Post #321272 by Chip and Andy on Thu, Jul 26, 2007 7:30 AM

I would increase your Amaretto just a wee bit since it is not technically Almond and it is the nutty-ness on the nose that I like.

I would increase your Cointreau to close to 3/4 ounce. I find it to be less sweet than Curacao.

I like my drinks to stay on the tart side so I wouldn't adjust your bar syrup at all, but that is my taste.

And then, more specifically to your question as to what it 'should' taste like.... That's tough to explain if you don't have a reference point. Let's try this....

A Mai-Tai should look good in the glass, smell good on the nose, taste balanced and exotic on the tounge. And the whole experience should evoke images of far-away places with exotic people serving you drinks. A good Mai-Tai always makes me think of Bora-Bora or some similar deep pacific island. I have never been to any of those islands, but I like to imagine them while I enjoy a Mai-Tai.

And, the Mai-Tai is sort of a Holy-Grail of drinks around here. Search Mai-Tai and you will find LOTS of threads discussing this very question. And more importantly, you must keep trying to make a good Mai-Tai. And even more importantly, you have to report back your findings!