The Mai Tai was once widely considered to be the world’s most famous mixed drink. In fact, the Mai Tai’s popularity was blamed for a world-wide shortage of quality rum in the mid-60s. So, it is not surprising that more than one person claims to be it’s originator. Don the Beachcomber claims to have created the Mai Tai in 1933 at his tiki-themed restaurant in Hollywood. However, his recipe is significantly different from that of the well known Mai Tai created by Trader Vic in 1944 at his tiki restaurant in Oakland. Nonetheless, even though the two Mai Tais are dissimilar in taste, the more complicated Beachcomber Mai Tai has similarly become a popular vacation relaxant since Don first put it on his menu in 1965 and deserves inclusion (behind Trader Vic’s) in the Mai Tai Hall of Fame.
What Is In The Don The Beachcomber Mai Tai?
The Don The Beachcomber Mai Tai ingredients are Myer’s Plantation Rum, Cuban Rum, Cointreau, Falernum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Angostura Bitters, Pernod, and crushed ice.
Myers’s Rum Original Dark 
Cuban Rum 
Cointreau 
Falernum 
Grapefruit Juice 
Lime Juice 
Angostura Bitters 
Pernod
Don The Beachcomber Mai Tai Recipe
Don The Beachcomber Mai Tai Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz Myer’s Plantation Rum (or Appleton)
- 1 oz Cuban Rum
- 1/2 oz Cointreau
- 1/4 oz Falernum (sweet syrup)
- 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 3/4 oz lime juice
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 dash Pernod
- 1 cup cracked ice
Instructions
- Combine rum, Cointreau, Falernum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, bitters,pernod, and cracked ice into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously (and we mean VIGOROUSLY, it truly makes the difference between a good Mai Tai and a great Mai Tai). Strain into an old fashioned glass over shaved ice and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Nutrition
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Additional Mai Tai Recipes
→ If you liked these Trader Vic’s Mai Tai recipes, try more of our favorites on our Mai Tai Recipes page.
Olivia co-founded Make Drinks in 2013 and serves as its Coffee and Cocktails editor … yes, incongruous competing categories for sure. However, bartending her way through college while obtaining a Bachelor’s in Computer Science at U.C. Berkeley left her abundantly prepared for this position. Oh, and two kids in tow. Coffee in the morning, cocktails at night … Ponce de León never knew the elusive fountain was so close.
Good – but MUCH more sour than a regular Mai Tai.
Sweet, sweet, nectar of the gods :-)
Mmmmmmmmm, makes me want to go to Hawaii and sit in the sun!
Don the Beachcomber makes a pretty good Mai Tai, but I much prefer the taste of the original Trader Vic’s Mai Tai.
Ohhh …I love the bitters and pernod. I still think the Mai Tai should be garnished with a pineapple ;-)