Sharing is caring!

Mai Tai Margarita has the flavors of the tropical Mai Tai and refreshing margarita. Grenadine is in the bottom, the margarita with coconut rum is in the middle, and dark rum floated on top for a deliciously layered drink.

 

For me both the Mai Tai and the Margarita are tropical drinks. They’re both consumed near a beach. At least in my head they are. And I think that’s because both of them come from exotic and tropical places. The Mai Tai being Hawaii and the margarita being the created somewhere between Tijuana and Baja, California. There are so many claims to fame with that drink it’s hard to say where it originated.

 

Are margaritas Mexican?

 

The margarita history remains to be seen. There’s a 1936 article in Iowa that says it’s from Tijuana. One account from 1938 says it’s from restaurant halfway between Tijuana and Baja, California. Jose Cuervo says it’s from a bartender in Mexico named after a dancer. Another restaurant claims that it is from a bartender in Ensenada in 1941. In 1942 someone claims it’s from Chihuahua. Some claims are from Texas.

 

 

I think this is one cocktail that will never have a clear past. However, it is very similar to the brandy daisy. The brandy daisy has simple syrup, cachaca (which is like rum), lime juice, brandy, and rum. Sounds familiar, right? Maybe someone ran out of rum and they had tequila. The tequila pairs well with lime. So does rum, but then add the salt and I think the tequila wins out. But that’s just me.

 

What is in a classic margarita?

 

Margarita ingredients are simple. They are so simple that there really is no need for a margarita mix. I mean, I guess you could combine the lime juice with the simple syrup beforehand? To be honest, I prefer a margarita without the mix. There’s really no need for all that fake flavor you get with a margarita mix.

 

 

A margarita is made with tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, and simple syrup. That’s usually an agave syrup, but not entirely necessary. However, with all the organic sweetener options out there, you can find agave syrup in most grocery stores now. However, this wasn’t always the case. I don’t remember seeing it in my store until a few years ago.

 

With so few ingredients, there’s really no need for a mix. I understand that the limes might be a bit much to juice for large crowds. There are hacks for juicing limes. Instead of cutting them horizontally through the equator like we usually do, cut them through the poles. Like you would if you wanted to segment them. It’s the fastest way to get all the juice out of the lime. Google it. There are tons of vids on it. Blew my mine, too.

 

 

How do you make margaritas at home?

 

This recipe makes margaritas for two. But it’s easily scalable for more. And, like I said, you could mix the tequila, rum, and lime juice with the simple syrup ahead of time. Then you can shake the mix with ice and pour into a glass to make them for more than just you two. But please do not buy the margarita mix. It sounds easy, but it does not taste like a true margarita.

 

And, if you’re wondering what type of margarita glasses you need, just use what you have. If ou have the fancy margarita glasses, then use those. However, they’re sort of shallow and might not show the layers as well. I used a high ball glass. You can easily use a rocks glass or even an old-fashioned glass. Either of those would work well. Or just use whatever glasses you have on hand. Juice glasses? So be it!

 

 

Why salt margarita glasses?

 

It’s a taste thing. For the same reason you add salt to your desserts, adding salt to the rim of a margarita elevates all the flavors in the drink. Sweet and salt compliment each other. Also, salt and sour compliment each other. So, when you add the salt with the sweet syrup and sour lime in the margarita, the drink is elevated, and all the flavors come to the party and dance together.

 

Of course, with this Mai Tai Margarita recipe I was looking for sugar to salt the rim. I wanted to play off the grenadine in the bottom of the glass, but I couldn’t find any that wasn’t an odd color. So, I went with whatever salt I had on hand. Which happened to be sea salt. And not a fine sea salt. So, it didn’t really add to the flavor of the Mai Tai Margarita. I suggest finding a rimming salt or a fine sea salt for the rim. Or look for a fun sanding sugar.

 

 

Since the top of the Mai Tai Margarita is rum, it would elevate the flavors of the rum. Then the middle of the mai tai margarita is all sour with a little sweet. The sugar rim would definitely enhance that part of the cocktail. And by the time you get the grenadine, if you haven’t mixed it in from the beginning, then the sugar on the rim should be gone and you’d have just the grenadine to sip. At least that’s how I have this drink playing out in my head.

 

What does a Mai Tai Margarita taste like?

 

Seriously. Just look at this margarita recipe! All those fun layers and colors. The first thing you taste is the dark rum. You can even use a spiced rum like The Kraken for the top. That would add a fun flavor to this drink. Once you get past that, it’s the traditional margarita flavor with a coconut flair.

 

 

The coconut rum and the lime really play on each other. The whole put the lime in the coconut song totally goes through my head with this recipe. Because they are the perfect pair in this lime margarita recipe. I could not make a margarita without lime. It’s essential to the flavors of the cocktail!

 

Now, if you don’t stir the drink, there’s the grenadine at the bottom. It’s not just there for color. It adds to the sweet and sour flavor of this Mai Tai Margarita. And since grenadine is made with pomegranate juice, water, and sugar, it’s a delicious compliment to this sweet and sour Mai Tai Margarita!

Must Make Margaritas

• Classic Margarita Mocktail from Jen Around the World
• Creamy Strawberry Margarita Popsicles from That Recipe
• Frozen Strawberry Margarita from Art of Natural Living
• Kiwi Margaritas from The Spiffy Cookie
• Mai Tai Margarita from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Raspberry Margarita from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Rose Margarita from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Sangria Margarita from Palatable Pastime
• Skinny Fruit Margarita from Our Good Life

We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you’re at it, join our Pinterest board, too!