There is few stories about the beginning of this great rum drink. 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 mai tai took a star turn by earning a prominent role in the elvis film blue hawaii. A refreshing concoction of more than 50 cuttingedge mai tai recipes, along. 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. It calls for falernum caribbean liqueur flavored with cloves, almonds and limes instead of orgeat an orangealmond syrup.
Mai tai jeffrey morgenthaler bartending and cocktail. Bellini invented in 1948 at harrys bar in venice by arrigo cipriani. The mai tai, history, a recipe, a how to, an explanation. Plus fullcolor vintage graphics and original drink photography. 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. Trader vic, when making this drink for two friends, got the response of mai tai roa ae. Bartendingcocktailsmai tai wikibooks, open books for an open. 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. Each sip invokes dreamy images of sunsets on sandy beaches, cobalt blue water and lush tropical islands. The man who led the way was jeff beachbum berry, perhaps the worlds biggest tiki fan. Bergeron refutes this claim in his book, trader vics. Okay, not really, but this roundup of tropical mai tai drinks will have you feeling like youre sitting on a beach somewhere. 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.
Her mai tai recipe is in the drink section at the back of the book. Its the tale of a professional rivalry between two california restaurateurs. Apr 19, 2010 trading the sports theme for tiki aesthetic, victor bergeron converted his oakland, calif. A more detailed history of this drink, along with its variants can be found on our mai tai cocktail page. Combine light rum, gold rum, orange curacao, orgeat, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. However, like most popular cocktails, the mai tais history is not without controversy. The heroine is keeping some pretty pertinent information from the hero and i was on the edge of. Wray and nephew rum orange curacao, rock candy syrup sugar syrup 2.
Various books from victor bergeron described using rum from jamaica as well as from martinique, which in modern usage is a rhum agricole. 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 recipe for the mai tai in the trader vics bartending guide book, is as follow. The mai tai was also prominently featured in the elvis presley film blue hawaii. Get your swimsuit ready, were taking you to hawaii. Check out our patreon page if youd like to help support us.
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 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. Mai tais, like most classic cocktails, have an uncertain history with two california restauranteur rivals both claiming they invented the drinks. In 1944, when the cocktail was invented by victor j. The mai tai is the quintessential tiki cocktail as far as im concerned. This is the seoul street where cocktails reign supreme. Trading the sports theme for tiki aesthetic, victor bergeron converted his oakland, calif. For more information, please read my disclosure policy. The ultimate tropical cocktail this mai tai is my one of my favorite summertime drinks. The mai tai has an interesting history that was somehow lost in modernization, as was the recipe. 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.
Trader vics rival, don the beachcomber, claimed to have created it in 1933 at his thennew eponymous bar later a famous restaurant in hollywood. 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. The dtb version of the mai tai varies quite a bit than the trader vics cocktail. Its a heavy, hardcover treasure, 174 large, fullcolor pages, packed with incredible images youve never seen before. 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. No strange or unusual ingredients, like you sometimes find in these recipe books. In the 1950s, some young americans took to drinking vodka mixed with ginger ale, a drink called the moscow mule. A fantastic resource for cocktail methods, recipes, materials and paraphernalia as much as it is a really engaging read on tiki history. 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. Mai tai sing, pioneering chinese american entertainer. The way you would like the mai tai more was adapted in 1954 by the royal hawaiian hotel. In 1933, he opened a small restaurant in hollywood, decorated it with old fishing nets, ships lanterns and the like. A south seas traveler, bergeron eventually introduced his mai taitahitian for the very bestto the hawaiian islands.
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. 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. Modern tropical cocktails books got together and had a baby. Variants may include the addition of falernum, bitters, grenadine, orange and grapefruit juices, and so on.
The real mai tai recipe you will find in here will knock your. At the time, rumbased polynesian tiki cocktails, such as the mai tai and planters punch, were all the rage in north america. The mai tai is a cocktail based on rum, curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. Originally made with 17yearold jamaican rum, imported french orgeat, dutch curacao and freshsqueezed lime juice, the mai tai quickly became a phenomenon. He served polynesian food with a mix of chinese, french and american dishes cooked in woodfired ovens. In any event, trader vics mai tai is the one that became the iconic tiki drink and rightly so, as its the better recipe.
Scorpion recipe published in 1946 by trader vic, who invented it in oakland, california. 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 is the quintessential torch carrier of tiki. There was, for a time, a bar in australia selling a mai tai made from original ingredients including the j. History and mystery of the iconic tiki restaurant, is an outstanding and detailed exploration. Vodka martini extradry appeared at the stork club in new york in 1946. Ive been wanting to learn how to make a proper tiki drink ever since we got a tiki bar in town. The mai tai history and its recipes explained senior liqueur. Post world war ii, interest in south pacific culture exploded in the cocktail world, fueling the tiki boom of the midcentury. Aug 03, 2006 but the real trick to the mai tai is the glass. Lets learn a bit of tiki drink history around donn beach, trader vic and mariano licudine. Provided by trader vics to the search for the ultimate mai tai. April is tiki month on our channel and you need to be prepared. Top secret recipes trader vics world famous mai tai.
Mai taid up has romance, humor, drama, classy music, cocktails, and some tear jerking doggie moments. The cocktail has evolved considerably since its first creation and now there are numerous versions of the mai tai recipe out there. The mai tai is perhaps the canonical tiki cocktail and there are innumerable recipes for it. Mai tai translates from tahitian mai tai roa ae which means out of this world, which they exclaimed after drinking. There is even a trader vics mai tai mixer available in some stores. Illustrating a story on the history of the mai tai cocktail, assitant bar manager of trader vics restaurant, jim shoemake, makes a mai tai. Add the remaining ingredients, except the cherries and shake until cold and frothy, 30 to 45 seconds. The original mai tai recipe or recipes, depending on which version of the history books you read never included fruit juices. Apr 04, 2017 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. It can be garnished with various fruits, as in the above recipe. 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. 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. Bergeron in 1944 at his restaurant, trader vics in oakland, california. 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. Tiki bars popped up all over the country, each attempting to. Most current recipes for mai tais based on trader vics 1944 recipe include rum, lime juice, orgeat syrup, and orange liqueur typically orange curacao.
Don the beachcomber, the founding father of tiki restaurants, has his stake on the mai tai as well. 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 libbey 816 cd 15 ounce double old fashioned glass is the unsung hero of the mai tai. 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. 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. It is one of the most classic and actually one of the most fought over. The mai tai started as a rum cocktail so popular it supposedly depleted world rum supplies in the 1940s and 50s. In 1944, after the success with several exotic rum drinks, victor felt a new drink was needed for trader vics. Bartendingcocktailsmai tai wikibooks, open books for an. The mai tai, history, a recipe, a how to, an explanation and. Similar to a daiquiri, thanks to its base of white rum and lime juice, this beautiful cocktail also incorporates dark rum, orange curacao and. 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. 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. 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 way you should know the mai tai was invented by trader vic in 1944 and it was awesome. Cocktail mug for mai tai, punch, pina colada, and tropical bar drinks. 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. Jun 30, 2015 a brief history of tiki culture, and the origins of the mai tai.
Bergeron loved the flavor profile of the punch, so he appropriated it for his mai tai recipe. 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. The more recent cocktail boom has continued to fuel the revival, and the mai tai now appears on menus alongside classics like the manhattan. I have this coworker her name is mimi and she is a hoot to say the least. 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. There has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of the mai tai, and many have claimed credit. The story of the mai tai is inexorably linked to the history of tiki bars and exotic drinks. The mai tai became such a popular cocktail in the 1950s60s that many restaurants, particularly tikithemed restaurants or bars, served them. A history of the mai tai, a tiki drink, plus the trader vics recipe.
The complete timeline of when famous cocktails were invented. The mai tai is perhaps the most famous tiki cocktail for a good reason. The mai tai is the usual drink of the character frannie halcyon in the armistead maupin book series, tales of the city. This tropical favorite was first blended in california by saloon owner victor trader vic bergeron in 1944. Both of these were likely a combination of stoleninspired drink called the qb cooler invented by don the beachcomber in 1937. Mai tai d up the cocktail series book 4 alice clayton. The original mai tai combines rum with lime, triple sec, orgeat, and rock candy syrup. Try our mai tai recipe and learn how to make the perfect cocktail with jamie oliver s drinks tube. The mai tai is an alcoholic cocktail purportedly invented at the trader vics polynesianstyle restaurant in oakland, california in 1944. The best cocktail books for the home bartender best products. Get ready to taste one of the most tasty rum cocktails. Vic created his mai tai to showcase a 17yearold rum imported by j. Many people think this is a tropical fruit juice cocktail, but really, it is a strong rumbased drink. Sign up for my email subscription and never miss a recipe.
Mai tai recipe and history how to make a mai tai cocktail. What to make with orgeat, the secretweapon cocktail. 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. The book is written by someone who knows the restaurant intimately. Falernum is a spice and limebased caribbean liqueursyrup with a very. Trader vic put mai tai on the lips of millions sfgate.
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. Why you should be using infused salts in your drinks. Recipe 1 oz gold rum 1 oz dark rum 1 oz triple sec 12 oz lime juice 12 oz orgeat syrup garnish. Mai tai cocktail there has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of the mai tai, and many have claimed credit. Mai tai cocktail recipes and origins diffords guide. Trader vics is credited with inventing the drink, and the first person to try it was said to cry out mai tai. Its kind of like if 2019s minimalistic tiki and tiki. So vic named his drink mai tai, and the rest is cocktail history. The book covers in light detail the history of tiki, basics of rum, and then presents fairly straightforward and simple recipes. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple and a maraschino cherry. Apr, 2020 mai tai definition is a cocktail made with rum, curacao, orgeat, lime, and fruit juices. Dissolve 2 parts white sugar to 1 part water on heat.
It will be nothing that resembles the actual mai tai that was created around the 40s. The mai tai is a tropical and fruity rum based cocktail. Although the recipe wasnt written down until 1862 by jerry thomas in the bartenders guide, sours were a basic recipe for centuries. Nowadays, cocktail aficionados are bringing back the original flavors of the mai tai and bringing justice to its history. Classic mai tai cocktail how to make it easy and simple. 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. It made its flowery foray into american culture between the 1930s and 50s, thanks to tropicalminded entrepreneurs like ernest raymond beaumont gantt a.
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