Mai Tai Recipes

[FrogPrincesse]

The Martinique rum used in the Merchant's Reserve is molasses-based--it's a rare rhum industriel from Martinique.

You are right of course. And I should know since I attended Martin Cate's seminar at Tiki Oasis last year that dealt with this exact topic. Long day!

[Hassouni]

Now that we only have 2ish more weeks of official summer, I think I will make a Mai Tai tonight...Maybe two...I might even try Jo's white recipe!

[tanstaafl2]

The Martinique rum used in the Merchant's Reserve is molasses-based--it's a rare rhum industriel from Martinique. Martin Cate's research led him to believe that the style of Martinician rum Vic used for his Mai Tai blend was derived from molasses, not cane juice. (In this he departs from Berry). Regardless, an agricole is delicious in a Mai Tai--with good rums and good orgeat, it's hard to go wrong. 

 

I have heard that argument before as well but it doesn't really matter because whether or not it is historically accurate the rhum agricole is better!

[tanstaafl2]

Can you tell me a bit more about Rhum Clement - is from a certain geography?  A white rum?  The LCBO is very limited (sadly) with its selection, even if it is the biggest liquor buying power in the world....

 

The orgeat I got is this one:  http://cocktailemporium.ca/collections/orgeat-syrups/products/le-lab-sirop-d-orgeade 

 

I too opted for more orgeat and no simple. 

Edited September 4, 2015 by tanstaafl2 (log)

[tanstaafl2]

FP pretty well covered rhum agricole but I do seem to recall the lamentations of our friends to the north of the rather profound failure of the LCBO to provide an adequate supply of Rhum Agricole. In that case maybe Smith & Cross is your best bet as one of the rums.

 

But I know what I would be looking to bring back the next time I left the country!

 

Can't speak to the orgeat you used without trying it. sounds like it has decent potential. But Jo's recommendation of the Small Hands version is spot on.

[Rafa]

You are right of course. And I should know since I attended Martin Cate's seminar at Tiki Oasis last year that dealt with this exact topic. Long day!

 

No worries, it's not in the, uh, spirit of rum to get caught up on the small details when one could instead be drinking more Mai Tais. 

[FrogPrincesse]

Exactly. And speaking of Denizen, I didn't get a chance to post this photo. This was during TikiO.

 

 

 

 

[TicTac]

FP pretty well covered rhum agricole but I do seem to recall the lamentations of our friends to the north of the rather profound failure of the LCBO to provide an adequate supply of Rhum Agricole. In that case maybe Smith & Cross is your best bet as one of the rums.

 

But I know what I would be looking to bring back the next time I left the country!

 

Can't speak to the orgeat you used without trying it. sounds like it has decent potential. But Jo's recommendation of the Small Hands version is spot on.

 

Adequate supply would typically suggest there is at least an option, NO supply (least that I can find) is more like it!  Sad but true.  Our monopolized liquor system is a joke.  Indeed I will have to keep an eye out next time I head elsewhere (though with a 2.5 and 6 week old bambinos, that ain't happening anytime soon!)

 

Will check out Small Hands next round, though the store I ordered this one from is all out (as it was my original target, after reading some good reviews here on it).

[JoNorvelleWalker]

While waiting for my semiannual (or somewhat more frequent) smallhandfoods orgeat shipment to make its way across the Rockies, last night I made my standard mai tai of equal parts Neisson Reserve Speciale, S&C, and Lost Spirits Navy Style.  The Navy Style has been in short supply and for the past couple months I've been working with equal parts Neisson Reserve Speciale and Appleton 12, which makes a lovingly smooth and polite mai tai.

 

But for me it does not compare.  Not that I would turn up my nose were I on a desert island, nor even on a Caribbean one.

 

At the moment:  a white mai tai, having trudged through the snow this evening for a bottle of W&N.

[JoNorvelleWalker]

An amusing variation on my usual white mai tai:

 

I had prepared the mise for my beverage (two ounces lime juice), and for dinner (two ounces lemon juice and a bowl of sliced onions).  These were on the counter.

 

After adding the lime juice the level in my Baron was higher than expected.  I searched around.  The measuring cup which had held the lemon juice was rinsed and in the drainer.  Hmm.

 

Actually this mai tai is rather nice, but then I like citrus.  And, yes, if you were wondering...I found the onions, still in their bowl.

 

Fortunately I have a bag of lemons left.

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

Having fortuitously acquired, this afternoon, a bottle of Clement Creole Shrub, I was anxious to substitute Creole Shrub for Cointreau in my favorite white mai tai.

 

Well, it is sort of an off white mai tai.  For one thing.  And there is an astringency and flavor I can't put my finger on...it will come to me.  This may take a bit of getting used to.

[FrogPrincesse]

An interesting apple-accented, fall-inspired Mai Tai.

 

Orchard Mai Tai (Chris Lowder of NoMad) with Daron XO calvados, Pierre Ferrand 1840 cognac, lemon juice, homemade orgeat, St Elizabeth allspice dram, Canton ginger liqueur (substituted for fresh ginger juice), simple syrup

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2016 by FrogPrincesse
added link to recipe (log)

[EvergreenDan]

@frogprincesse Nice garnish. Dragon Fruit has a high beauty to flavor ratios.

[FrogPrincesse]

15 minutes ago, EvergreenDan said:

@frogprincesse Nice garnish. Dragon Fruit has a high beauty to flavor ratios.

Thank you and you are correct, although this one had a nice taste! Pear/kiwi.

[tanstaafl2]

Did you dial back on the simple to account for the Canton instead of fresh ginger?

[FrogPrincesse]

13 minutes ago, tanstaafl2 said:

Did you dial back on the simple to account for the Canton instead of fresh ginger?

I always dial back on the simple... with pretty much any recipe. Then I taste and add a bit more as needed. This one only had 1/2 tsp which I ended up using. However I used only 1/2 oz orgeat intead of 3/4 oz.

[FrogPrincesse]

A fun & very funky banana Mai Tai. Banana Hammock (Dan Greenbaum) with Plantation overproof rum, lime juice, Giffard banana liqueur, homemade orgeat, Smith & Cross Jamaican rum.

 

 

[FrogPrincesse]

The My Oh My Ty again. That one is now a regular in the rotation!

 

My Oh My Ty (Brian Miller) with Plantation Barbados 5 years, Ko Hana Kea Lahi white rhum agricole, lime juice, Clement Creole shrubb, homemade orgeat, St. George absinthe verte.

 

 

[TicTac]

What do you guys think about substituting the lime juice with fresh grapefruit?

 

Or is that simply an abomination?

[FrogPrincesse]

1 hour ago, TicTac said:

What do you guys think about substituting the lime juice with fresh grapefruit?

 

Or is that simply an abomination?

 I think you could try substituting part of it like in a Hemingway Daiquiri.

Edited February 10, 2017 by FrogPrincesse
Typo (log)

[TicTac]

Thank you FP.

 

I seem to recall our 'resident' Mai Tai guru Jo mentioning the utilization of white grapefruit, though I cannot recall if it was in a Mai Tai or not...

 

Simply have run out of limes (still have lemons and grapefruit) and just got a new bottle of Smith and Cross and my Small Hands Orgeat finally arrived.

 

 

[tanstaafl2]

4 minutes ago, TicTac said:

Thank you FP.

 

I seem to recall our 'resident' Mai Tai guru Jo mentioning the utilization of white grapefruit, though I cannot recall if it was in a Mai Tai or not...

 

Simply have run out of limes (still have lemons and grapefruit) and just got a new bottle of Smith and Cross and my Small Hands Orgeat finally arrived.

 

 

 

Never tried that but the only one way to find out if it works for you and that is to try it! Would certainly think it would be somewhat different though. I presume you would be using the more tart white grapefruit noted above to replace the lime?

 

[TicTac]

True enough.

 

They are not a true white varietal, but on the verge of.  I might add a bit of lemon to the mix to add a bit more of a sour note.

 

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

1 hour ago, TicTac said:

Thank you FP.

 

I seem to recall our 'resident' Mai Tai guru Jo mentioning the utilization of white grapefruit, though I cannot recall if it was in a Mai Tai or not...

 

Simply have run out of limes (still have lemons and grapefruit) and just got a new bottle of Smith and Cross and my Small Hands Orgeat finally arrived.

 

 

 

The white grapefruit was for zombie.  Enjoy the Small Hand orgeat.

 

[EvergreenDan]

@Frogprincesse  uses bottled sour mix and adds Apple Pucker to her Mai Tai's. #AlternativeFact