I was traveling through Laos along the Mekong river when one evening I found a somewhat hidden but very inviting jungle bar with a beautiful view of the riverside. On their menu, I noticed they were serving Mai Tais, which immediately caught my attention as it is one of my favorite cocktails. However, I suspected they would not have the correct ingredients and indeed I was served something which did not have much reminiscence of a classical Mai Tai but instead reminded me of a lot of the spices used traditionally in baked goods around Christmastime (I am from Germany). However, it was surprisingly quite a pleasant drink and I came to the idea of creating a new version of the Mai Tai more suitable for the colder months and Christmastime. Back in Germany, I tinkered with several ingredients and eventually found a recipe in which all ingredients perfectly play off each other. The Licor 43 introduces vanilla in addition to the orange note. The Vanilla pairs well with the Orgeat and Gingerbread to contribute to the “holiday vibe”. The orange note combined with the slightly upped lime juice pair nicely with the fruity character of the Appleton 8 years. The Gingerbread syrup is the secret ingredient which gives the drink a whole different twist. The components in its flavor profile (molasses, cinnamon and ginger) also pair with the other ingredients -> molasses with the rum, cinnamon with the almond and vanilla flavors, and that slight hint of ginger adds even more complexity. I use the Gingerbread syrup from “Monin” for my cocktail recipe. I am not sure how prevalent the Monin Gingerbread syrup is in the US or if it is even the same that is sold in Europe, for $10 for a 750ml glass bottle. I have been a long time subscriber of your channel and really appreciate the work you guys have done. I have tried numerous of the cocktails you presented over the years 🙂

Winter Mai Tai

Mauritz Sommer

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Servings 1 Cocktail

Ingredients

 

• 2 oz Jamaica Rum Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum 8 years
• 1/2 oz Licor 43
• 1/2 oz Orgeat
• 1/2 oz Gingerbread Syrup
• 1 oz Lime juice

Garnish

• Orange Slice

Instructions

 

• Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes
• shake
• strain
• garnish with a slice of orange
• enjoy

Keyword Gingerbread Syrup, jamaica rum, licor 43, lime juice, Mauritz Sommer, orange slice, orgeat, Winter Mai Tai