June 30 is National Mai Tai Day, making it the perfect day to enjoy one of these sweet and refreshing tropical drinks. Especially since this year, the special food holiday falls on a Friday.
The Mai Tai is a fruity cocktail that is made by blending two different types of rum with pineapple juice or orange juice and lime juice. There are numerous variations of the sweet drink that have popped up over the years, but it's the original that has a long history and still manages to remain popular in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.
The history of the Mai Tai
A History of Drinking reports that the Mai Tai was first introduced in 1944 by Trader Vic, whose real name is Victor Bergeron. According to their report and apparently also legend, Bergeron concocted the strong rum drink and served it to his guests in Tahiti while he was working behind the bar. One of them reportedly exclaimed, "Mai Tai-Roa Aé" meaning "out of this word, the best" upon drinking it and a name for the drink was born.
Trader Vic was also known as one of the first bartenders to serve drinks to his guests using Tiki bowls and mugs as well as his own line of special ceramic mugs.
Recipe
While the original recipe for the Mai Tai contained pineapple juice, the most popular of these cocktails usually share a combination of orange and lime juices like this popular recipe below:
Ingredients:
1 oz (2 tablespoons) dark rum
1 oz (2 tablespoons) amber rum
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/2 oz (1 tablespoon) Cointreau or triple sec
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon orgeat syrup or 1 drop pure almond extract (optional)
1 teaspoon superfine granulated sugar
Dash of grenadine
Garnish: an orange slice
Preparation:
Pour all listed ingredients except the orange slice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
Pour the mixed drink into the glass of your choice and garnish with an orange wedge and a cocktail umbrella.
Where to get your tropical drink?
Many bars and restaurants across the country will add the Mai Tai to their drink specials on June 30 in celebration of National Mai Tai Day. Be careful drinking this sweet, tropical cocktail.
While this tropical drink comes across as a smooth and seemingly easy alcoholic beverage to consume, they also pack quite a punch.
Will you be beating the heat with an ice cold Mai Tai to celebrate on June 30? Show off your newly acquired knowledge by asking how they prepare the drink when ordering and make sure your drink is served up the proper way.
