Skip to content

Mai Tai

The Mai Tai is a medium rum sour, sweet and tart on the palate. Shaken and served in a rocks glass. It's one of the International Bartenders Association's official contemporary classics cocktails.

Mai Tai cocktail: amber-orange drink over ice in a crystal rocks glass, with a mint sprig and a lime wheel

Flavor profile

Tart
79 out of 100
Sweet
93 out of 100
Fruity
32 out of 100
Creamy
18 out of 100
Boozy
42 out of 100

How to make a Mai Tai

To make a Mai Tai, shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass: 1 oz light rum, ½ oz orgeat syrup, ½ oz Triple sec and 1½ oz sweet and sour. Garnish with cherry.

You'll need

1 drink

Pairs well with: Orgeat syrup · All syrups

Make it virgin: the Virgin Mai Tai.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Add light rum, orgeat syrup, triple sec and sweet and sour to a cocktail shaker.

  2. 2

    Fill the shaker with ice.

  3. 3

    Shake hard for 10-15 seconds, until the outside is frosty.

  4. 4

    Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes.

  5. 5

    Garnish with a cherry.

Why shake? Sweet and sour needs a hard shake to mix and chill properly.

78% match

National Aquarium

Shares 2 of 4 ingredients

77% match

Banana Daiquiri

Shares 2 of 4 ingredients

77% match

Boston Sidecar

Shares 2 of 4 ingredients

77% match

Yellow Bird

Shares 2 of 4 ingredients

Mai Tai questions

What does a Mai Tai taste like?

Mostly sweet and tart. It's a medium drink at about 13% ABV once mixed.

How strong is a Mai Tai?

About 13% ABV after mixing with ice, about as strong as a glass of wine.

What's the difference between a Mai Tai and a National Aquarium?

Both use light rum and sweet and sour. The Mai Tai adds orgeat syrup and Triple sec, while the National Aquarium uses vodka, gin, Blue Curacao and lemon-lime soda. Both are shaken, but the Mai Tai goes in a rocks glass and the National Aquarium in a highball glass.

Should a Mai Tai be shaken or stirred?

Shaken: orgeat syrup and sweet and sour need a hard shake to mix and chill properly.

What can I use instead of triple sec?

Cointreau or Grand Marnier will work.

Can I make Mai Tais in a batch?

Yes. For 6 drinks, mix 6 oz light rum, 3 oz orgeat syrup, 3 oz Triple sec and 9 oz sweet and sour in a jug and chill it. Add 4¼ oz of cold water to stand in for the dilution from shaking. Pour over fresh ice to serve.