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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Mai Tai

Mai Tai is a layered tropical cocktail with a fruit-forward, almond-accented profile. Served chilled, it suits relaxed social occasions where a bold but approachable rum-style drink fits the mood.

Reviewed by How 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

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

Why it works

Why the Mai Tai works

The drink works by balancing rich rum with lime acidity and a rounded sweet element. The contrast between bright citrus and deeper rum flavor is what gives it structure.

How to Serve

Glass
Collins Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Taste

What does a Mai Tai taste like?

A Mai Tai is rum-forward, citrusy and nutty, with lime and almond-style sweetness supporting the base spirit. A good version should taste layered rather than simply fruity.

Primary flavours

SweetAlmondCitrus

Supporting notes

VanillaNuttyCherry

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?

Practical notes

Common mistakes

Common mistakes

Avoid turning it into a generic fruit punch. Too much juice or syrup can hide the rum and make the drink heavier than it needs to be.

About this drink

The Mai Tai sits at the center of tiki cocktail history. Trader Vic claimed the 1944 Oakland creation, while Donn Beach also made earlier claims. The safest framing is that the drink became famous through mid-century tiki culture and should not be reduced to fruit punch.

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-FreeVegetarian

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

Frequently asked questions

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.