During the early 1950s Trader Vic took the Mai Tai to Honolulu while creating drinks for the Matson Line Hotels. Equally strong evidence suggests that Vic was aware of Donn’s; for the whole tangled history, check out pages 64 through 72 of our book Beachbum Berry Remixed. Then sit back, relax, and get ready for a tropical treat with a sophisticated interplay of flavors: the layers of sweetness from the Curaçao (dark and rich), orgeat (floral and cloying), and simple syrup (pure sugar), the puckering acid of the lime, and the deep, woody undertones and slight burn of the rum. The success of the Mai Tai and its acceptance soon caused the 17-year-old rum to become unavailable, so it was substituted with the same fine rum with 15 years aging which maintained the outstanding quality. Invented in 1944 at the Trader Vic’s restaurant in Oakland, California, this shaved ice sweet and sour concoction evokes images of … Sounds tasty and classy, right? This fact as well as problems with consistent quality in the other Jamaican London Dock Rums caused Trader Vic to make private arrangements, in the interest of high quality, to blend and bottle a Jamaican rum under his own  label and control. You purists and curiosity seekers must be wondering how to make Trader Vic’s original Mai Tai, a drink so popular that it made a type of rum virtually extinct. The tiki drink was more than ready for its close up in the 1961 Elvis Presley film, Blue Hawaii where the King belts out “Rock a Hula” to a party filled with hip folks sipping Mai Tais. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. 1944 mai tai £14.50 Original Mai Tai®, this is the original recipe from The Trader. Mint and lime? During this period Trader Vic had also changed the original Orange Curacao to one produced by Bols which was more to his liking. 10 years after that first restaurant opened its doors, Trader Vic created his legacy: the Mai Tai. Text copyright by Trader Vic’s. I originated the Mai Tai and have put together a bit of the background on the evolution of this drink, which has earned worldwide identification and acceptance. Mai Tai. Carrie took one sip and said, “Mai Tai – Roa Ae”. I’d rather drop all the drama and get to the part where we make this time-honored drink. Trader vic mai tai cocktail recipe. Following his history-making creation of The Original Mai Tai® in 1944, Trader Vic created over 200 signature cocktails. Instead of poaching Vic’s recipe, they asked him to create one for them. © 2021 CHOWHOUND, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Together with Donn Beach, from Donn the Beachcomber, they were the first one to start the tiki culture. California restaurateur Trader Vic is credited with invention of the mai tai. There has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of this drink. Learn how to cook great Trader vic mai tai cocktail . Trader Vic's locations, if you order a Mai Tai, be sure to order it "made the old way" to get the authentic recipe. |, How to Stick to Healthy Eating Resolutions for the New Year, The Best Places to Buy Baking Ingredients Online, Easy Shortcuts To a (Mostly) Homemade Valentine's Day Dinner, 13 Easy Ingredient Swaps for Healthier Cooking, Easy Low Sugar Breakfast Recipes to Start Your Day Off Right, Keep Your Gut Healthy with These Probiotic-Heavy Foods, The Most Comprehensive Guide to Yogurt You'll Find on the Internet, 9 Baking Mistakes That Ruin Your Cakes, Cookies, Brownies & Bread, How to Clean Your Dingy Baking Sheets So They Look Like New Again, A Guide to Essential Baking Tools Everyone Should Own, How to Host the Perfect Galentine’s Day Bash, How to Prepare a Hands-On Valentine's Day Finger Food Dinner, How to Throw a Beautiful Valentine's Day Party, The Most Romantic Valentine’s Day Cocktail Ingredients. “This is a monumental year for Trader Vic’s,” said Rhett Rosen, CEO Trader Vic’s Worldwide. Many have claimed credit, including Harry Owens. He introduced ten exotic drinks in the Royal Hawaiian‚s bar. This aggravates my ulcer completely. Hinky Dink soon became Trader Vic’s—a nickname given to him for his tendency to trade his food for goods and services. Best described as Paradise In A Glass®, each handcrafted cocktail is an experience all its own. Mai Tai drink is a rum-based tropical cocktail with a fruity flavor, it was created by Victor J. Bergeron in 1944 at his own restaurant Trader Vic’s in Oakland, California. Vic took his cocktail—the version with the 15-year-old rum and additional Jamaican rum for snap—and added pineapple juice and a few other flourishes to it. Victor J. Bergeron claimed to have invented the Mai Tai in 1944 at his restaurant, Trader Vic's, in Oakland, California. He introduced ten exotic drinks in the Royal Hawaiian’s bar. By the early 1960’s there were several Trader Vic’s restaurants. Plus, Don’s Mai Tai dates back to 1933, over a cool decade prior to the invention of the latter. The term translates to 'very good' and the name mai tai stuck. As with the other U.S. That was the Royal Hawaiian Hotel adding a bit of flair. You may unsubscribe at any time. The original mai tai In 1944 after success with several exotic drinks, a bit of serendipity happened that would not only place Trader Vic at the forefront of cocktail mixology, but would also earn him a place in … He thought about cocktails like Martinis, Manhattans, Daiquiris… but felt these were all too simple. The drink chilled nicely with a considerable amount of shaved ice so a large 15-ounce glass was selected to compliment the cooling and generous quality of the Mai Tai. This drink enjoyed great acceptance over the next few years in California and in Seattle when we opened Trader Vic’s there in 1948. Here’s Trader Vic’s Original Mai Tai Recipe. It is also the original Mai Tai recipe. In 1954 we further introduced the Mai Tai when we included it among other new drinks in bar service for the American President Lines. menehune juice £11 A secret blend of Island rums and nectars. Trader Vic Mai Tai Cocktail. Patch measures 3" x 4". Trader Vic added fresh lime juice, flavored and sweetened it with Orange Curacao from Holland and French Orgeat with its subtle flavor of almond. Add a little "Flair" to your wardrobe with our embroidered Iron-On Mai Tai Patch. It’s so delicious, you might spontaneously find yourself saying “Maita’i roa ae!”. In 1934, Victor Jules Bergeron, or Trader Vic as he became known, opened his first restaurant in Oakland, San Francisco. Here, a look at the origin of the mai tai, a resort cocktail classic that tastes like the tropics no matter where you are. 1 oz amber Martinique rum I have let Eddie Sherman, the columnist on the above mentioned Honolulu Star Bulletin, know who originated this drink and think it is time the general public knows that these are the facts of the evolution and growth of the Mai Tai. The History of the Mai Tai The Mai Tai started as a rum cocktail so popular it supposedly depleted world rum supplies in the 1940s and '50s. But that drink in your hand, the one with three different kinds of rum, lots of tropical fruit juice, and topped with a pineapple kebab and a pink paper parasol, while delicious in its own way, barely resembles the original drink, made famous in 1944 by Trader Vic. I took down a bottle of 17-year old rum. I took a fresh lime, added some orange curacao from Holland, a dash of Rock Candy Syrup, and a dollop of French Orgeat, for its subtle almond flavor. A History of the Mai Tai The founder of Trader Vic’s, Vic Bergeron, is said to be the creator of the Mai Tai cocktail. Following his history-making creation of The Original Mai Tai® in 1944, Trader Vic created over 200 signature cocktails. In … It is thought that theMai Tai was created in 1944, by a bartender known as Trader Vic, or VictorJules Bergeron, in Oakland, San Francisco. trader vic's mai tai £13.50 For many years our signature Mai Tai has been modified to perfection. But if you’d prefer to have a professional make one for you, find your friendly, neighborhood tiki bar—there are tons opening up all across the country—and order a 1944 Mai Tai (Make sure to specify the year!). 1 ounce 15-year old J. Wray Nephew Jamaican Rum, 1 ounce Coruba – or Red Heart Jamaican Rum, 1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Get one of our Trader vic mai tai cocktail recipe and prepare delicious and healthy treat for your family or friends. In 1944 after success with several exotic drinks, a bit of serendipity happened that would not only place Trader Vic at the forefront of cocktail mixology, but would also earn him a place in history. The tiki culture is a blend of the Polynesian and the Caribbean. TRADER VIC'S POP SOCKET (BLACK) $ 12.00 Trader Vic's POPSOCKETS! He became famous for his take on Cantonese cuisine and in-your-face marketing tactics, like letting tourists stick an … A generous amount of shaved ice and vigorous shaking by hand produced the marriage I was after. Trader Vic (a.k.a. Cocktail enthusiasts have come together to determine the liquor that will produce the best facsimile to J. Wray and Nephew 17. The Mai Tai caught on and within 30 days everyone had forgotten the other nine. Instructions for application on the 2nd image. It’s the same recipe, just two ounces of whiskey instead of the rum. This letter from Trader Vic Bergeron himself was put up for auction several years ago (source: Tiki Central). As Trader Vic wrote back in 1948, “for the life of me, I can’t see why any bar uses anything but pure fresh lemon or orange juice.” The Beverly Hills Trader Vic's … Cooler cocktail. Some say Don the Beachcomber and some say Trader Vic. If you want to read more about the history of the Mai Tai go here. With this dynamic facility and the increasing market Trader Vic decided to produce and bottle a total Mai Tai rum and also a Mai Tai flavoring mix under the Trader Vic label. However, the 15-year-old didn’t have the same oaky snap Vic had experienced from the 17-year-old rum, so he modified the recipe to be part 15-year-old rum, and part Jamaican rum to most closely mimic that flavor. And the pink parasol? One answer is that if you have $55,000 or so lying around, you could buy a bottle of 17-year-old J. Wray and Nephew when it next goes up for auction. Trader Vic's is a restaurant and Tiki bar chain headquartered in Emeryville, California, … It’s like your Old Fashioned whisked you away to an island. 2 ounces of 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice. Consistent quality was maintained in both a 15- and 8-year aging. True to its name, the Mai Tai was so lauded that word traveled fast. Trader Vic’s Tahitian guests thought so too. I mentioned in my previous Mai Tai post that there are two drinks that have credible claims to being the original Mai Tai, one made by Don the Beachcomber in 1933, and the other made by Trader Vic in 1944. At Trader Vic’s, the popularity of the mai tai depleted stocks of the J. Wray Nephew, so Bergeron adjusted the original recipe to accommodate rums that were easier to … Hand shake and garnish with half of the lime shell inside the drink and float a sprig of fresh mint at the edge of the glass. Mai Tai. The Mai Tai had developed into one of the most known and ordered drinks throughout the world and many people expressed interest in being able to make the Mai Tai at home. He became famous for his take on Cantonese cuisine and in-your-face marketing tactics, like letting tourists stick an ice pick in his wooden leg. Mix and serve as in the original formula. (Joe) Bergeron III, was developing a constantly expanding variety of items from the Food Products Company. All week (and all summer) long, we’ll bring you transportive flavors and travel-inspired ideas from around the world, so you can take your tastebuds on a trip and give your mind a mini vacation while you’re still at home. It’s fairly easy to get that Royal Mai Tai these days. I named the drink “Mai Tai.”. The Mai Tai sprung to life in 1944, not in Polynesia, but in Oakland, California – the masterpiece of Victor Bergeron, better known as Trader Vic. Trader Vic couldn’t buy the 17-year-old J. Wray and Nephew, the whole basis for the drink, fast enough. Having been in the bar/restaurantbusiness since 1934, he had become known for his eclectic blend of foods cookedin a wood-fired oven, as well as his ability to create irresistible rum-basedcocktails. In 1944, some special Tahitian guests had entered Vic’s Oakland restaurant. In 1934, he borrowed $500 and opened his first restaurant: Hinky Dink. Trader Vic (a.k.a. After success in the San Francisco Bay Area, he took the Mai Tai to Hawaii and its popularity rapidly spread throughout the … This combination became the Trader Vic Mai Tai rum as we know it today. Let’s add a fruit skewer. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr.) was a legend in the Bay Area food scene. Case in point: I was at the Beverly Hills branch of TV over the weekend. 1956 Mai Tai Another piece of the puzzle. He combined that rum with lime juice, simple syrup, orgeat (a sweet syrup made with almonds), and orange Curaçao. Trader Vic named the drink “Mai Tai” and while there are many variations, the original recipe can still be found at Trader Vic’s locations around the world. Best described as Paradise In A Glass®, each handcrafted cocktail is an experience all its own. When guests visitedfrom Hawaii, they were lucky enough to be treated to one of Vic’s new cocktailcreations. This desired nutty, and snappy flavor was added by the use of a Martinique rum. The Mai Tai Goes Hawaiian During the early 1950s Trader Vic took the Mai Tai to Honolulu while creating drinks for the Matson Line Hotels. It was J. Wray & Nephew from Jamaica; surprisingly golden in color, medium bodied, but with the rich pungent flavor particular to the Jamaican blends. The Mai Tai caught on and within 30 days everyone had forgotten the other nine. Trader Vic's Mai Tai recipe Don The Beachcomber's Mai Tai recipe Difford's Mai Tai recipe. So why does Trader Vic’s get the glory? Trader Vic's forerunner, Donn Beach, claimed to have instead first created it in 1933, although a longtime colleague said that Beach was actually just alleging that the Mai Tai was based on his Q.B. The popularity of the Mai Tai demanded that production on the bars be streamlined. In Tahitian this means “Out of This World – The Best.” Well, that was that. Others believe that, despite the difference in ingredients, they taste quite similar. Actually, that’s Trader Vic’s fault too! The people who now own Trader Vic’s in Honolulu (which at this time has no connection with the Trader Vic operations on the mainland) claimed it was originated in Tahiti …. And now you have all the tools you need to create Trader Vic’s original Mai Tai. Half the lime shell went in for color … I stuck in a branch of fresh mint and gave two of them to Ham and Carrie Guild, friends from Tahiti, who were there that night. THE ORIGINAL MAI TAIⓇ PARADISE IN A GLASS? Anyway, for the rest of us, we’ll need a substitute for the rum. While Trader Vic’s Mai Tai is a great drink, the Q. He wanted to make something new and unique for them, so he grabbed a bottle of 17-year-old J. Wray and Nephew rum off the shelf. Traveling the Bay Area and beyond to find the best Mai Tai in the world! This rum, which was aged in oak barrels, had a unique flavor profile Vic described as “nutty and snappy.” Vic wanted to show off those flavors, not mask them, so he made a drink that is closer to an Old Fashioned than our current conception of a typical tiki bar drink. Or really, make one yourself with this Royal Mai Tai Recipe. One sip and you may see a Menehune... pinky gonzalez £11 An old friend of Senor Pico®. Any old Kamaaina can tell you about this drink and of its rapid spread throughout the islands. Tiki, cocktails, and adventures by Kevin Crossman, by Victor J. Bergeron “Trader Vic”San Francisco, 1970. If you’re not lucky enough to be going to a tropical paradise this summer, one of the best ways to relax during a heatwave is still to lay out by the pool with a cold and fruity Mai Tai—hold the pool and you’ll still be having a great time. They exclaimed, “Maita’i roa ae!” which in Tahitian means “Amazing! The Mai Tai Goes Hawaiian During the early 1950s Trader Vic took the Mai Tai to Honolulu while creating drinks for the Matson Line Hotels. In 1934, he borrowed $500 and opened his first restaurant: Hinky Dink. Red Heart and Coruba were selected to be used in equal quantities along with the original 15-year-old to stretch the supply and maintain the character of the Mai Tai. Strong evidence suggests that Trader Vic developed his own Mai Tai, without any knowledge of Donn’s, in 1944. 1 of 2 Illustrating a story on the history of the mai tai cocktail, assitant bar manager of Trader Vic's restaurant, Jim Shoemake, makes a mai tai. Crecipe.com deliver fine selection of quality Trader vic mai tai cocktail recipes equipped with ratings, reviews and mixing tips. Best described as Paradise In A Glass®, each handcrafted cocktail is … Upon tasting, they exclaimed, “mai-tai roa ae”, which means “out oft… Following his history-making creation of The Original Mai Tai® in 1944, Trader Vic created over 200 signature cocktails. First he skillfully blended Jamaican rums and then added Martinique rum for its elusive and wonderful nutlike flavor and a bit of light Virgin Island rum for the smoothness of body. In fairness to myself and to a truly great drink, I hope you will agree when I say, “Let’s get the record straight on the Mai Tai.”. And we can extrapolate what happened from there: If two rums are good, then three must be better, and if pineapple juice is good, then multiple kinds of tropical fruit juices will jazz up the drink too. 50% OFF ALL MIXES! He wanted to take it a step further and create something balanced, new and fun. As the story goes, a guest took a first sip and exclaimed “Maita’i roa ae!”, which is Tahitian for “The very best!” or “Out of this world!” Don the Beachcomber's recipe is more complex than Vic's and some believe it tastes quite different. The history of the Mai Tai cocktail. ENDS 11/25 11:59PM PST. But I’m going to wager a guess that you probably don’t have that kind of cash gathering dust (though if you do and you buy a bottle, please invite me over!). Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr.) was a legend in the Bay Area food scene. In 1944, after success with several exotic rum drinks, I felt a new drink was needed. 1 ounce Trader Vic’s Jamaican Rum (15 or 8 year old), 1 ounce Martinique Rum (St. James or Trader Vic’s), 1 ounce pre-mixed Curacao, Orgeat and Rock Candy Syrup. Trader Vic’s Mai Tai, the quintessential “Tiki” cocktail, is a Polynesian favorite. It is estimated that several thousand Mai Tais are served daily in Honolulu alone, and we sell many more than that daily in our eighteen Trader Vic’s restaurants throughout the world. He served the rum and juice cocktail to friends visiting from Tahiti, who exclaimed, 'Maita'i roa ae!'. Not colorful enough for such a tropical drink! After pouring dark rum, orange curacao, French orgeat, lime juice and rock syrup, he proudly exclaimed “It’s Mai Tai Roa Ae!”, which is Tahitian for “Out of this World – The Best!” Used with permission. I thought about all the really successful drinks; martinis, manhattans, daiquiris …. It is a celebration of rum and is citrus-tart, slightly sweet flavor with nutty-smokey aroma. Each individual bar was instructed to pre-mix the Curacao, Orgeat and Rock Candy Syrup in appropriate amounts. Earlier this year, a long time friend from Tahiti, Carrie Guild (now Mrs. Howard Wright), sent me a column from a Honolulu newspaper which once again has raised the argument over where the Mai Tai was born and who originated it. Photo taken in … So how did this classic cocktail become adult fruit punch? Owning history is one thing, but understanding it … Out of this world!” Vic adopted the name and thus, the Mai Tai was born. With coronavirus making travel a tricky and even potentially dangerous prospect this year, we’re embracing the summer staycation. Victor Jules Bergeron, better known as Trader Vic, was the owner of a tiki restaurant of the same name. I was at the service bar in my Oakland restaurant. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest tips, tricks, recipes and more, sent twice a week. Vic found the next best thing: 15-year-old J. Wray and Nephew, supplies of which, shortly thereafter, also began to run low. The Mai Tai was so acclaimed that the Royal Hawaiian Hotel wanted to serve their very own version at their bar and restaurant. Trader’s son, Victor J. In 1953 the Mai Tai was brought by me to the Hawaiian Islands, when I was asked by the Matson Steamship Lines to formalize drinks for the bars at their Royal Hawaiian, Moana and Surfrider Hotels. These concoctions do follow history in one way: They manage to transcend escapism, irony and kitsch, and prove that the original tiki drinks could be delicate, subtle and high-quality. All basically simple drinks. In just a few years, he had used up nearly the entire world’s supply of the stuff; seriously, the rum hasn’t been made in over half a century! He introduced ten exotic drinks in the Royal Hawaiian’s bar. The Mai Tai caught on and within 30 days everyone had forgotten the other nine. When Vic brought his Mai Tai to Hawaii in 1953, its true heyday began. The mid 1950s signaled the end of a dependable supply of the 15-year old J. Wray Nephew Rum. The rum which motivated the creation of the Mai Tai was a fine, golden, medium-bodied Jamaican from Kingston. The public palate had become more sophisticated and it became necessary to adjust the sweetness of the Mai Tai by lessening the amount of Mai Tai Mix and adding a touch more lime juice. If you’re not a rum person, but like the idea of a fresh, tropical cocktail, there is a Mai Tai counterpart made with whiskey: the Honi Honi. Perhaps because of its simplicity, the mai tai inspired tinkering from the very beginning. This rum, though excellent, didn’t exactly match the end flavor of the original 17-year- old product. Their answer is equal parts Martinique rhum agricole, made with sugar cane, and a 15-year-old Jamaican rum, though probably not the J. Wray and Nephew; that rum is pretty much extinct as well. It was then that the Mai Tai, as we know it (then called the Royal Mai Tai), was born. ONE DAY ONLY FLASH SALE! This was to be for restaurant use and also for retail sale. 1/2 ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao. Well, the sad truth is that there are no longer any Don the Beachcomber restaurants, while Trader Vic’s thrives. The origin The tale of the Mai Tai started in 1944, according to Trader Vic. Vic's original Mai Tai was based on 17 year old Jamaican J.Wray & Nephew rum, which in his own book he describes as being " surprisingly golden in colour, medium-bodied, but with the rich pungent flavour particular to the Jamaican blends ". The supply of 15-year-old rum was becoming less than dependable so several other Caribbean products were tested for the same high qualities of flavor. The drink was never introduced by me in Tahiti except informally through our good friends, Eastham and Carrie Guild. A few years earlier the supply of quality French Orgeat had also become uncertain so Henry Smith, who produced vitamins for the Galen Company in Oakland, collaborated with Trader Vic to produce and bottle his own Orgeat. But the real question is:  How do you make this drink with the rarest of rums? Then there’s the age old argument regarding who was the original inventor of the Mai Tai. After The Trader had success with several other rum drinks, he felt something new was needed. RECIPE. B. Cooler is a more complicated concoction with three kinds of rum and two citrus juices, as well as falernum, honey, and Angostura bitters. Caribbean products were tested for the drink, the Mai Tai in the Royal Mai Tai cocktail recipe prepare. Quite similar: how do you make this drink with the rarest of rums Vic is credited with invention the. 15-Year-Old rum was made to recapture the characteristics of the Mai Tai is a Polynesian favorite sad truth is there! 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