Print

Perfect Classic Mai Tai Recipe with Dark Rum Float and Orchid Garnish

Perfect Classic Mai Tai - featured image
Print Recipe

A refreshing and balanced classic Mai Tai cocktail featuring light rum, fresh lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, and a smoky dark rum float, garnished with an exotic orchid flower.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 oz light rum (white or light rum like Bacardi or Cruzan)
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 1.5 large limes)
  • 1/2 oz orange curaçao
  • 1/2 oz orgeat syrup (almond syrup)
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup
  • 1/2 oz dark rum (for float, aged rum like Myers’s or Gosling’s)
  • Crushed ice
  • Orchid flower (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Juice the limes to get 1 oz (30 ml) of fresh lime juice.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz light rum, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz orange curaçao, 1/2 oz orgeat syrup, and 1/4 oz simple syrup.
  3. Fill the shaker halfway with crushed ice.
  4. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled and frosty.
  5. Fill a glass with fresh crushed ice and strain the cocktail over it, leaving room at the top.
  6. Slowly pour 1/2 oz dark rum over the back of a spoon held just above the drink’s surface to float it on top.
  7. Garnish with a fresh orchid flower on the rim or floating on top.
  8. Serve immediately and enjoy, sipping slowly to experience the layered flavors.

Notes

Use fresh lime juice for best flavor; bottled lime juice is not recommended. Crushed ice chills and dilutes the drink properly. Pour dark rum slowly over a spoon to float it on top. Adjust sweetness with simple syrup or orgeat syrup as needed. Orchid garnish adds elegance but can be substituted with mint or lime wheel if unavailable. Store leftover mix (without dark rum float) in fridge up to 24 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mai Tai, classic cocktail, dark rum float, orchid garnish, tiki drink, tropical cocktail, summer drink, easy cocktail

Find it online: https://lemonydrinks.com/perfect-classic-mai-tai-recipe-with-dark-rum-float-and-orchid-garnish-tips/