Post #711479 by Destro100 on Tue, Mar 18, 2014 7:05 AM

Not a Mai Tai and not a Swizzle:

Drink 49: Mai Tai Swizzle (Don the Beachcomber)

Ingredients I used:

Fresh lime juice
White grapefruit juice (from carton 100% pure unsweetened)
Controy (worthy imitator of Cointreau)
John D. Taylor Velvet Falernum
Myer's Dark Rum
Smith & Cross Rum
Flor De Cana 7 year Gold Rum
Pernod
Angostura bitters

From what I can tell, Don the Beachcomber didn't often have to follow Trader Vic's lead, but when it comes to the notorious Mai Tai, Don apparently had to come up with some variation of his own. I for one am very glad that he did. But aside from the glass and unstrained delivery - this does not bear much resemblance to a Mai Tai.

This also does not truly resemble a traditional swizzle. As far as I can tell, swizzles are usually served in tall glasses and incorporate "swizzling" in the glass to produce a nice rich and frosty glass.

That being said, this drink is delicious. It's complicated, balanced, and tasty. I decided to use a combination of the Myers and Smith & Cross to substitute for Myer's Plantation, which I suppose is not being made any longer. The combination of the three rums really worked well together. Myer's brought the dark molasses flavor, Smith & Cross brought the funk, and Flor De Cana brought the sugar, smoothness and body to the drink.

The combination of lime, grapefruit, Pernod, and Angostura create a wonderful harmonious bitter background that lets the drink stand apart. In general, Don's use of pernod has always impressed me for its originality in tiki drinks. A word of warning - be careful with the Pernod, it can easily overpower a drink. 6 drops are perfect.

Finally, I liked the spice that the falernum brought to the drink and in the future I may increase the quantity.

Overall, this is a great drink, but the real question is: Is it better than the original: The Mai Tai?

My personal rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5)

SCORECARD:

4.5 ALMOST PERFECT - 2 drinks so far
Chief Lapu Lapu / Kikuya Lapu

4 - EXCELLENT - 10 drinks and counting
Colonel Beach's Plantation Punch /Aurora Bora Borealis / Outrigger / Bourbon Special / Beachcomber's Gold (Hollywood and Palm Springs) / Hell in the Pacific / Krakatoa / La Florida / Tortuga / Mai Tai Swizzle

3.5 - VERY GOOD - 13 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Punch / Coronado Luau Special / Hawaii Kai Treasure / Coconaut / Castaway (slightly modified) / Don's Special Daiquiri / Banana Daiquiri / Captain's Grog / Viking Fog Cutter / Navy Grog / Hurricane / Lani-Honi / Mariposa Fizz

3 - GOOD - 12 drinks and counting
Eastern Sour / Astro Aku Aku / Kapu Kai / Western Sour / Beachcomber's Gold (Waikiki) / Red Tide / Samoan Fog Cutter / Gold Cup / Headhunter / Fogg Cutter / Noa Noa / Aku Aku Lapu

2.5 - ABOVE AVERAGE - 4 drinks and counting
Jasper's Jamaican / Derby Daiquiri / Carioca Hawaiian Cocktail / Hawaiian Room

2 - AVERAGE - 6 drinks and counting
Beachcomber's Gold (Chicago) / Lychee Nut Daiquiri / Fog Cutter / Von Tiki / Planet of the Apes / Rum Runner

1.5 - BELOW AVERAGE - 2 drinks and hopefully not too many more
Boo Loo / Royal Daiquiri