About Mai Tais
Hawaiian vacations bring to mind luaus and tropical fruity rum-based drinks, such as the Mai Tai. The Mai Tai might be served in an oversized fat cocktail glass and garnished with fresh pineapple, a tiny orchid or an umbrella. And while one might assume the Mai Tai was initially an island concoction, the truth is, it was invented by one with the island spirit.
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Identification
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A Mai Tai is a tropical drink made with light and dark rums and fruit juices. Some recipes call for pineapple and grenadine, while other recipes use almond syrup or splashes of orange juice. The drink is popular in Hawaii, and is considered to be a Polynesian styled cocktail. It is not a native Hawaiian drink, as it was invented by a California restaurateur to be featured in his Polynesian themed restaurant. The question is, which restaurateur was the inventor?
History
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The invention of the Mai Tai has been claimed by two rival restaurateurs, Victor Bergeron of Trader Vic, and Donn Beach of Don the Beachcomber. Bergeron claimed to of created the drink in 1944, and named it the Mai Tai after one of his Tahitian friends tried the drink and exclaimed "Mai Tai - Roa Ae," which in Tahitian means "Out of This World - The Best." In a Honolulu publication Beach discounted Bergeron's claim, stating "I invented the Mai Tai, back in 1932 when my first Don the Beachcomber Restaurant opened in Hollywood."
Time Frame
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If Bergeron's claim as the inventor of the Mai Tai is true, then the evolution of the drink (according to Bergeron) is as follows: The Mai Tai gained popularity in California and in Seattle, when Bergeron opened a Seattle Trader Vic in 1948. Bergeron took the drink to the Hawaiian Islands in 1953, by bringing the cocktail to the Matson Steamship Lines' bars at their Royal Hawaiian, Moana and Surfrider Hotels. The Mai Tai was included in 1954 as a new drink for the American President Lines.
Theories/Speculation
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Some who support Beach's assertion that he is the inventor of the Mai Tai claim the cocktail was listed on a Don the Beachcomber's menu that pre-date Bergeron's date of creation. Bergeron insists he is the inventor and gave a detailed explanation of the creative process involving the Mai Tai. In actuality, the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's recipes differ considerably. Both are made with a combination of rum, yet rum based drinks were often associated with Polynesian themed bars. Since the term Mai Tai is derived from a Tahitian word that means "good," is it possible that they both invented a drink and they just happened to give it the same "good" name?
Significance
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Thousands of new cocktails are invented each year. Yet, only a few go on to be considered classics. The International Bartender's Association sponsors bartender competition, where bartenders make their version of these classic drinks, which are deemed IBA Official Cocktails. The drinks are broken into categories, which include pre-dinner cocktails, after dinner, long drink style, and popular style. The Mai Tai is an IBA Official Cocktail, included under the popular style category.
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