Rye Tai in a rocks glass. Garnished with a whiskey infused cherry.
Rye Tai garnished with cherry.

Summer makes me think of tropical drinks and sitting by the beach. Do I ever go to the beach, you ask? Not really. We spend our time mostly in the mountains. However, that doesn’t stop us from craving something tropical when it’s hot during the dog days of summer. My craving for something tropical led me to order a whiskey Mai Tai from a local establishment. While my cocktail was OK, I knew immediately that we could craft something better. It is what led me to this week’s cocktail; the Rye Tai.

What’s a Mai Tai?

A Mai Tai is a rum-based, tropical cocktail, served in a tiki glass. The rum is typically mixed with orange curacao, lime juice, and orgeat (pronounced or-ZHAAT), which is an almond-based syrup that has a distinct cherry flavor. With a few minor modifications, we were able to craft this into a delicious cocktail using rye whiskey. The spiciness of the rye balanced the sweetness of the orange liqueur and orgeat syrup.

We chose Templeton Rye Barrel Finished Series as our base since it was finished in Caribbean rum casks. We also tried it with Rittenhouse Rye since we still had some left from our review. Both were delicious, but the Templeton edged the Rittenhouse, due to the added rum flavor after being finished in dark rum barrels.

If you don’t have orange curacao, you can substitute any orange liqueur. We actually preferred the one made with triple sec. Orgeat syrup does require a quick trip to the liquor store. We recommend Fee Brothers Orgeat Cordial Syrup. Their orgeat is so delicious and you’ll likely see it featured in our future cocktails. Check out the recipe below and let us know what you think!

Happy Exploring!

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Rye Tai

A rye whiskey version of a classic Mai Tai
Prep Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1.5 ounces Rye whiskey (preferably rum cask finished)
  • 1 ounce Triple sec
  • 1 ounce Orgeat
  • 1/2 ounce Lime juice
  • 1 each Cherry (optional)
  • 1 slice Pineapple (optional)

Instructions

  • In a shaker, combine orgeat, lime juice, and triple sec. Shake to combine.
  • Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice. Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass.
  • Pour rum over a spoon into the glass to create a "float."
  • Garnish with cherry and pineapple.
  • Enjoy!