Beach Cocktail DIY: The Mai Tai

The sweet and tangy Mai Tai has its roots in Hawaii, right? Nope. It first came to be in Oakland, California. Folklore has it that the owner of Trader Vic’s created it in 1944 for some friends who were visiting from Tahiti.

Bud and Alley’s Pizza Bar and Trattoria in Seaside, Florida has some seriously good mixologists on staff. Head bartender Ryan Moroz makes this layered and complex beach drink with ease every day, and tourists and locals alike flock to it.

– 1 oz light rum

– 1/2 oz orange curacao

– 1/2 oz passionfruit

– 1/2 oz orgeat syrup  (a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and rose water or orange flower water)

– 1/2 oz lime juice

– 1 oz dark rum floater

Then slowly pour dark rum over the top of the entire drink, Garnish with orange wedge.

Serve with a straw to get the full effect of this delicious beach staple.