Mai Tai Cocktail

One sip of the refreshing and fruity Mai Tai cocktail, and we're instantly transported to a sunny, sandy beach. The classic Mai Tai has evolved to include other tropical flavors like pineapple juice, orange juice, or a splash of grenadine, but a true classic Mai Tai keeps it simple with a shaken blend of light rum, lime juice, dry Curaçao, and orgeat syrup over ice. Like any good tiki drink, these babies are strong and sneaky, so you won’t need much to get the party started. Serve these at a tiki-themed backyard bash, weekend brunch, or when you had an extra long day at work. No matter the occasion, this classic drink brings the carefree summer vibes we crave.

What is orgeat?
Orgeat is a non-alcoholic almond-flavored syrup that can be used to sweeten and add flavor to cocktails, mocktails, and more. You can add a splash to your coffee or a glass of iced tea, but you can also add some to your favorite pancake or crêpe batter for a little bit of sweet, nutty flavor. It can be tough to find, so if you’re in a pinch, amaretto liqueur will also work.

What can I substitute for dry orange Curaçao?
Blue Curaçao is definitely the most common version of the Caribbean orange-flavored liqueur, but a bright blue hue is far from what we need for a Mai Tai. Dry orange Curaçao, on the other hand, is slightly less sweet, with a dry finish that complements the nuttiness of the orgeat syrup. Pierre Fernand is our go-to brand. If you can’t find it in your area, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, and triple sec are all good backups. But please, please, please skip the blue stuff.

If you’re somehow still on the fence about trying one of these out, just remember—you know a drink is worthy of your time if it has a line in a Jay-Z song. When you give it a whirl in your own kitchen, drop a comment to let us know how much you loved it!