Post #119196 by Johnny Dollar on Tue, Oct 12, 2004 8:42 AM

so we all know that this is the 60th anniversary of the mai tai, created by trader vic in 1944, at the bar in his oakland restaurant.

per the "original formula" (courtesy TV website)

"2 ounces 17-year-old J. Wray Nephew Jamaican rum
1/2 ounce French Garnier Orgeat
1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao
1/4 ounce Rock Candy Syrup
juice from one fresh lime

Hand shake and garnish with half of the lime shell inside the drink and float a sprig of fresh mint at the edge of the glass."

so recently i have acquired "Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink," copyright 1946. Knowing that at this point the Mai Tai had been invented, I searched the index then the whole book for the Mai Tai recipe. Nada. But on page 69, there is:

"TRADER VIC PUNCH

Here's a drink that's easy to make and especially enjoyed on hot days.

1/2 orange
1/2 lemon
1 1/4 ounces dark Jamaica rum (Red Heart or Myers's)
1 1/4 Puerto Rican rum (Ron Merito or Brugal)
1 slice pineapple
1 teaspoon sugar [0.17 oz - ed. j$]
1/2 teaspoon orgeat syrup (almond flavoring) [0.08 oz - ed. j$]

Squeeze orange and lemon; drop in glass; add handful shaved ice, liquor, fruit, and rest of ingredients; hand-shake and serve unstrained in a 14-ounce stubby glass"

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