Post #757152 by JenTiki on Tue, Jan 12, 2016 9:20 AM

On 2016-01-12 07:33, Warboys wrote:
On the subject of a Mai Tai, how do people feel about Rumdood's rum combo?

http://rumdood.com/2009/01/26/a-month-of-mai-tais/

His best combo calls for Appleton Estate 12 Year Old and Clement VSOP, which seem easily acquirable.

Mai Tai was definitely a consideration for my base drink since I read that blog about a month ago. Very scientific stuff :wink:

Rumdood definitely knows his stuff and that particular combo is pretty true to the original. But if you're going to invest in those products (neither is inexpensive) just for a mai tai then you should also use the proper ice. The small ice is necessary for proper dilution. Otherwise your drink will not have the proper balance. If you can't afford an electric crusher right now, there's nothing wrong with using a hand-crank one, that will cost you less than a bottle of either of those rums. As long as you get one that has an all-metal mechanism, it will work fine. I bought a vintage one from the '70s on eBay and it works great if I'm just making a few drinks. I'd buy bagged crushed ice if I were making more. Here's one almost exactly like mine that would work: http://www.amazon.com/Metrokane-7174-Retro-Ice-Crusher/dp/B00022KIXU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1452619058&sr=8-9&keywords=manual+ice+crusher

Also, note that the names of the Appleton Rums have changed recently. The Appleton Estate 12 is now Appleton Estate Rare Blend.