Make The King Of Tiki Drinks At Home.

The mai tai is the quintessential tiki drink. The classic Trader Vic’s version, upon which this recipe is based, is complex, sophisticated, and a far cry from the overly sweet, cherry-red pre-mix variants that lesser establishments fob off on their customers.

It is relatively simple: It starts with rum blended with those two building blocks of most outstanding rum drinks, lime and sugar. To this is added curaçao (an orange-flavored liqueur) and orgeat (pronounced or-ZHA), an almond-flavored syrup now often found in upscale coffee shops. As in any good cocktail, the quality of the spirit should not be underestimated: Better rums make a better mai tai. Don’t stint.

Mix in a cocktail shaker with ice:

1 ounce heavy rum

1 ounce medium-bodied rum

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

1/4 ounce simple syrup

3/4 ounce curaçao

1/4 ounce orgeat

Strain into tumbler half-filled with crushed ice. Garnish with fruit and mint.

—W.C.