Well today is many things, including National Margarita Day, but its also Don the Beachcomber’s birthday, one of the founders of all things Tiki.
So while other people are sipping on margaritas in shapes and variations, I decided to continue in the spirit of Pegu Doug’s Tiki month, and have a Mai Tai in honor of Don the Beachcomber!
For those of you unaware, there was a period of time where the origin of the Mai Tai was being hotly contested — between Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber. Trader Vic won out on that one in the annals of cocktail history, but the Don the Beachcomber recipe is still a tasty one, and one worth having in the tiki drink arsenal. Yes, they are similar, but they are quite different drinks – Don’s containing falernum, bitters, and a dash of Pernod among other things, which results in a less sweet, and slightly more complex range of flavours (imo). So here’s to you, Don! and thanks for all the Tiki!
Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai
- 1 1/2 oz. Jamaican rum
- 1 oz. Cuban rum
- 0.75 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
- 0.25 oz. falernum
- 0.5 oz. Cointreau
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Pernod
Shake well with ice, strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish your heart out!