Post #692023 by AdOrAdam on Fri, Aug 30, 2013 11:01 AM

Went to the Merchant Hotel in Belfast, smelt their bottle of Wray & Nephew 17 - bottled at barrel proof is now 154%! From the smell it is not what I expected, smelt soft & nice but I'm sure the funk would have been in the taste.

It was about £50 a teaspoon at the old price & they don't sell it anymore as they only have a little left. The barman did said they were to going to start producing it again (maybe its a rumour?). Thats probably the closest Im going to get to a 'authentic' mai tai.

Had a $200 mai tai (Appleton 21, Clement Shrubb, Clement VSOP) - underwhelmed given the cost of ingredients! Tried a sample of Clement VSOP & Clement Shrub for the 2nd time neat - have added them to my shopping list.

Went over the road to the Spaniard, had another mai tai (Hawaiian style, OJ & pineapple), sampled Skipper demerara rum neat & had a double Plantation 2000 Barbados neat. Will add both to my shopping list!

Two mai tais, a sipper & 4 confirmed on the shopping list = today was a good day!