Winter Spiced Mai Tai
A tropical-meets-holiday Mai Tai made with rum, citrus, allspice dram, and a hint of almond. Festive, bright, and beautifully spiced for Christmas.
Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.
Ingredients
2 oz aged or dark rum
½ oz fresh blood orange juice
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz allspice dram
½ oz simple syrup
Garnish: dried or fresh blood orange wheel, fresh cranberries, mint sprig
Instructions
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add rum, blood orange juice, lime juice, allspice dram, and simple syrup.
Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds until well chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
Garnish with a blood orange wheel, fresh cranberries, and a mint sprig.
Notes from the Bar
Rum Choice
Aged or dark rum works beautifully here. Look for something with warm vanilla or caramel notes to complement the allspice dram.
Allspice Dram Sweetness
Allspice dram adds both spice and sweetness, which is why this recipe doesn’t require orgeat.
• If you like a sweeter or slightly creamier Mai Tai:
Add ¼ oz orgeat (½ oz if you like it dessert-leaning).
• Orgeat gives a subtle almond richness that leans more classic tiki.
Blood Orange Swap
If you don’t have blood orange, use regular orange juice — but the deeper color and berry-citrus notes of blood orange make this version shine.
Crushed Ice Matters
Crushed ice dilutes slowly and keeps the drink cold while creating that classic tiki texture.
Holiday Garnish Tips
Try topping with a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg or a mini rosemary sprig for even more festive aroma.
Batch for 6
In a pitcher, combine:
12 oz rum
3 oz blood orange juice
4½ oz lime juice
3 oz allspice dram
3 oz simple syrup
Chill until ready to serve. Pour over crushed ice and garnish individually.
Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.
Make It a Date Nite
This cocktail is part of something bigger for us. It's a ritual we return to week after week.
Each week, we create a Date Nite designed around one drink, one thoughtful menu, and the feeling of slowing down together. The kind of night where the table is set with intention, the music hums softly in the background, and the evening unfolds without rushing.
For this Date Nite, we’ve paired a cocktail with a cozy, make-ahead-friendly menu, so you can enjoy the process without spending the whole night in the kitchen. We also include little touches we love like timing notes, a head start option, and a playlist to set the mood. Feel to pair the meal with any of our cocktails.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. And turning an ordinary night at home into something that feels quietly special.
Each Date Nite includes a curated menu, cocktail pairing and a playlist, as well as another thoughtful extras like make-ahead tips, leftover ideas or table talk prompts to carry the night.
Kevin & Kate
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