Three Outs Mai Tai – Saturday Sips

Three Outs Mai Tai – Saturday Sips

The final out in our triple play of Mojitos, Mai Tais, and Mules: the Three Outs Mai Tai.  You want swag? You want bling? Want an excessive amount of accessories that are just there to have a good time?  The Three Outs Mai Tai (one out for every type of booze in it) is exactly what you need to up your game.  Smooth as a 6-4-3 triple play, swagger enough to make even the most hardened fan smile.

Like a scout looking for the next superstar, this one takes a little more legwork to find the perfect ingredients, but once they combine, you’ll have a knockout cocktail that will thrill the crowd!

STARTING LINEUP:

• 1oz Jamaican Rum
• 1oz Agricole Rum
• .75oz Lime Juice
• .5oz Orange Curacao
• .5oz Orgeat
• BATTING ORDER:

Add all ingredients to the shaker.  Shake with several crushed ice cubes.  Open pour (ice and all) into your cocktail glass, or, ideally, favorite tiki mug.  Take one of the spent lime halves and place it into the drink.  Garnish with additional crushed ice, mint, a couple straws (for pretending you’re going to share), an umbrella, a swizzle stick, and any other festive accoutrements you have lying around.  If you can’t see the drink anymore, you’ve done tiki right.

NOTES FROM THE MANAGER:

The Mai Tai has a colorful history, literally!  You may have previously seen them in any number of colors, from bright red to electric blue.  The recipe listed here is the original 1944 concoction from Trader Vic’s in California, made without any bright juices or coloring, and thus has a rather subdued amber hue.  

There is no one right rum to use in a Mai Tai, but there are definitely ideal types of rum to get the correct balance of flavors.  The first rum should be a Jamaican for its distinct “rum funk”, which still gives you a wide range of options.  The second should be an agricole, or ideally a Martinique rum.  However, you can sub in whichever rum you happen to have handy (try to avoid spiced rums), and come away with a quality drink.  

Orange Curacao and Triple Sec are different names from very similar liqueurs.  In the likely case that all you have on hand is Triple Sec, you’ll still be fine.  Orgeat can be acquired from most grocery stores, beverage supply stores, or online.  Some varieties are little more than sugar and flavoring, so try to find one where the main ingredient is actually almonds.  This cocktail is slightly more involved than your standard 3-ingredient drink, but it presents a unique flavor that most people don’t often experience outside of an authentic tiki bar.