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    Home » Recipes » Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai)

    December 16, 2016 Christmas

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai. My holiday twist to the classic cocktail that makes it perfect for Christmas! 
    Thanks to Koloa Rum Company for providing me with rums to create these fun cocktails for you all. 

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    I know people probably think the pina colada is my favorite drink being that my blog name is pineapple and coconut and all, but that is my second favorite cocktail. My first love is the Mai Tai. It is the quintessential tiki cocktail that has been made over so many ways, and every version is amazing. 

    That to this day people still dispute where it originated - by Trader Vic's or Don The Beachcomber. I have tried so many different versions of the mai tai and have loved every single one. This is my holiday version. The Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai aka the Christmas Mai Tai.

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    The original mai tai had lime juice as its main juice along with either Orgeat, a sweet almond syrup with hints of apricot and orange that lends a very unique flavor that is distinct to mai tais or Falernum, a sweet syrup with almond, ginger, cloves and lime.

    Don The Beachcomber's mai tai uses Falernum, Trader Vic's uses orgeat. Both use a more concentrated version of simple syrup. Instead of a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water it's more like a 2:1 so it is a heavier, sweeter syrup. Often called rock candy syrup.

    Three bottles of koloa rum

    The rums used in mai tais can vary greatly. Trader Vic's original recipe starts with an amber Caribbean rum and finishes the drink with a float of a dark Jamaican rum. Don the Beachcomber uses a gold rum and finishes with Meyer's plantation rum. Trader Vic's is a simpler recipe than Don's.

    Both are quite excellent though and I like making a combination of both since I love the simplicity of Trader Vic's and the complexity of Don's with the addition of bitters and grapefruit juice. I made these with Koloa Rum's gold and spiced rum, spiced for that Christmassy touch and a float of the dark.

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    When I was on vacation in Kauai this summer I shopped at the Koloa Rum Company store several times and on my last day on island I spied this coconut rum cane sugar and bought a few packs. I knew it would be perfect for rimming glasses for cocktails like this Christmas Mai  Tai.

    bag of koloa rum coconut sugar

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    I am not the biggest fan of grapefruit so when I make Mai Tai's I substitute pineapple juice and sometimes half pineapple half guava juice. When we were married on Kauai, our signature wedding drink was a Mai Tai with guava juice and we recreate them every year on our anniversary.

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    For garnish I went with a classic Christmas cocktail garnish of sugared cranberries, pineapple cut into the shape of a pineapple a sugar cane swizzle stick and mint. There are many recipes online for sugared cranberries and I used the one that I used for my Christmas White Chocolate Cranberry Layer Cake a couple years ago.

    I also happened to have a small pineapple cookie cutter which I used to cut out pineapple shaped pineapple instead of a traditional wedge. One of my favorite things about tiki cocktails is their garnishes.

    I have been to many tiki bars and restaurants and the garnishes have always been fun and over the top. It adds to the tiki-ness off the drinks and I love it.

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    I also added in Tiki Bitters. I have become a fan of using bitters in cocktails this year and I had no idea that there were so many flavored bitters made until I did a little research. Tiki Bitters have spices such and cinnamon and clove and it is reminiscent of Falernum. I bought the Tiki Bitters off Amazon, but they can also be found in well stocked liquor stores.

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai)

    Shanna
    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com Makes 2 cocktails
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Servings 2

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 ounces Koloa Gold Rum
    • 2 ounces Koloa Spiced Rum
    • 1 oz orange curacao
    • 1 oz Orgeat
    • 2 ounces lime juice
    • 1 ½ ounce pineapple juice
    • 1 ounce cranberry juice
    • ½ ounce concentrated simple syrup**
    • 6-8 drops Tiki Bitters
    • 1 oz Koloa Dark Rum

    Garnish:

    • Simple Syrup
    • Sugar, Koloa Coconut Rum Sugar
    • Sugar Cane Swizzle Stick
    • Sugared Cranberry Skewer
    • Mint
    • Pineapple slices, cut into shape of pineapple if desired

    Instructions
     

    • Fill two large rocks glasses all the way with crushed or pebble ice. Add the gold and spiced rums. Add the remaining cocktail ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until well chilled then divide between the glasses. Float a little dark rum on the top of the drinks then garnish with the pineapple, sugared cranberry skewers, sugar can swizzle stick and a large sprig of mint. Serve immediately

    Video

    Notes

    For a more concentrated simple syrup either use 1 ½ C sugar to 1 cup water or 2 cups sugar to 1 cup water and heat until the sugar is completely melted and the syrup has thickened. Chill completely before using.
    This recipe can be made into larger amounts for a party. I would suggest combining the orgeat, curacao, juices and bitters into a pitcher or large jar and keeping chilled until ready to use. Make drinks as stated above starting with the rums, add thing the juices and then the float of dark rum.
    I joined up with some other fabulous bloggers to share our unique Christmas cocktails. Please give them all a visit!

    The Perks of Being Us - Sparkling Pomegranate Raspberry Vodka Martini

    Another Tablespoon - Rummy Egg Nog

    De Socio in the Kitchen - Winter Wonderland White Sangria

    Michelle Sips & Savors - Old Fashioned Apple Cider & Bourbon Milk Punch

    NibbleNNest - Grand Royale Champagne

    The Migoni Kitchen - Holiday Red Sangria

    Krazy Kitchen Mom - Cranberry Margaritas

    My Dayly Kitchen - Earl Grey Old Fashioned

    Keeping it Simple Blog - Aperol and Soda

     

    Mele Kalikimaka Mai Tai ( Christmas Mai Tai) #Drinkmas www.pineappleandcoconut.com

    Cheers and happy Aloha Friday!!! Thanks again to Koloa Rum Company for providing the rums for the cocktails I have made all week. Two more days left of Drinkmas!!

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    1. Danielle says

      December 17, 2016 at 5:17 am

      Another beauty! You've been tempting me all week with these gorgeous rum drinks! I have no doubt they taste divine. I'd love to have a party with all of them, styled the same way. Mele Kalikimaka!

      Reply
      • Shanna says

        December 17, 2016 at 12:05 pm

        Thank you so much!!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Friday Finds 12.13.19 – My Recipe says:
      December 13, 2019 at 6:46 am

      […] you need one thing unique. Christmas Mai Tai from Shanna at Pineapple & Coconut is for […]

      Reply
    2. Winter Wonderland White Sangria - de socio in the kitchen says:
      February 26, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      […] […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Shanna. Welcome! 16 + years food blogging. I am a self taught baker, cook and mixologist and longtime photographer. I love making healthy meals, sweet treats and fun cocktails. Hope you enjoy my recipes!

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