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    Home » Recipes » Cocktail Recipes

    The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail

    Modified: May 19, 2025 · Published: May 24, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktails

    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 Pineapple Mai Tai rum cocktails adds a couple ingredients to the quintessential rum cocktail making it a bit sweeter and more fruity. 

    Pineapple Mai Tai
    Jump to:
    • What Does a Mai Tai Taste Like?
    • What's in a Pineapple Mai Tai
    • How to Make the Best Pineapple Mai Tai
    • How to Garnish a Pineapple Mai Tai
    • Looking for More Rum Drinks?
    • Happy Hour Snack Pairings
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail Recipe

    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 (or try pineapple 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. 

    What Does a Mai Tai 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. 

    What's in a Pineapple Mai Tai

    Ingredients for Pineapple Mai Tais - light rum, dark rum, orgeat, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup.
    • Light rum - Also know as silver rum white rum, this is a clear rum without any added flavors.
    • Dark rum - Aged in oak barrels, dark rum adds a depth of flavor and little sweetness.
    • Orange liqueur - Go for quality on this one. The better the orange liqueur, the more natural (and less candy-like) the orange flavor. Orange curaçao, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier are all good choices. 
    • Pineapple juice - Choose 100% pineapple juice without any additional juices mixed into it.
    • A lime - Fresh only for this drink! You'll need about 1 lime per drink, depending on their size. 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. 
    • Orgeat syrup - A creamy almond syrup that is necessary in any version of a mai tai. You can't skip or substitute this one. 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. 
    • Simple syrup - Make this at home and give it a few hours to chill in the refrigerator before using it. Simple syrup keeps for weeks in the fridge, so you can make it well ahead of time.

    How to Make the Best Pineapple Mai Tai

    Place the light rum, dark rum, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, orgeat syrup, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 

    Pineapple juice 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. 

    Sip and enjoy!

    A Mai Tai in a pineapple shaped glass with garnish.

    How to Garnish 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! 

    A glass full of pineapple mai tai.

    Looking for More Rum Drinks?

    Rum has a delicious sweet flavor all its own and is used in so many delicious cocktails. If you're not a fan of super sugary cocktails, try my take on a Hemingway daiquiri which lets the grapefruit and lime flavors shine.

    Want something more fruity and sweet? My easy tiki cocktail is a celebration of rum and citrus or try a Blueberry Mojito made with fresh fruit and mint. Or make a batch of blue curaçao syrup for Blue Hawaiian and Blue Mojito cocktails.

    Hemingway Daiquiri
    Hemingway Daiquiri, A Classic Rum Cocktail
    Easy Tiki Cocktail
    Easy Tiki Cocktail

    Happy Hour Snack Pairings

    I love a salty snack with a sweet and fruity drink. These savory spiced nuts can be made well ahead of time and kept in your pantry for an easy happy hour snack. Or mix up my easy crab rangoon dip, perfect with pita chips or crostini.

    Crab Rangoon Dip
    Easy, Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip
    Savory Spiced Nuts
    Savory Spiced Nuts

    Print the Recipe Card

    A Pineapple Mai Tai in a pineapple shaped glass.

    The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail Recipe

    Katy McAvoy
    If you find yourself wanting to like the original Mai Tai run cocktail, but not quite able to do so, this Pineapple Mai Tai is your drink. 
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Servings 1 cocktail

    Equipment

    • Cocktail Shaker
    • Citrus Press
    • Citrus Reamer
    • Jigger
    • Orgeat Syrup
    • pineapple glasses

    Ingredients
      

    • 1.5 oz light rum
    • 0.75 oz dark rum
    • 0.75 oz orange liqueur
    • 1 oz pineapple juice
    • 0.75 oz lime juice
    • 1 oz orgeat syrup
    • 0.25 oz simple syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake very well.
    • Strain into a large tiki or highball glass filled with fresh ice.
    • Garnish with pineapple leaves, maraschino cherries, and/or wedges of orange, lime and pineapple.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 363kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 73mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    413 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Julie says

      June 02, 2022 at 7:57 pm

      Great cocktail, but too much orgeat. I recommend 1/4 - 1/2 tsp per serving.

      Reply
    2. Helen says

      March 08, 2024 at 11:35 am

      Reply
    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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