5 Mai Tai Variations To Try At Your Next Tropical Themed Cocktail Night
Bringing brightness, flair and a certain tropical flourish to your cocktail night is a mai tai, crafted with the perfect balance of light and white rums. Finished off with the flavours of lime juice, curaçao liqueur and orgeat syrup, this fruity drink has a vibrant taste and persona that makes it an excellent choice for a gathering marking a special occasion or an important day.
And the mai tai is just as versatile as it is fruity and colourful. Mai tai variations which contain subtle twists and ingredient additions that bring more flavour into the drink can be concocted to explore its structures even more.
The drink can be blended using regional produce and seasonal fruits in ways that accentuate its ability to embody these local flavours effectively. And at a themed gathering, these mai tai renditions might just be what add that heightened tropical flourish to your house party.
Read on below to know more about some of the mai tai variations that you can try out at the next tropical themed cocktail night you host at home:
Spiced Masala Mai Tai
A version inspired by desi flavours and masalas, the spiced mai tai swaps out the orgeat syrup with a hint of sweet jaggery syrup. It also incorporates a masala-infused syrup which lends the drink a lightly spicy quality that brings forth a combination of deep yet syrupy flavours. A spiced masala mai tai can be finished off with a garnish comprising coconut shavings and fresh mint leaves. A sprinkling of crushed cinnamon powder atop the cocktail further plays into the essence of the cinnamon and cloves that are already added to the recipe, lending it depth and an earthy nuance.
Pineapple Mai Tai
While pineapple is a very well-known tropical garnish used to adorn the mai tai, making its flavours more pronounced in the cocktail can go a long way in preparing a variation which is infused with enhanced tropical flavours. Add freshly squeezed pineapple juice to the mai tai recipe for this tangy, sour and juicier touch. Not only does this build a beachy vibe into the cocktail, but when the drink is adorned with a pineapple wedge and cherry garnish, it further adds into the fruity notes of the variation to craft a truly bright, seasonal blend.
Also Read: Pairing Mai Tais With Bar Bites At Your Next Tiki Party? Here are 5 Dishes To Choose From
Mai Tai With A Mezcal Twist
A thoroughly tropical flavour combination, about 5 ml mezcal comes together with 10 ml dark rum and white rum each to prepare a drink which carries a smoky flair. Quite unsurprisingly, the fruity touches of lime and orange present in the mai tai tend to blend very well with the smoky notes of the mezcal, as do the tart and caramelised notes of the two rum variations to bring about a brilliant fusion of tropical ingredients. The earthy notes of the mezcal also build a lot of depth and flavour complexity into the cocktail.
Mango Chilli Mai Tai
Sweet and spicy, the brilliant flavour contrast of mango pulp and spicy chilli shines ubiquitously in cocktail craft. The mai tai then is no different. This variation comprises a fleshy mango pulp that integrates into the rum variations to balance sweet and tart flavours. The bright flair in the recipe is occasioned by the addition of the chilli powder sprinkle, functioning as a garnish atop the finished blend. Rimming the serving glass with chilli salt can also be an interesting garnishing alternative to bring forth the interplay of tropical flavours.
Frozen Coconut Mai Tai
A creamy, dense and nutty concoction complete with coconut flavours, this mai tai variation is perhaps tropical vibes at their finest. Prepare a frozen mai tai by blending all ingredients with crushed ice so the drink gets a slushie-like consistency. What will bring the classic creamy touch into the cocktail is sweet coconut milk. Serve the drink in a hurricane glass with a tender coconut shavings garnish for that heightened tropical nuance.
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