This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Bitter Mai Tai is a modern cocktail that was created by Jeremy Oertel while at Dram in New York City, New York. The recipe is essentially just as it sounds: a Mai Tai variation that calls for the classic’s mix of rum, citrus, and orgeat. What makes it unique, however, is its addition of Campari, a bitter red Italian liqueur that also serves as the inspiration for the drink’s name.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, and alcohol.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Smith & Cross Rum: This is a type of rum made with molasses or sugarcane juice, spices, and alcohol that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. This recipe specifically calls for Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaican Rum.
Orgeat Syrup: This is a sweetener made with roasted almonds, orange blossom, sugar, and water. I used Liber & Co. Almond Orgeat Syrup.
Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with oranges, sugar, and brandy or rum. I used Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.
Mint Sprig: This is an herb. I used Mojito mint.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-04-15.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Vibrant orange-red color
• Aroma: Citrus and mint with noticeable bitter orange notes
• Taste: Initial funky rum taste paired with nutty orgeat and zesty lime
• Finish: Bitter, herbal Campari alongside tropical spices
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I absolutely adore the original Mai Tai, and I was not sure I’d enjoy a Campari-laced version all that much. I mean, why mess with perfection? That said, the bitterness lent to the mix by the Italian liqueur is really interesting in the template. I can see Campari fans absolutely loving this variation, but I didn’t personally like it better than the classic, so I’ll be sticking to that one. This was really interesting though!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-04-15.
Bitter Mai Tai
The Bitter Mai Tai is a modern cocktail that was created by Jeremy Oertel while at Dram in New York City, New York. The recipe is essentially just as it sounds: a Mai Tai variation that calls for the classic’s mix of rum, citrus, and orgeat. What makes it unique, however, is its addition of Campari, a bitter red Italian liqueur that also serves as the inspiration for the drink’s name.
Ingredients
Method
-
Add Campari, lime juice, rum, orgeat syrup, orange curaçao, and cubed ice to a shaker.
-
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
-
Strain into a lowball glass filled with fresh cracked ice.
-
Garnish with mint sprig.
