The real mai tai recipe you will find in here will knock your. Credited with creating the first mai tai cocktail, and author of several tiki cocktail books, bergeron and the trader vics franchise later opened more than 20 restaurants around the world. The way you would like the mai tai more was adapted in 1954 by the royal hawaiian hotel. Its all about the classic threeingredient cocktail in this forthcoming book from highly knowledgeable and highly opinionated drinks expert for the new york times, robert simonson. There has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of the mai tai, and many have claimed credit. Trader vics is credited with inventing the drink, and the first person to try it was said to cry out mai tai. The history of the mai tai cocktail in 1934, victor jules bergeron, or trader vic as he became known, opened his first restaurant in oakland, san francisco. Dissolve 2 parts white sugar to 1 part water on heat.
This concise history of the best classic cocktails is organized by style of drink and variations, with over 75 delicious cocktail recipes, gorgeous fullcolor photography, and witty. In any event, trader vics mai tai is the one that became the iconic tiki drink and rightly so, as its the better recipe. Nov 11, 2004 illustrating a story on the history of the mai tai cocktail, assitant bar manager of trader vics restaurant, jim shoemake, makes a mai tai. The dtb version of the mai tai varies quite a bit than the trader vics cocktail. The confusion comes from a hotel in hawaii that modified the original formula in the 1950s and added pineapple juicesometimes called a hawaiian mai taithen someone added guava and orange. Spawned from the rumsoaked genius mind of trader vic bergeron, the mai tai is one of the most regal refreshments in the exoticdrink universe. The mai tai is a tropical and fruity rum based cocktail. It will be nothing that resembles the actual mai tai that was created around the 40s.
In 1933, he opened a small restaurant in hollywood, decorated it with old fishing nets, ships lanterns and the like. Aug 29, 2017 every once in a while, even the pros behind the bar need a refresher when it comes to concocting original and inspired drink recipes. The mai tai became such a popular cocktail in the 1950s60s that many restaurants, particularly tikithemed restaurants or bars, served them. The mai tai took a star turn by earning a prominent role in the elvis film blue hawaii. Cocktail mug for mai tai, punch, pina colada, and tropical bar drinks. What to make with orgeat, the secretweapon cocktail. Sign up for my email subscription and never miss a recipe. Mar 07, 2008 spawned from the rumsoaked genius mind of trader vic bergeron, the mai tai is one of the most regal refreshments in the exoticdrink universe. Mai tais, like most classic cocktails, have an uncertain history with two california restauranteur rivals both claiming they invented the drinks. The man who led the way was jeff beachbum berry, perhaps the worlds biggest tiki fan. It can be garnished with various fruits, as in the above recipe. Variants may include the addition of falernum, bitters, grenadine, orange and grapefruit juices, and so on. Why you should be using infused salts in your drinks.
Trader vics rival, don the beachcomber, claimed to have created it in 1933 at his thennew eponymous bar later a famous restaurant in hollywood. This is the seoul street where cocktails reign supreme. Each sip invokes dreamy images of sunsets on sandy beaches, cobalt blue water and lush tropical islands. The mai tai, history, a recipe, a how to, an explanation. Illustrating a story on the history of the mai tai cocktail, assitant bar manager of trader vics restaurant, jim shoemake, makes a mai tai. Mai tai d up the cocktail series book 4 alice clayton. Nowadays, cocktail aficionados are bringing back the original flavors of the mai tai and bringing justice to its history. Vic created his mai tai to showcase a 17yearold rum imported by j. Apr 19, 2010 trading the sports theme for tiki aesthetic, victor bergeron converted his oakland, calif.
Mai tai recipe and history how to make a mai tai cocktail. However, like most popular cocktails, the mai tais history is not without controversy. In 1944, after the success with several exotic rum drinks, victor felt a new drink was needed for trader vics. Modern tropical cocktails books got together and had a baby. Get ready to taste one of the most tasty rum cocktails. The mai tai is perhaps the most famous tiki cocktail for a good reason. Trader vic put mai tai on the lips of millions sfgate. Many people think this is a tropical fruit juice cocktail, but really, it is a strong rumbased drink. The recipe for the mai tai in the trader vics bartending guide book, is as follow. The mai tai is perhaps one of the best examples of a cocktail that has a good combination of tropical flavors and where quality ingredients are important to get the right flavor. The mai tai was created in 1944 by victor bergeron at his tiki bar trader vics in emeryville, california, which he served to some friends from tahiti.
We found amazing cocktail books to help boost your home bar, hone your drinkmixing craft, and get more enjoyment out of every single sip. Trader vic, when making this drink for two friends, got the response of mai tai roa ae. The original mai tai recipe or recipes, depending on which version of the history books you read never included fruit juices. The mai tai is a cocktail based on rum, curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. At the time, rumbased polynesian tiki cocktails, such as the mai tai and planters punch, were all the rage in north america. The founding fathers of tiki, don the beachcomber and trader vic, actually went to court over the rights to the drink, claiming that they were both the original creators.
Scorpion recipe published in 1946 by trader vic, who invented it in oakland, california. Having been in the barrestaurant business since 1934, he had become known for his eclectic blend of foods cooked in a woodfired oven, as well as his ability to create irresistible rumbased cocktails. The mai tai history and its recipes explained senior liqueur. The mai tai is the quintessential torch carrier of tiki. Check out our patreon page if youd like to help support us.
Various books from victor bergeron described using rum from jamaica as well as from martinique, which in modern usage is a rhum agricole. Its the tale of a professional rivalry between two california restaurateurs. Mai tai translates from tahitian mai tai roa ae which means out of this world, which they exclaimed after drinking. The mai tai is perhaps the canonical tiki cocktail and there are innumerable recipes for it. The mai tai is an alcoholic cocktail purportedly invented at the trader vics polynesianstyle restaurant in oakland, california in 1944. It is one of the most classic and actually one of the most fought over.
Provided by trader vics to the search for the ultimate mai tai. Bellini invented in 1948 at harrys bar in venice by arrigo cipriani. Originally made with 17yearold jamaican rum, imported french orgeat, dutch curacao and freshsqueezed lime juice, the mai tai quickly became a phenomenon. It is thought that the mai tai was created in 1944, by a bartender known as trader vic, or victor jules bergeron, in oakland, san francisco. A history of the mai tai, a tiki drink, plus the trader vics recipe. The book covers in light detail the history of tiki, basics of rum, and then presents fairly straightforward and simple recipes. Top secret recipes trader vics world famous mai tai. It made its flowery foray into american culture between the 1930s and 50s, thanks to tropicalminded entrepreneurs like ernest raymond beaumont gantt a.
Her mai tai recipe is in the drink section at the back of the book. Bartendingcocktailsmai tai wikibooks, open books for an. From the best bottles, tools and techniques for building your home bar to the history of classic cocktails and the best bars for drinking them, these are all the basics youll need. The more recent cocktail boom has continued to fuel the revival, and the mai tai now appears on menus alongside classics like the manhattan. It calls for falernum caribbean liqueur flavored with cloves, almonds and limes instead of orgeat an orangealmond syrup. The cocktail has evolved considerably since its first creation and now there are numerous versions of the mai tai recipe out there. Apr, 2020 mai tai definition is a cocktail made with rum, curacao, orgeat, lime, and fruit juices. The complete timeline of when famous cocktails were invented. The recipe has changed throughout the years using younger rums and various fruit and citrus juice measurementsyou can find these other versions of the mai tai posted around the internet. Get your swimsuit ready, were taking you to hawaii. Similar to a daiquiri, thanks to its base of white rum and lime juice, this beautiful cocktail also incorporates dark rum, orange curacao and.
Okay, not really, but this roundup of tropical mai tai drinks will have you feeling like youre sitting on a beach somewhere. Post world war ii, interest in south pacific culture exploded in the cocktail world, fueling the tiki boom of the midcentury. It shouldnt be served tall, it shouldnt be served in a ceramic tiki mug, it should be served in this glass, decorated or undecorated, and this glass only. Recipe 1 oz gold rum 1 oz dark rum 1 oz triple sec 12 oz lime juice 12 oz orgeat syrup garnish. Mar 24, 2014 the revival in tiki cocktails, as a form to treat with respect as opposed to mai tai mixes and bottled hurricanes arose in the naughts, as the craft cocktail scene began to emerge. The number of rumbased drinks in his books easily outweighs other sources although i have yet to lay my hands on one of beachbum berrys books. Vodka martini extradry appeared at the stork club in new york in 1946.
Mai tai jeffrey morgenthaler bartending and cocktail. Remixed, is mostly a recipe book for any tiki enthusiast, but, sippin safari, is a truly fascinating account of the tiki craze that was arguably the most. A more detailed history of this drink, along with its variants can be found on our mai tai cocktail page. Although the recipe wasnt written down until 1862 by jerry thomas in the bartenders guide, sours were a basic recipe for centuries. Lets learn a bit of tiki drink history around donn beach, trader vic and mariano licudine. Trader vics amicable rival, founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and clubs donn beach of don the beachcomber restaurants, also claims to have created in the first mai tai in. No strange or unusual ingredients, like you sometimes find in these recipe books. Bergeron loved the flavor profile of the punch, so he appropriated it for his mai tai recipe. The original mai tai combines rum with lime, triple sec, orgeat, and rock candy syrup. Feb 22, 2019 the more recent cocktail boom has continued to fuel the revival, and the mai tai now appears on menus alongside classics like the manhattan, the sazerac, and the widows kiss.
There is even a trader vics mai tai mixer available in some stores. Mai tai sing, pioneering chinese american entertainer. This tropical favorite was first blended in california by saloon owner victor trader vic bergeron in 1944. The mai tai, history, a recipe, a how to, an explanation and. April is tiki month on our channel and you need to be prepared. Apr 04, 2017 the story of the mai tai is inexorably linked to the history of tiki bars and exotic drinks. The mai tai is the usual drink of the character frannie halcyon in the armistead maupin book series, tales of the city. Don the beachcomber, the founding father of tiki restaurants, has his stake on the mai tai as well. The mai tai started as a rum cocktail so popular it supposedly depleted world rum supplies in the 1940s and 50s.
History and mystery of the iconic tiki restaurant, is an outstanding and detailed exploration. The mai tai has an interesting history that was somehow lost in modernization, as was the recipe. I have this coworker her name is mimi and she is a hoot to say the least. Falernum is a spice and limebased caribbean liqueursyrup with a very. If the hot summer weather has got you feeling in the mood for something tikitiki, the tropical mai tai cocktail might be just what you need. The book is written by someone who knows the restaurant intimately. The libbey 816 cd 15 ounce double old fashioned glass is the unsung hero of the mai tai. The heroine is keeping some pretty pertinent information from the hero and i was on the edge of my seat waiting for the sht to hit. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cherries and shake until cold and frothy, 30 to 45 seconds. The best cocktail books for the home bartender best products. In 1944, when the cocktail was invented by victor j. Mai taid up has romance, humor, drama, classy music, cocktails, and some tear jerking doggie moments. So vic named his drink mai tai, and the rest is cocktail history.
He served polynesian food with a mix of chinese, french and american dishes cooked in woodfired ovens. Aug 03, 2006 but the real trick to the mai tai is the glass. Jun 30, 2015 a brief history of tiki culture, and the origins of the mai tai. Classic mai tai cocktail how to make it easy and simple. In the 1950s, some young americans took to drinking vodka mixed with ginger ale, a drink called the moscow mule. Try our mai tai recipe and learn how to make the perfect cocktail with jamie oliver s drinks tube. Trading the sports theme for tiki aesthetic, victor bergeron converted his oakland, calif. The mai tai is the king of tiki cocktails and one of the most enduring of all vintage cocktails, but like most classic drinks there is controversy over its origin while.
Bergeron in 1944 at his restaurant, trader vics in oakland, california. The mai tai is the quintessential tiki cocktail as far as im concerned. Most current recipes for mai tais based on trader vics 1944 recipe include rum, lime juice, orgeat syrup, and orange liqueur typically orange curacao. A refreshing concoction of more than 50 cuttingedge mai tai recipes, along. Bartendingcocktailsmai tai wikibooks, open books for an open. The ultimate tropical cocktail this mai tai is my one of my favorite summertime drinks. The heroine is keeping some pretty pertinent information from the hero and i was on the edge of.
Mai tai sing was the hostess and coowner, along with her brothers, of the ricksha bar, a popular cocktail lounge and piano bar in san franciscos chinatown, from 1959 to 1970. Combine light rum, gold rum, orange curacao, orgeat, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. A must have for anyone who has ever had a mai tai that contains grenadine and wondered, as i did, why the hell is this horrid drink so famous. Plus fullcolor vintage graphics and original drink photography. A south seas traveler, bergeron eventually introduced his mai taitahitian for the very bestto the hawaiian islands. Mai tai cocktail there has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of the mai tai, and many have claimed credit. Ive been wanting to learn how to make a proper tiki drink ever since we got a tiki bar in town. The way you should know the mai tai was invented by trader vic in 1944 and it was awesome. Tiki bars popped up all over the country, each attempting to. Both of these were likely a combination of stoleninspired drink called the qb cooler invented by don the beachcomber in 1937.
One of those littleknown classics we love to dig out of the history books, the japanese cocktail is a simple combination of cognac, orgeat, and bitters. Its a heavy, hardcover treasure, 174 large, fullcolor pages, packed with incredible images youve never seen before. There was, for a time, a bar in australia selling a mai tai made from original ingredients including the j. The mai tai was also prominently featured in the elvis presley film blue hawaii. There is few stories about the beginning of this great rum drink. Bergeron refutes this claim in his book, trader vics. The story of the mai tai is inexorably linked to the history of tiki bars and exotic drinks. The flavor of this great rum wasnt meant to be overpowered with heavy additions of fruit juices and flavorings, warned the.
The revival in tiki cocktails, as a form to treat with respect as opposed to mai tai mixes and bottled hurricanes arose in the naughts, as the craftcocktail scene began to emerge. Wray and nephew rum orange curacao, rock candy syrup sugar syrup 2. A fantastic resource for cocktail methods, recipes, materials and paraphernalia as much as it is a really engaging read on tiki history. Mai tai cocktail recipes and origins diffords guide. Its kind of like if 2019s minimalistic tiki and tiki. For more information, please read my disclosure policy. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple and a maraschino cherry.