Trader Vic's Mai Tai Mix - Product Review:

I’m typically a strong advocate for fresh, homemade ingredients when it comes to making cocktails - however, every once in a while, I’ll take a shortcut (as long as it doesn’t compromise taste).

When it comes to tiki cocktails, there are even fewer of these shortcuts available, as the quality of ingredients usually directly dictates the end result (as this type of cocktail often relies on fresh fruit and citrus). For me, the Mai Tai is a good example of a drink which is just complicated enough to make a shortcut feel desirable.

While recently shopping at my favorite liquor store (Beverage Warehouse in LA), I stumbled upon the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Mix. Originating from one of the giants of the tiki world, I felt a sense of obligation to give it a try and see how it holds up to my homemade recipe.

The Trader Vic’s Mai Tai mix did not disappoint, tasting very similar to the Mai Tai I usually make (and taking a quarter of the time). The mix doesn’t even need to be stored in the refrigerator after opening - which is a huge plus if cocktail ingredients take up half of your fridge space (as they do in my house).

While I’m still an advocate for using fresh ingredients when you can, it’s okay to cheat every once in a while (as long as it tastes as good as Trader Vic’s Mai Tai mix)...

Trader Vic's Mai Tai (using mix):

Glassware:  Double Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Mix
• 2 oz dark rum (we used Bacardi Black)
• Juice of 1 lime

Cocktail Steps:
Pour Mai Tai mix and dark rum into a double old fashioned glass, over crushed ice. Squeeze the lime juice into the drink, and give it a swirl with a bar spoon.

Garnish:
Sprig of mint and/or lime wheel

Wayward Spirits Rating:
Overall Score – 4.5

For the reasons mentioned above, the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai mix earns 4 stars for taste (similar to the Mai Tai I make from scratch), and an addition .5 star for being a huge time saver.

Moving forward, this Mai Tai mix will be a new addition to my liquor cabinet for those days I’m feeling too lazy to break out the fancy homemade syrups and juices.

I look forward to reviewing some of the other products Trader Vic’s has to offer, but happy drinking until then!

You may (or may not) have noticed that it’s been some time since my last blog post.  In full disclosure, I’ve been trying out a new diet that has been kicking my butt, and I’ve felt a little bit tired of rum the last couple of weeks.

To get out of this “rum funk”, I decided to dabble with the lighter side of tiki cocktails, and try the Max’s Mistake recipe from Smuggler’s Cove SF.  It’s a gin-based tiki cocktail, with passion fruit, citrus, and honey.  Certainly lighter than the coconut cream drinks I’ve been whipping up recently, and a delicious option for those hot summer days when dark alcohol just doesn’t sound appealing.

The following feature will provide the origins of the drink, necessary ingredients, and steps for making it at home.  Cheers!
 
Max’s Mistake - Brief History:

According to Smuggler’s Cove, the drink was created while Martin Cate was bartending at Trader Vic’s and named after the “Ray’s Mistake” at Tiki-Ti (one of my personal favorites here in LA).  Max’s Mistake was an accidental combination of two other drinks.
 
Recipe/ Instructions:

Glassware:  Brandy Snifter or Pearl Diver Glass

Ingredients:

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz passion fruit syrup (we used Monin)
• ½ oz honey syrup (see below for honey syrup recipe)
• 2 oz dry London gin (we used Botanist gin)
• 1 dash of Angostura bitters
• 2 oz Fentimans Victorian Lemonade (or any quality dry sparkling lemonade)

Honey syrup recipe (if needed):

1. Use equal parts honey and water (i.e. 1 cup honey to 1 cup water)
2. Heat the honey in a saucepan over medium heat until runny/watery, just before boiling point (roughly 2-3 minutes)
3. Add the water to the honey and whisk mixture together
4. Remove from heat and let cool – store in a sealed contain in the refrigerator for up to several weeks

Cocktail Steps:
Combine all ingredients (except the sparkling lemonade) in a cocktail shaker, and shake for 10 seconds.  Pour over crushed ice, and then top off with the Fentimans Sparkling Lemonade.  Finally, give the drink a quick stir with a bar spoon.

Garnish:
Garnish with a sprig of mint.
 
Wayward Spirits Rating:
Overall Score – 4.5

This cocktail was exactly what I needed to get over my “rum funk”.  Max’s Mistake is a delicious and light tiki drink that is bound to please those who prefer slightly sweet drink that does not taste too “boozy”.   The passion fruit, lemon, and honey compliment the gin beautifully, making this another “keeper” for the recipe book.

Try adding a bit more Fentimans Sparkling Lemonade if you don’t taste enough citrus the first time around.