Hawaii Mai Tai

The Mai Tai was created in 1944 by Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron in Oakland, California. He crafted the cocktail using Jamaican rum, lime juice, orgeat syrup, orange curaçao, and simple syrup, serving it to friends from Tahiti, who exclaimed, “Maita’i roa a’e!” (meaning “the best!” in Tahitian), giving the drink its name.

However, Don the Beachcomber, another pioneer of tiki culture, claimed to have invented a similar drink in 1933, sparking a long-standing debate over its true origins. Trader Vic’s version became the most famous, especially after being introduced to Hawaii in the 1950s, where it became synonymous with island cocktails.

The original Mai Tai was a simple, rum-forward cocktail, but later versions, especially in Hawaii, often included pineapple and orange juice, which weren’t part of the classic recipe. Today, the Mai Tai remains one of the most iconic tropical drinks, embodying the spirit of Polynesian-inspired tiki culture worldwide.