The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.

If you find yourself wanting to like the original Mai Tai, but not quite able to do so, this is your drink. This recipe for a Pineapple Mai Tai adds a couple ingredients to the quintessential rum cocktail making it a bit sweeter and more fruity.

This pineapple and rum drink has two ingredients too many to be an original Mai Tai recipe. We’re adding pineapple juice and simple syrup to play up the tropical vibes. There’s no orange juice in this recipe because you don’t need it if you use a good quality orange liqueur. That spirit will bring in the juicy orange flavor without needing to add another ingredient.

Like many other tiki drinks, this Pineapple Mai Tai has a lot of ingredients and when combined with ice, it will need a tall glass to hold it all. There are tons of fun tiki glasses out there - I'm obsessed with the pineapple glasses in these pictures - but you can always use a simple highball glass if that’s what you have on hand.

Ingredients

Light rum
Dark rum
Orange liqueur
Pineapple juice
A lime
Orgeat syrup
Simple syrup

How to Make the Best Pineapple Mai Tai

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Pineapple juice being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Dark rum being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Shake very well.

Strain into a large tiki or highball glass filled with fresh ice. (I'm obsessed with these pineapple glasses for tiki drinks.)

Pouring a Mai Tai into a pineapple glass filled with ice.

Garnish with pineapple leaves, maraschino cherries, and/or wedges of orange, lime and pineapple.

A Mai Tai in a pineapple shaped glass with garnish.

FAQs and Tips

What does Mai Tai flavor taste like?

Original Mai Tai cocktails are citrusy, a little tart, and a little sweet. For this Pineapple Mai Tai, the pineapple juice brings in another dimension of fruity and makes the drink more sweet than tart.

Do I have to use fresh lime juice?

Yes. Plan on 1 lime per drink for this recipe. Depending on its size, you may need less than the entire lime, so be sure to measure your fresh squeezed juice. Don’t squeeze the lime directly into the cocktail shaker because you’ll have no way of knowing how much (or how little) juice you got from the lime.

What is orgeat syrup?

Orgeat is a sweet, almond flavored syrup often used in tropical, rum cocktails and other tiki drinks.

Where can I find orgeat syrup?

Orgeat is non-alcoholic and can be either made at home or purchased at your favorite store that sells liquor. Most stores stock orgeat syrup near the mixers, bitters, and other non-alcoholic cocktail ingredients.

Where can I buy simple syrup?

You can make it faster than you can go to the store. Stir ½ cup white sugar into ½ cup hot water until the sugar is dissolved. Place the mixture in the refrigerator and allow it to cool completely before using in your cocktail.

What kind of orange liqueur should I use?

Choose a high quality orange liqueur for this recipe. Orange curaçao, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier are all good choices.

What is the garnish for a Pineapple Mai Tai?

Garnish your drink with pineapple leaves, maraschino cherries, and/or wedges of orange, lime and pineapple. You can add a little or a lot - that’s completely up to you!