Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsGrand Lux CafeMai Tai Recipe

Mai Tai Recipe

Inspired by Grand Lux Cafe
Time10m
Serves1

An Exotic Blend of Dark and Spiced Rums with Island Juices

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Ingredients

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Cocktail

Method

Prepare glass & ice

  1. 1

    Chill and fill

    Select a double old-fashioned glass or tiki mug and fill it with crushed ice to chill while you mix the cocktail.

Mixing

  1. 2

    Combine ingredients

    In a cocktail shaker, add 1 jigger light rum, 0.5 jigger orange curaçao, 0.5 jigger orgeat syrup, 0.75 jigger fresh lime juice, 1 jigger fresh pineapple juice, 0.25 jigger simple syrup and 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Add a small handful of ice (enough to chill but not overly dilute).

  2. 3

    Shake

    Shake vigorously for about 10–12 seconds until the shaker is well-chilled and slightly frosted. This integrates the juices and syrups and introduces a bit of dilution for balance.

Assemble

  1. 4

    Strain over ice

    Discard the ice from the chilled glass and fill the glass about three-quarters full with fresh crushed ice. Double-strain the contents of the shaker into the glass (to keep pulp out).

  2. 5

    Float dark rum

    Gently pour 1 jigger dark rum over the back of a bar spoon so it floats on top of the drink. For an extra dramatic finish, float 0.25 jigger overproof rum on top of the dark rum.

  3. 6

    Finish

    Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters on the top of the foam/float if desired (you may have added 2 dashes into the shaker already; adding on top is optional for aroma).

Garnish & serve

  1. 7

    Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge, a sprig of mint (clap the mint between your hands briefly to release aroma), a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry if using. Serve with a straw placed to the side so the drinker can sip through layers. Advise stirring gently if they want a more uniform flavor; otherwise enjoy as layered.

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