Hazy Tippler

Ok, it's time for my favorite Mai Tai variant, the Bitter Mai Tai. In this version, a healthy dose of Campari is added to the mix. This drink, when served up with a load of crushed ice, is a full on heat buster. Here's the rundown:

1.5 oz Campari
0.75 oz Jamaican Rum
0.5 oz Orange Curaçao
1 oz Lime Juice
0.75 oz Orgeat

Shake all ingredients and serve over crushed ice. Crushed ice really helps make this drink a heat buster, so don't be lazy and try to make it happen. Mint is always a lovely garnish, but if your mint is burnt to a crisp because it hasn't rained in a month (like me), it'll be ok.

Now I do need to give credit, where credit is due. I read about this drink a few years ago via my Imbibe Magazine subscription. Jeremy Oertel gets the credit, and it'd be cool to meet and congratulate him someday on making such a fine beverage. Here's the recipe page at Imbibe Magazine, and here's a nice blurb on Punch too. Punch suggests using Smith & Cross Rum, which I heartily endorse. Smith & Cross is some tasty stuff.

It's summertime, and that means it's time for refreshing drinks that'll help provide some relief on hot days. Definitely one of my favorite summertime cocktails is the Mai Tai. It's a lovely blend of tart and sweet and rum. My goto recipe pulls from the Employee's Only Guide to Classic Cocktails:

1 oz Lime Juice
0.75 oz Orgeat
0.75 oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curaçao
1.5 oz El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum

Shake all ingredients, then serve over ice and garnish with a mint sprig. The mint sprig is nice, and serving over crushed ice might be even nicer, but neither is required.

Also, if you don't have the fancy orange curaçao, don't sweat it. While that stuff is super tasty, and I really recommend it, Cointreau or triple sec will work here. I'm a big fan of El Dorado rums, but you might not have that either. While I like using a rum with some age on it, just use whatever you've got. If the result doesn't do it for ya, then try a different rum. Part of the fun of a Mai Tai is that you can mix and match ingredients to find your favorite combo. A Mai Tai is also a great base to experiment with, and I'll provide a couple options for doing just that next time.