Cocktails

Mai Tai

Mai Tai is an alcoholic cocktail built on Light Rum. It leans sweet, almond and citrus. Shaken and served in a Collins Glass. Expect about 16.4% ABV and roughly 210 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic16.4% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

210 kcalCalories

16.4%ABV

25.7gSugar

28.1gCarbs

0.96Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 5 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

1 ozLight rumBase Spirit
1/2 ozOrgeat syrupSweetener
1/2 ozTriple secLiqueur Modifier
1 1/2 ozSweet and sourMixer
1CherryGarnish

How to Make It

Shake all ingredients with ice.Shaken
Strain into glass.Strain
Garnish and serve with straw.Garnish

How to Serve

Glass: Collins Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice
Method: Shaken

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Sweet Almond Citrus

Supporting notes

Vanilla Nutty Cherry

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

AcidityFlat – Crisp

FruitinessEarthy – Fruity

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

Noticeably sweet

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

Date NightSuggested from its vanilla notes, pairing with chocolate and desserts.
DessertSuggested from its vanilla and sweet notes, pairing with desserts pairing.
SummerSuggested from its citrus notes.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, strict multi-signal supplemental rules, and cached for public page performance.

Food pairings

DessertsChocolateCoffee Desserts

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Light Rum1 oz

Aged RumKnown variation

How much to use: Use the same amount; reduce rich sweeteners only if the drink becomes too heavy.
What changes: Aged rum can replace light rum when a fuller, oakier variation is acceptable.

Dark RumWorks, but changes the drink

How much to use: Use the same amount; reduce rich sweeteners if the result becomes too heavy.
What changes: Dark rum can replace light rum when a deeper, heavier rum profile is welcome.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Orgeat Syrup1/2 oz

Orgeat Or Almond SyrupGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount.
What changes: Orgeat or almond syrup is usually a close substitute for orgeat syrup.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Triple Sec1/2 oz

CointreauGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount; adjust sweetness only if needed.
What changes: Cointreau is usually a strong substitute for triple sec and often gives a drier, more intense orange note.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Blue CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink

How much to use: Use the same amount; expect a visible color change.
What changes: Blue curaçao can replace triple sec when the orange note is acceptable and the blue color is wanted.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Orange CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink

How much to use: Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes: Orange curaçao can replace triple sec, but it may make the drink richer or sweeter.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated July 12, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Related searches

Try alcohol-freeBrowse mocktails and zero-ABV alternatives.Make it lighterTry a longer serve style, more ice, soda, tonic or a lower-ABV alternative.Lower the sugarCompare with drinks that use less estimated sugar per serve.Lower the caloriesCompare with drinks that sit lower on estimated calories per serve.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a Mai Tai?: The Mai Tai is a cocktail made with 5 ingredients, traditionally served in a Collins Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 16.4%. A standard serving contains approximately 210 calories.
What does a Mai Tai taste like?: Mai Tai has a flavour profile featuring Sweet, Almond, Citrus, Vanilla. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a Mai Tai?: Mai Tai pairs well with Desserts, Chocolate, Coffee Desserts. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a Mai Tai?: The Mai Tai has an ABV of approximately 16.4%. That's approximately 0.96 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 210 kcal, 25.7g sugar, 28.1g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a Mai Tai typically served?: Mai Tai is often suggested for Date Night, Dessert, Summer, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a Mai Tai?: If you enjoy Mai Tai, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make a Mai Tai at home?: Yes. The Mai Tai uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Collins Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of Mai Tai with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.