Tall pineapple Mai Tai over crushed ice with a lime wedge and cocktail cherry against a warm tropical waterfront backdrop.

Mai Tai

Fresh lime sharpens the pineapple in Betty's tall, resort-style Mai Tai. It's especially refreshing over crushed ice, with a stronger rum float only if desired.

By Betty Lou Gardner5 minUpdated 2026-08-25

This pineapple-forward Mai Tai is Betty’s easy, resort-style version of the rum cocktail. Fresh lime and orange curaçao sharpen the pineapple, while white and dark rum give it depth. Serve it over plenty of fresh ice, with the 151-proof float only when you want a stronger finish.

Betty Lou Gardner in a family archival photograph

Granny’s Kitchen Notes

From Betty Lou Gardner

I usually skip the stronger rum float unless we’re making these for a real special occasion, because the regular version is already plenty strong enough. I like these best served very cold with lots of ice, especially on hot summer evenings.

Ingredients for Mai Tai arranged before preparation.

How to Make a Mai Tai

◆

01

Shake the Cocktail

Add both rums, orange curaçao, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and ice to a shaker. Shake until very cold.

02

Pour Over Fresh Ice

Strain the cocktail into a tall glass filled with crushed or pebble ice.

03

Float, Garnish, and Serve

Slowly add the optional 151-proof rum over the surface, then finish with one or two garnishes and serve immediately.

Tall pineapple Mai Tai over crushed ice with a lime wedge and cocktail cherry against a warm tropical waterfront backdrop.

You May Also Like

Pink Citrus Slush Punch served in a cut-glass bowl with citrus and strawberry slices.

Citrus Slush Punch

7 hr 15 minEasy

Four grilled lime chicken breasts with cilantro and lime wedges on a platter beside black beans, tortillas, and roasted peppers.

Summer Lime Chicken Breasts

1 hr 30 minEasy

Betty’s Bahama Nonna in a tall orange-and-red cocktail glass with pineapple, orange, and a cherry at a tropical beach bar.

Betty’s Bahama Nonna

Bottles of finished chokecherry wine arranged beside fresh chokecherries and winemaking glassware outdoors.

Betty’s Chokecherry Wine

Not providedHard

Two glasses and a bottle of homemade Irish cream liqueur on a warm holiday table beside Irish whiskey and sweetened condensed milk, with a fireplace in the background.

Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur

4 hr 10 minEasy

Pineapple Coupe prepared and ready to serve.

Pineapple Coupe

Pale gold President Margarita in a salt-rimmed stemmed glass with a lime wheel on a tiled patio overlooking a tropical coast.

President Margarita

Steaming Russian spiced tea with lemon in an ornate glass holder beside honey and citrus, overlooking a snowy Moscow skyline.

Russian Spiced Tea

Large cut-glass punch bowl filled with golden citrus punch, orange, lemon, and lime wheels, and floating lime sherbet scoops at a backyard party.

Sunshine Punch

Powdered-sugar-coated honeyed brandy rum truffles piled on a vintage holiday plate with walnuts, coffee, and Christmas greenery.

Honeyed Brandy Rum Truffles

2 hr 30 minEasy

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Whipped Rum Butter

Whipped Rum Butter

Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner’s family recipes are preserved in Granny’s Recipe Box.

What Cooks Are Saying

◆

—

No reviews yet

00

00

00

00

00

Sort reviews With photos only

Loading approved reviews…

A question about this recipe?

Send ingredient, instruction, or correction questions to the recipe inbox.

Email Recipesrecipes@gbbutterclub.com