National Mai Tai Day - AUGUST 30

Mai Tai’s could possibly be called the most famous and well-known drink of Hawaii.  And maybe one of the most delicious, after all, who doesn’t love a Mai Tai? Sweet and sensuous rum, mixed with golden glorious fruit juices and liquers, garnished with succulent pineapple. Mai Tais are great after a long, sunny day at the beach. Mai Tais are great with pupus, and great on their own.  Mai Tai’s are great to drink while (and perhaps even inspired by) watching the sun set.  Mai Tai’s are everyone’s favorite when on vacation.

Mai Tai on Lanikai Beach Kailua (c) Tomas del Amo.

“Maitai” in Tahitian means “good” and the Mai Tai has come to symbolize Tahitian-style, Tiki Bar and Hawaiian culture, reminiscent of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

In Honor of the Mai Tai, they’ve given the drink its own day … and that day is August 30. While there has been some dispute over the actual, official date of National Mai Tai Day, some say it is the 30th of August and others (notably “A History of Drinking Blog”) say it is June 30, I find the believers of the August 30 date to be the most convincing. In any event, there is no harm in celebrating Mai Tai Day on both days. 

For a little history on the drink, you should know that the Mai Tai was purportedly invented by Victor J. Bergeron is August 1944. Bergeron was the proprietor of Tader Vic’s in Oakland. There is some controversy here, too, because Don the Beachcomber, of Los Angeles, also claimed to have invented the drink, though he said he invented it years earlier, in 1933.  Both drinks taste different and have different recipes, and there seem to be many other different variations of the drink, as well.  But either way, this drink was not invented in Hawaii, but in California, though it is on just about every bar menu in the Hawaiian islands.

Since Mai Tai Day is coming up in less than a week, I thought I would share a few recipes:

Here is the old-time TRADER VIC’S 1944 MAI TAI RECIPE:

2 oz of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice
Add juice from one fresh lime
1/2 oz Holland DeKuyper Orange Curaçao
1/4 oz Trader Vic’s Rock Candy Syrup
1/2 oz French Garnier Orgeat Syrup
Shake vigorously.
Add a sprig of fresh mint

Here is a More MODERN MAI TAI RECIPE:

Fill a collins glass with ice.

Add:
¾ oz. Light Rum
¾ oz. Dark Rum
½ oz. Amaretto
½ oz. Triple Sec

Fill with:
½ Orange Juice
½ Pineapple Juice
Float ½ oz. of Grenadine on top

BOTH RECIPES ARE BEST ENJOYED WITH A SUNSET,
ON A HAWAIIAN BEACH.  ~ALOHA