I think this must be one of the great misunderstood classic cocktails. It was invented in 1944 by "Trader Vic" Bergeron. It is a relatively simple drink consisting of aged rum, orange curacao, lime juice and orgeat (pronounced or-ZHAT, it is an almond syrup that is commercially available from brands such as Torani or Monin, though you can also make it at home)
The Mai Tai is a delicious and simple drink that is often misinterpreted as a tropical travesty of grenadine, pineapple juice and orange juice.
According to the Trader Vic's Web site, Victor Bergeron "set the record straight" in his own words in 1970:
In 1944, after success with several exotic rum drinks, I felt a new drink was needed. I thought about all the really successful drinks; martinis, manhattans, daiquiris .... All basically simple drinks.
I was at the service bar in my Oakland restaurant. I took down a bottle of 17-year-old rum. It was J. Wray Nephew from Jamaica; surprisingly golden in color, medium bodied, but with the rich pungent flavor particular to the Jamaican blends. The flavor of this great rum wasn't meant to be overpowered with heavy additions of fruit juices and flavorings. I took a fresh lime, added some orange curacao from Holland, a dash of Rock Candy Syrup, and a dollop of French Orgeat, for its subtle almond flavor. A generous amount of shaved ice and vigorous shaking by hand produced the marriage I was after. Half the lime shell went in for color ... I stuck in a branch of fresh mint and gave two of them to Ham and Carrie Guild, friends from Tahiti, who were there that night. Carrie took one sip and said, "Mai Tai - Roa Ae". In Tahitian this means "Out of This World - The Best". Well, that was that. I named the drink "Mai Tai".
In fairness to myself and to a truly great drink, I hope you will agree when I say, "Let's get the record straight on the Mai Tai".
(Thanks to Gary Regan's Joy of Mixology for this lead)
A friend called while I was preparing the drink and said, "Ugh...that's such an 80's drink. I hate pineapple juice and grenadine." I explained that pineapple juice and grenadine didn't belong in the drink, that it was not too different from a rum margarita with a splash of orgeat. He was not moved.
Such misperceptions are common. This is from a cocktail menu at the Belmont in Austin:
Mai Tai
Tommy Bahama White Sands and Myer's Dark rums, mixed with a splash of amaretto, orange and pineapple juices. $9
That's nine dollars for a drink that they didn't even care enough about to look up the recipe before they put it on their menu. One can only guess how much care will go into the preparation...
