Go Back
Mezcal Mai Tai

Mezcal Mai Tai

Wes McDermott
A smoky mezcal twist to the classic Mai Tai. The Mezcal Mai Tai replaces the Martinique Rhum Agricole used in Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipes. As with Rhum Agricole, mezcals have earthy grassy notes, so they can work very well in cocktails that would use rhum agricole primarily. The smoky flavour profile of the mezcal can be quite overwhelming so I recommend you use a Dark rum that has a strong molasses taste.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 1 Cocktail

Ingredients
  

  • 30 ml Dark Rum I used Plantation Rums' Original Dark
  • 30 ml Mezcal I used Quiquiriqui Mezcal, but you could use any good mezcal to provide the smoky earthiness flavour.
  • 30 ml Fresh Lime Juice
  • 15 ml Triple Sec
  • 15 ml Agave Syrup
  • 7.5 ml Orgeat

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add 4/5 ice cubes.
  • Shake until shaker gets really cold.
  • Fill an old-fashioned glass (or your favourite mai tai glass) with cracked or pebble ice.
  • Strain into the glass.
  • Garnish with a generous bunch of fresh mint leaves and a dehydrated lime wheel (or your squeezed lime shell).
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Garnish

Use our Dehydrated Lime Wheels.

Mezcal

Mezcal is relatively easy to get a hold of. Amazon has several different mezcals available.

Dark Rums

Although I used Plantation Original Dark Rum, any Jamaican or Barbados Rum Amber-Dark in colour will do fantastic.

Orgeat

Orgeat is a sweet almond syrup that's an essential ingredient in the original Mai Tai and many other Tiki cocktails. You can make this yourself, or you can buy it ready-made. Not all Orgeat is created equal, however. If you want a true authentic Tiki flavour then your Orgeat should only include Almonds, Sugar, water, orange flower water, and brandy. 
See our Orgeat Syrup
Keyword agave, dark rum, lime, mai tai, mezcal, orgeat, rum, tiki, tiki cocktail, triple sec