffee, and fruit cake on the nose, with hints of overripe banana. Those warm and vibrant notes, complimented by a palate of chocolate, gingerbread, fruit cake, orange peel, vanilla, and subtle oaky spice, make it a great umami choice for a Mai Tai. With a luxurious, mouth-filling texture, it is silky-smooth and well-rounded amongst the tropical punch on the cocktail.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 40%
Find Here: £40.79
Saint James VSOP Rum
When choosing a Martinique rum, Trader Vic himself recommended Saint James as the best choice when making a Mai Tai. Made from sugar cane juice and aged in oak barrels, this is a bright, funky, and grassy rhum Agricole. With a burnt Demerara flavour, this rum has aromas of spices and oak, complemented with notes of fresh apple and warm spices like clove and cinnamon. With a creamy mouthfeel, this is a bold and complex rum, making it a perfect complement to tropical cocktails.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: £44.50
Doorly’s Rum 12 Years
Distilled at the famous Four Square distillery in Barbados, Doorly’s 12-year-old rum is surprisingly expressive of coconut, cacao, vanilla, and banana on the nose. It is light and mouthfilling, with many of the aromas on the nose pronounced on the palate. Tropical and complex, with a long-lasting finish, it would enhance the tropical flavours of the Mai Tai perfectly.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 43%
Find Here: £49.50
Clément Rum 10 Year Old
Distilled from cane juice rather than molasses, Clément Rum 10 Year Old is a decadent rum to select. Aged in re-charred and virgin oak barrels, it spends 10 years aging before being bottled. With tropical scents and aromas of dried fruits, it is equally expressive on the palate. With sweet notes of baked goods, custard, and toasted almonds, it is a biscuity choice in a cocktail like this. It’s slightly woody and spicy with light hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, delivering a light lingering finish.
Size: 700 ml
ABV: 44%
Find Here: £73.25
The rum, which motivated the creation of the Mai Tai, was fine, golden, and medium-bodied, so keep this in mind when selecting a rum to use. The Mai Tai is a brilliant balance of fruity, nutty, and citrus, so don’t choose an overly sweet rum, but one that is nuanced and rich. By appreciating all the ingredients and the Mai Tai’s complex history, you can have fun enjoying this cocktail and sharing its story with friends!
