It's Mai Tai time!
Near-traditional...
1oz 12 yr Appleton
1 oz Plantation ***
1/2 oz Dry Curaçao
3/4 oz fresh Lime Juice
1/4 oz Orgeat
1/4 oz Turbinado Syrup (1:1)
Shake with Ice and Dump into Old Fashioned glass
Garnish with half lime husk and Garden Mint
View attachment 285706
Edit: Truthfuly, I found you can never have one Mai Tai.
I tried a second recipe that called for an additional 1/4oz each Curçao and Orgeat... I would not advise this. Not that it wasn't delish in its own right, but the Rum is lost to the other flavors. A true Mai Tai is a celebration of good Rum. My understanding is the original Rum was meant to be a 17 yr Jamaican Pot Still Rum which is no longer available.
Modern Mai Tai recipes that adhere to the basic principle shoot for something which can stand up to the other flavors in the Cocktail while not requiring an extra dose or a Float. (Not saying this is wrong, per se, but it isn't the authentic intent.
) Of course, most modern bars are also blending Rums as I did to find a good balance (and possibly also keep the cost down!)
Anyway, that first recipe is a good one and I hope to find some Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum. (Which I know also blends well with Appleton!) I think that will make an absolute killer Mai Tai.
...Of course, one could go ALL Navy Strength Jamaican Rum and I would challenge you to knock back that second!