Mai Tai Vs Blue Hawaiian Cocktails
Hawaii is known for its beautiful weather, fun-loving population, amazing beaches, and of course the local cocktails.
Mixologists and bartenders are in love with these cocktails because there’s a certain charisma to them. They have an intoxicating color that is vibrant, unique, and will appeal to anyone that is spending time in the region.
However, both are different in what they have to offer and it’s important to know the subtle differences.
Mai Tai
Beginning with the Mai Tai, it’s a golden-colored cocktail that gained popularity during the mid-1900s. According to historic viewpoints on the subject, there was a famous bartender by the name Vic Bergeron who put together something unique at the time. He wanted to try a unique line of drinks that would please visitors that were visiting his bar. This is when he started looking past beverages such as the Manhattans and martinis. As a result, he took a nearby bottle of rum and blended it with rock candy syrup, fresh lime, French orgeat, and orange Curacao to see how it would taste. The results were impressive and become a part of Hawaiian history forever.
The first people that took the opportunity to drink the Mai Tai noticed its rich golden color and were immediately drawn towards it. The almond aftertaste was breathtaking and something inspiring compared to everything else that was available at the bar. This is what led them to say “Mai Tai Roa Ae,” which means “it’s out of this world!”
Due to this saying, the name Mai Tai has become synonymous with the golden cocktail. By the 1950s, the Mai Tai had become popular all over Hawaii and was being offered to guests at local hotels with great pride.
Please note, there are other stories about the Mai Tai and how it came about. However, the almond-flavored golden cocktail is still a unique part of Hawaiian history and something that has always been associated with the region’s spirit. Other recipes tend to add a darker rum into the mix while trying to use Falernum (Caribbean syrup).
Blue Hawaiian
While the Mai Tai is adored on the island, it is the Blue Hawaiian cocktail that is on the lips of tourists as soon as they enter the bar. Local bartenders are often seen handing out these cocktails to the masses because of how appealing they are.
It was a man named Harry Yee who took the opportunity to create this masterpiece. Sometime in the mid-1900s, he was developing various exotic drinks and trying out unique mixtures to see what would blend well. As he was spreading the tiki culture, he was also learning how to craft these beautiful drinks in Hawaii. He wanted something that would resonate with the islands and its tropical elegance. As a result, he came up with a blue-colored cocktail that was unique and drew attention almost immediately. The blue color could be seen from miles away and that is what captivated people at the bar.
In general, the Blue Hawaiian is different from the Mai Tai as it is far more mellow in comparison.
The blue-colored drink comes along with various garnishes such as pineapples, paper parasol, and orange wheels to give it that serene quality that’s associated with Hawaii.
Taking a sip of this cocktail will immediately allow you to drown in a sudden blast of tart orange and pineapple notes.
Just like the Mai Tai, there are several different variations available of the Blue Hawaiian cocktail and each one is just as amazing as the rest. For tourists heading to Hawaii, this may be the first cocktail that is presented to you by the bartender. Yes, it’s that popular.
There are many great places on the island of Maui to taste one of these signature cocktails. To save a few bucks try the cocktails at a highly reviewed Maui happy hour spot. Some of our favorite happy hours are the Monkey Pod, Three’s Bar & Grill, Tantes Fishmarket, Fleetwood on Front St.
We hope you enjoyed our breakdown of the Blue Hawaiian and the Mai Tai tropical cocktails. Drink responsibly and until next time, aloha!