Orange Curacao-VS-Blue - Tiki Drinks and Food

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Sun, Dec 21, 2003 12:31 PM Orange Curacao, Triple Sec, and Cointreau do taste different and although one could substitute one for another it would not be a true Mai Tai if using triple sec or Cointreau. Trader Vic did change the brand of Curacao from DuKuyper to Bols because he liked it better, but the original recipe always had orange Curacao. Triple sec would be cheaper (which seems to be the goal for badmojo) but it would taste more sweet and less dry and bitter). Cointreau is a wonderful liquor in many cocktails but it may be too complex in a Mai Tai, and it is definitely more expensive than Curacao. If one drink needs to be as close to the orginal as possible the Mai Tai is that drink - it's the iconic drink of the whole Tiki bar era, and so many bartenders have messed it up in the past to the point that it didn't even taste close to the original. badmojo, I realize that orange Curacao may be hard to get in some places but it can be purchased online (including the Bols brand that Trader Vic preferred). Check these out (a whole Liter can be had for as low as $7.36!): http://www.liquorama.net/product.asp?0=200&1=208&3=18552 http://www.internetwines.com/rws19265.html Tiki bar rule one: don't mess with the Mai Tai.

Orange Curacao, Triple Sec, and Cointreau do taste different and although one could substitute one for another it would not be a true Mai Tai if using triple sec or Cointreau. Trader Vic did change the brand of Curacao from DuKuyper to Bols because he liked it better, but the original recipe always had orange Curacao. Triple sec would be cheaper (which seems to be the goal for badmojo) but it would taste more sweet and less dry and bitter). Cointreau is a wonderful liquor in many cocktails but it may be too complex in a Mai Tai, and it is definitely more expensive than Curacao.

If one drink needs to be as close to the orginal as possible the Mai Tai is that drink - it's the iconic drink of the whole Tiki bar era, and so many bartenders have messed it up in the past to the point that it didn't even taste close to the original.

badmojo, I realize that orange Curacao may be hard to get in some places but it can be purchased online (including the Bols brand that Trader Vic preferred). Check these out (a whole Liter can be had for as low as $7.36!):
http://www.liquorama.net/product.asp?0=200&1=208&3=18552
http://www.internetwines.com/rws19265.html

Tiki bar rule one: don't mess with the Mai Tai.

Post #65881 by thejab on Sun, Dec 21, 2003 12:31 PM