Monday, August 5, 2013

Mai Tai - my dismay

So I put a lot of work into making the mai tai a reality at home. And after all the work and effort, tweaking and note-taking, I realized something. I don't think I like the Mai Tai. That makes sense because I dislike almond flavored anything (aside from straight almonds).

To make an authentic Mai Tai, you need to make falernum and orgeat (pronounced or-ZHAT). Neither is particular difficult to make, but I found that orgeat doesn't keep well (maybe one week in the fridge), so that means you need to make many drinks, in a hurry.

My final recipe:
2 part white rum
1 part Lemon Hart overproof rum (or other Demerera rum)
1 part orgeat
1 part falernum
1/2 part lime juice
1 Luxardo cherry

  1. Smash ice in a lewis bag or crush ice somehow. You really want small, small pieces but not a slushy. Fill Collins glass with smashed ice.
  2. Add ice cubs and all ingredients except cherry and Lemon Hart to a cocktail shaker.
  3. Secure shaker top and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
  4. Open and strain into Collins glass.
  5. Pour in Lemon Hart slowly.
  6. Float cherry on top of ice
  7. Provide a straw to stir and drink through
If you'd like me falernum or orgeat recipes, comment below and I can send them (they're long).