Post #757158 by kkocka on Tue, Jan 12, 2016 10:16 AM

I'll echo the blending thing - blending is an option to mix your drink, but in reality shaking is just as good. In fact, speaking of RumDood, he used to not blend anything (if he does) and preferred shaking. He probably still shakes and gives it a hearty shake for maybe 30-40 seconds. It does the job well. As far as Mai Tai rums I tend to use Appleton VX and El Dorado 5 or 8 - same styles of rums just not aged as long as the 12 of course. I view my Clement as special as it is more expensive than my Demerara or Jamaican rums, but wouldn't hesitate to drink a Mai Tai with it.

I actually think starting from the Jet Pilot is a great idea! Grapefruit juice, lime, cinnamon syrup, pernod, bitters...these things are used in lots of other drinks. From here you can easily make a zombie by adding the grenadine to your bar ingredients too. Although some people have suggested starting from a Mai Tai, as it's a very popular drink, I might think differently. Fewer drinks use orgeat syrup than they use falernum. The Mai Tai would require you to keep some curacao however, which is also very essential.