It's National Mai Tai Day... and you bet your soggy dollars we're serving up the best one.
Today we're excited to bring you the Ultimate Mai Tai (no really, it's called the Ultimate Mai Tai – and for good reason). This bad boy is packed with enough rum to get your catamaran from Hawaii to Tahiti. Overproof, 12-year and Navy Strength, oh my!
The Mai Tai is one of the most iconic tiki cocktails out there, but unfortunately it is often butchered by bars around the world with the addition of fruit juices, fake grenadine and all the wrong rums. So do yourself a favor and shake up the real deal. If you like this unique blend, consider making a larger batch to keep on hand – just pour into an empty liquor bottle.
You'll be writing your rum diary in no time.
This version has the classic build and features a killer blend of rums created by Kevin Crossman of Ultimate Mai Tai which features equal parts of Appleton Estate 12 Year Jamaican Rum, Plantation OFTD Rum, Plantation Xaymaca, and Smith & Cross Navy Strength Jamaican Rum.
Our friend Steve the Bartender says that this blend "makes an excellent Mai Tai" and that the recipe is a "Mai Tai for Mai Tai lovers."
Follow Kevin Crossman of Ultimate Mai Tai on Instagram at: @ultimatemaitai
(Originally published 8/30/24)
Ingredients:
Creating Your Ultimate Mai Tai Rum Blend
½ oz. Appleton Estate 12 Year Jamaican Rum
½ oz. Planteray (Plantation) O.F.T.D. Rum
½ oz. Planteray (Plantation) Xaymaca
½ oz. Smith & Cross Navy Strength Jamaican Rum
Building the Cocktail
2 oz. Ultimate Mai Tai Rum Blend (recipe above)
1 oz. Lime juice (save your spent lime shell for garnish!)
Combine all liquid ingredients in your Hybrid Cocktail Shaker with ice and shake for about 15 seconds to chill.
Strain into a pebble ice-filled Hybrid Cocktail Glass and fill with additional ice to top.
Garnish with spanked mint and spent lime shell.
Video:
Notes:
Elevated Tips
Don't have all four rums called for to create the Ultimate Mai Tai Rum Blend? Use a couple or use one to start with and then build on your rum collection if you want to - & if you like Mai Tais! (We recommend starting your collection with the Appleton Estate 12 Year Jamaican Rum)
If you enjoy the blend, consider making a larger batch to keep on hand using a leftover bottle!
