Mai Tai Pictures

I thought I'd start a thread to solicit opinions on the "best" mai tai's and how they should "look". I've taken a few pictures of mai tai's from various places, and would like to see yours. One of the best mai tai's I have had was at "The House Without A Key" on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, December 2, 2005.

I took this picture of a guy making my drink:

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:29 ]

Update - I now realize what a real mai tai should look like and how it should taste. This mai tai had pineapple juice in it - and that's just WRONG! (but that's how most are made in Hawaii).

[ Edited by: tikigap 2008-12-07 18:16 ]

[ Edited by leevigraham on 2022-04-05 15:57:35 ]

Mmm... That's a good lookin' Mai Tai. Now if I could just figure out how to drink through my screen.

Last night I went to the Pacific Restaurant in Sterling Virginia. I was VERY impressed. I had a zombie and a mai tai. The zombie was light pink in color and just strong enough. The mai tai was shaken (Unlike House Without a Key), and also the right color. Very tasty!

Here's the pics:

First, the mai tai:

Second: the zombies - I really like the blue mermaid mugs.

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:30 ]

my mai Tai at the house without a key

[ Edited by: kon-hemsby 2006-02-12 01:22 ]

On 2006-02-08 07:10, tikigap wrote:
Last night I went to the Pacific Restaurant in Sterling Virginia. I really like the blue mermaid mugs.

Those blue mermaid mugs look nice. I hadn't really noticed them before.
Dynasty Mermaid Mug Blue a.k.a. DW109
http://www.dynastywholesale.com/page-2.html
http://www.ooga-mooga.com/cgi-bin/all/mug.cgi?mode=view&mug_id=677

[ Edited by: TikiSan 2006-02-08 16:38 ]

Blue mugs and more common mugs try tikibosko.com
here is a link:

http://www.tikibosko.com/tikimugs.htm

On 2006-02-08 16:32, TikiSan wrote:

Who sells those blue mermaid mugs? I haven't seen those before.

You can find the mermaids, a surfer girlie, pineapple mugs, and a couple of other supplies for the tiki bar (see the volcano bowl) at the Chef's Resource for reasonable prices:

http://www.chefsresource.com/ultimatechefstore/trmegl.html

I got my blue mermaids at a chinese restaurant in Arlington Virginia that sells them along with a bunch of other mugs. Like posted above, dynasty wholesale has them too. There are a few varities of blue mermaids. The ones in the pictures are the best ones; they're the largest of the 3 kinds i've seen, and have the best detail. The color is a little darker than the other two kinds, too.

a.k.a. Mayor of Forbidden City

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-02-10 20:52 ]

Here's a photo of David Chan and his Clan from the (now expired) Honolulu Restaurant in Alexandria Virginia, standing in front of his signature mai tai's (10 of them!). They were delicious concoctions, so say the least. That was in March 2004.

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:13 ]

Here's another one. I was in Taipei in 2004 and TV's was going strong then (See post on locating tiki).

MMMmmmm good.

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:27 ]

On 2006-02-08 14:13, Kon-Hemsby wrote:
my mai Tai at the house without a key

posted whilst drunk listening to Hawaii by th Beach Boys

That's a good lookin' one! What a great place the House without a key...

What about pics of homemade mai tais? These were served at the amazing home of Fellow Moai Jim "Chisel Slinger" Robinson.

(As mixed by yours truly and photographed by our very talented shutter bug pal Erica Hardesty.)

Sometimes the best cocktail is the one crafted at home, no?

Ahu

Absolutely! Those are masterpieces! Nice job! It's a little early here on the east coast, but I think I'll make one for myself now and try to make it look as good as yours! I'll post a picture if it's worthy...

Now THAT is how a Mai Tai is supposed to look!

A Mai Tai should ALWAYS be shaken and NEVER have a float - EVER! (And what's with the ones in the pic from the Honolulu? What's that 'stuff' at the bottom? Looks like they've been sittin' out so long all the ice has melted! Blecch!)

Doctor Z
The Castaway Lounge & Casino
Redondo Beach, CA
R.I.P.
4/20/02 - 12/10/05

[ Edited by: Doctor Z 2006-08-25 10:48 ]

Now THAT is how a Mai Tai is supposed to look!

A Mai Tai should ALWAYS be shaken and NEVER have a float - EVER! (And what's with the ones in the pic from the Honolulu? What's that 'stuff' at the bottom? Looks like they've been sittin' out so long all the ice has melted! Blecch!)

Agreed. The Honolulu's Mai Tais have not been shaken yet! They do look similar to the Taipei Trader Vics picture when they are shaken... those were real good drinks at the old Honolulu.

Here's a mai tai (and my wahini) from the TV in the London Hilton, from August 2003:

It was pretty good - but I still think the one in Taipei was better.

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:18 ]

Here's a mai tai that I got in Amsterdam. It sucked. Too pink. I cannot remember the hotel where I got this lame drink... too bad - forwarned is fore armed, or something like that.

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:15 ]

The Chinese restaurant near my house makes the same pink nasty looking Mai Tai, but I keep going back to the place because the food is so good. I have never ordered another one of their Mai Tais.

[ Edited by: captnkirk 2006-02-13 18:12 ]

Sorry to hear that! I'd look for another Chinese Restaurant, or if you're a regular, do what I did and teach them how to make one correctly! It worked well for me!

Here's a mai tai from Forbidden City in McLean Virginia. It tastes pretty good, but as you can see, it's missing a mint sprig. I got this drink tonight...

[ Edited by: tikigap 2006-08-25 08:20 ]

A Lounge of the Seven Pleasures Mai Tai in the 60th anniversary Trader Vic's glass-

"You're getting more interesting by the drink!" -Pepe le Tiki

[ Edited by: Sabina 2006-03-13 13:24 ]

[ Edited by: Sabina 2009-03-03 17:34 ]

sabina, that mai tai looks fantastic...I'm sooo thirsty now.
Great picture

Somehow, I just don't think it'd make the hop across the pond in good shape :( Otherwise...

That one looks very professional! Nice job! I'd like to get me a set of those glasses!

We got our glasses from the Trader Vic's in Atlanta- (let me assure you, no excuse is ever needed to head down there- just go! No regrets!)

But if you can't make the trek, just head on over to the Trader Vic's website. The glasses can be found here- http://www.tradervicsfoodproducts.com/default.asp just click on "barware" in the left column.

[ Edited by: Sabina 2006-03-15 02:49 ]

Hey Sabina, Rob just got those, not bad, what I think is really nice is the Vic's shaker. It's pricey, but it performs as advertised. One of the nicest shakers I've used and I have a few at the house—only one of which, comes close. It forms a great seal with any respectable glass. I may consider one for myself.

Great thread, I'm going to have to mix up a Mai Tai and see if I can't get a decent photo to post.

By the way, nice meeting you folks.

Hi Foamy! It was good to meet you too, the other night - let's see a Foamy Mai Tai! Are you going to ikitnrev's party in April?

foamy, I'm ALMOST convinced, I've been contemplating the TV shaker for a while now. You've given me more to chew on. Mahalo!

This thread, and you folks are inspiring me to get some more pix going. As an aside, retracing my steps here, I BELIEVE the photo I took above was essentially the grog log recipe, (and yeah, there should be a garnish of pineapple on that too).

If any other folks post home bar Mai Tai pix I'd be interested in which recipes they're using and any specific touches they use in garnishes etc.

On 2006-02-13 11:14, Doctor Z wrote:

Now THAT is how a Mai Tai is supposed to look!

A Mai Tai should ALWAYS be shaken and NEVER have a float - EVER! (And what's with the ones in the pic from the Honolulu? What's that 'stuff' at the bottom? Looks like they've been sittin' out so long all the ice has melted! Blecch!)

DrZ,
David Chan - owner and mixologist at the Honolulu - was a bartender at the DC Vics for years before opening his own place. He had his own secret Mai-Tai mix and believe me when I say his drinks were ono. Actually, he was bottling and selling the mix just after they closed the restaraunt. I have a bottle, but have not opened it for sentimetal reasons. No idea if it can still be purchased though.
KG

[ Edited by: Kailuageoff 2006-09-11 16:15 ]

Yes! It can still be purchased. Check out their website http://www.time2tiki.com! It's good stuff. I might know where to get a recipe for that. PM me.

On 2006-03-15 02:48, Sabina wrote:
... But if you can't make the trek, just head on over to the Trader Vic's website.

Thanks ES - !

I just ordered a box of 6 glasses for $49. I can't afford the shaker though. That's another $50...plus shipping...ugh!

Now look what I've gone and started!

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing- to other people's wallets! :wink:

"You're getting more interesting by the drink!" -Pepe le Tiki

[ Edited by: Sabina 2006-03-15 14:15 ]

On 2006-03-13 13:22, Sabina wrote:
A Lounge of the Seven Pleasures Mai Tai in the 60th anniversary Trader Vic's glass-

---

"You're getting more interesting by the drink!" -Pepe le Tiki

[ Edited by: Sabina 2006-03-13 13:24 ]

One day, I must have a Mai Tai in The Lounge of Seven Pleasures!!

You folks have a standing invitation- anytime!

But, now that the Waldorf has reopened on weekends, we may just have to bring some Seven Pleasures Mai Tais to you- if only by way of beginning to say thank you for all the kind hospitality over the "Holy shit, it's a Tiki event in Vancouver!" events.

You two, your fine mixology, Funhauser, the garden, and your wondrous "Beautility" are all missed very much!

Here are two photos of the Mai Tai's from the Mai-Kai. (Say that 10 times fast!)

The first photo is without the flash and it looks to dark, the second with the flash and it looks too light. Split the difference, or drink three or four and you have it.

The drink is not really this dark and reddish.

This is closer to the actual color of presentation, but the flash washes out all of the garnish.

And, here is the best view of any Mai-Tai, regardless of mixologist or location

Yo C&A - Very nice pics! I gotta try a Mai Kai Mai Tai ten times real fast!

Alright, odd little detail questions here, as you can see from the Mai Kai Mai Tai pix, they dust both the mint and the orchid with powdered sugar. Where the heck did that come from, is it used on other drinks outside of the Mai Kai, and does anyone else do it on Mai Tais? OR is it just one of the many unique aspects of the Mai Kai's Mai Tai?

Also, what do people think of orchids in their Mai Tais? Does the faint scent work with the mint for you, or do you find it distracts?

My pic and review of the Mai Kai's Mai Tai is HERE. Keep in mind I'm a bit of a purist... a Mai Tai ain't a real Mai Tai unless it's a Trader Vic Mai Tai.

[ Edited by: Chip and Andy 2009-06-05 17:47 ]

*On 2006-03-19 21:36, Sabina wrote:*What do people think of orchids in their Mai Tais? Does the faint scent work with the mint for you, or do you find it distracts?

I love it. It reminds me of the Mai Tais I wasn't even old enough to drink when my folks took me to Hawaii. My Dad enjoyed them and I thought they were the most amazing things. We also attended a fruit buffet on Waikiki beach where the food trays were sunk in ice, the ice being entirely covered in tiny purple orchids. I remember my folks marveling at how many orchids it would take to cover that big table. Something about seeing my parents excitement over the flower has stuck with me, and whether or not it's the most historically correct garnish for a Mai Tai, it's my favorite.

As for the subtle scent of the orchid and mint effecting the flavor, I remember a segment on CBS Sunday Morning about a very creative chef who vaporizes anise into an inflatable place mat then pokes tiny holes in it so when the dish is lowered onto the little pillow the sent is forced out mixing with that of the entree to effect the overall flavor.

On 2006-02-07 11:12, tikigap wrote:
I thought I'd start a thread to solicit opinions on the "best" mai tai's and how they should "look".

I'm not voting this one the best, it really needed more dark rum for my taste. This was taken at Daytona Beach, FL.

Mai Tai's

Enjoying

a small bar at Daytona Beach

Mobile Tiki BarHome Tiki Bar

http://www.mobiletikibar.com
http://www.rumreviews.com

[ Edited by: MobileTikiBar 2006-04-11 16:37 ]

Yeah, looks like it needs more dark rum, but the orchids are nice!

Midnite's Mai-Tai Montage from his trip(s) to the London Trader Vic's.

Great montage! Man! I'm thuurrsty!

I mixed a Mai Tai and thought I would post a picture of it here.

It tasted much much better than it looked.
I used Beachbum Berry's $100 Mai Tai Recipie and I recomend it to everyone.

This pic was taken by Trader Woody at the London Luau, they may not look overly fancy, but they contain one very special ingredient... J. Wray and Nephew 17 year old Rum or apparently how it is correctly named "Trader Vics Personal Selection" as used in the Original Mai Tai Formula.
Thanks to Stockton for his generosity in letting us drink these!

Okay, technically this is -not- a Mai Tai, its a Hula Hula. Still, I thought you would enjoy the photo.

My wife had one of these

Both from Chan's Dragon Inn in Ridgefield, NJ.

[ Edited by: Jason Perlow 2006-07-06 17:10 ]

Home-built Mai Tai. She had eaten the pineapple already.