The Original Mai Tai from 1944

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Subtitles: Jose Mendoza | IG @worldagainstjose

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#tastinghistory #maitai

[VRHyoumaru]

Been a while since we had a Drinking History episode it feels like, really glad to see it continue.

[mzfreddie]

I guess when asking why all the rum is gone, we can ask Vic 😂

[Rosedawn]

Hi Max, my Mom has the recipe for Trader Vic’s Teriyaki Spare Ribs. If you are interested I will share. My Grandma (Dad’s mom)was a cute divorcee’ back in the 40’s and 50’s. While she was living up in Alameda, she really enjoyed going to Trader Vic’s regularly., and Vic gave her the recipe at the Oakland restaurant when she just smiled, batted her eyes and asked. Grandma gave it to my Mom when she was up in Alameda for wedding plans in 1954. Mom made it for me on my birthday every time I asked! (edited from earlier: Mom corrected me on who flirted the recipe out of Vic.)

[peculiarpangolin]

The final time I saw my Grandad, our last conversation was when asked if he needed anything, him asking for a Mai Tai. It took a few minutes to realize what he was saying, but when we did, we all died laughing. It's my last memory of him, and I'm glad it is. Any time I hear about the drink now, I think of him. If I ever have one, I'll be sure to toast his honour. Thanks, Max, for bringing back that delightful memory of that delightful man! ❤

[pepper]

seeing this on my home page made me INDESCRIBABLY giddy. I thank you on behalf of all cocktail nerds for helping us bring this classic recipe to the masses 💛💛

[benf]

Rhum agricole in a Mai Tai is actually another Trader Vic marketing spin; he said he was using Martinique rum, suggesting the fancy agricole, but his notes say it's "the color of coffee, " which could only be molasses-based rhum traditionnel. Martin Cate has some great detail on this Smuggler's Cove.

[RekkaZaal]

This is the style of mai tai we make at home. My dad went out of his way to find one as similar to the original as he could for our cocktail collection, but we use a combination of light and medium rums instead of the agricole, which I only learned about at a tasting a few days ago! I found it a little harsh for my tastes so I’ll stick to the regular but I definitely hope to try that version too!

[tamarrajames]

Trader Vic’s recipes are awesome. My Husband and I went to the original Trader Vic’s bar on our honeymoon in 1973. I still have the bartenders guide I bought there. Love what you do.🖤🇨🇦

[sparklypoof]

it's a running joke now for my husband and I to find the mai tai recipes on menus and see how off they are from the original (we love the '44!). it's such a refreshing drink, and now that our mint patch is taking off we've been able to enjoy them w/fresh mint from our garden - a real treat!! (not to mention making several missionary's downfalls). thanks for the great episode!!

[zennvirus]

Max is one of those YouTubers who you always want to hear him speak about his sponsors. He has such great style, and you KNOW whatever product he advertises is tried by the man himself.
And this episode had me wanting to get some bottles of Hawaian rum and to make websites.

[brycevo]

I've lived on Oahu my whole life, and I've never heard this story before. I'm glad to learn more. Thank you

[vallhallamedia]

As a mixologist I absolutely love this series! Please do more 🙏

[PoppycockPrincess]

Anders Erickson has a really cool video on how he makes a Mai Tai. In it, he did use the lime shell as a garnish; he inverted it, filled it with a high-proof rum and then lit that rum on fire!

[nataliey]

Hello! I was waiting in line for the meet and greet and there were so many people… probably should have gotten there a little earlier!! Wish I could have met you! it’s amazing that 300 people were waiting in line for that sign. Please do another meet and greet in NYC soon! I would love to see you!! You’re awesome!

[CinHotlanta]

Thanks to Greg and the How to Drink crew, the discovery of quality rum was one of my lockdown hobbies, and the original Mai Tai has become one of my favorite drinks to make for us and/or our friends. I also use the Liber orgeat. Playing with the rum blend has been a never-ending source of fun, but lately I've stuck with making half of the blend the Plantation OFTD and experimenting with the other rum.

[siriushpfan]

I went to one of the two remaining Trader Vic's in the U.S. just this last month and had the "original" Mai Tai! It was a surprise when it came to the table because it wasn't as colorful as I had always seen Mai Tai's be in past (probably because, as you mention, moat places now make it with loads of fruit juices), but it tasted much better than it appeared. Happy to see you do a video on this pop culture drinking phenomenon of yesteryear!

[danielsantiagourtado]

Drinking history is such a refreshing series! You always go above and beyond with your work Max! Wish you best of happiness of Hawaii!❤❤❤❤

[TKID-]

I'm so glad you covered the "OG" version of the Mai Tai. I knew you'd love the story of the acrimony between Vic and Donn.

FWIW, there's a great story of Donn and one of his proteges (in Donn's later years) being in California and calling in to Trader Vics and making the reservation under Donn's name. Almost as a joke.

The person on the other end of the line was no less than Vic's nephew, who first asked if they were kidding as to who they were (they obviously weren't) and then wouldn't take no for an answer and called his Uncle Vic to the restaurant to act as their host.

Reportedly Vic and Donn had a rather jolly evening trading good-natured softball barbs at each other. 😅😅😅

[eclairamisu]

Love the video. The end reminds me of Favell Lee Mortimer, who was a bestselling author for books describing other countries, their people and culture ("The Countries of Europe Described"). The twist of the story is that she only left England twice in her whole life but still made a pretty penny from writing outrageous stereotypes of other nations as though they were facts. I would love to see an episode dedicated to "The world's most horrible food" or something along those lines based on food mentioned in the books.

[GaldirEonai]

To be fair to Vic, I don't think he ever claimed to have got the drink or the idea _from_ Tahiti, only that his tahitian friend loved it and gave it the name.

Also, the Beachcomber connection is pretty plausible. Despite the difference in ingredients, the overall taste of the Q.B.Cooler is supposedly in the same general vicinity as the Mai Tai. So what likely happened is that Vic had one, liked it, then played around with what he had on hand to approximate the taste and got his recipe.