mai tai

Last August we went to Maui to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary. Our time in Maui is documented here. While there, I enjoyed trying the mai tai's every where we went. I found out that we could drink about 12 at the weekly pool party hosted by the place we were staying with no effect. Hmmm... This week it is hot here - though not tropical - and I have been thinking I would like to go back to Hawaii. Next best thing - a mai tai at the campsite.

The best and most unique mai tai I had in Maui was at Monkeypod in Wailea. Here we are enjoying them last year. I found the recipe online but it is a little over my skill set to pull off at the campsite.

I found The Royal Hawiian mai tai recipe on line and it was voted the best in Hawaii by Hawaii Magazine. Let's give it a try!

Remember last week when I said I was going to use the liquor I already own? Well, I had to make a trip out to get orange curacao. It wasn't easy to find. I finally found it at Wine & Beyond and there was no price on the shelf. I decided I was not going to another liquor store so whatever the price is, I'm paying it. To be honest, the fancy french bottle had me a little worried about the price. Then at the till, the guy selling it said 'we just go that in and it is soooo good.' I was hoping for a $10 liqueur. It was about 4 x that price. Oops! And I had to buy Orgeat (fancy name for almond syrup). You can make it but I went for the easy way this time. Now I will search drink recipes for orange curacao. By the way, it smells and tastes like Grand Marnier.

The two new additions to my cocktail cabinet.

I made the simple syrup at the campsite.

Cock-tail Scale (Out of 5*)
James 4.75*
Mellissa 4.8*

This is a strong drink with three ounces of spirits. There is no way I could drink 12 of these! The recipe worked well but I used spiced rum instead of dark rum. Dark rum would give it better colour.

The Royal Hawaiian mai tai:

Ingredients
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce light rum
1 ounce orange curacao
2 ounces orange juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
Dash orgeat
Dash simple syrup (bar syrup)

Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients in the order listed in an old fashioned style glass over shaved ice. Stir with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.