Tropical Month ’23 – Mandarin Mai Tai

Great minds think alike: Some time ago, my namesake Instagram buddy Matthias Tetaert came up with a Mandarin Mai Tai variation. So, I thought I would start Tropical Month 2023 with the recipe I came up with around the same time. On top of that, I also had an excellent mandarin liqueur I want to share with you!

Actually, the reason for creating a mandarin flavoured Mai Tai was the mandarin liqueur from Artisan Spirits. Eva and Stefan from Gin Eva also create liqueurs which capture the essence of Mallorca. In this case, mandarins from the Sòller valley are used. The folks from Gin Eva macerate the mandarins in a clear grain distillate for some weeks. Afterwards, the liqueur is bottled without filtration and 150 g / l of sugar.

Tasty mandarin notes

I only tasted one other mandarin liqueur – the famous one with cognac. However, the Artisan Spirit’s bottling is a whole new ballgame. You taste intense mandarin and other citrus flavours, together with a noticeable, but well-balanced sweetness. On top of that, the liqueur reminded me of orange blossoms.

Somehow related to the original

Yes, it is a stretch to call this drink a Mai Tai, but nevertheless it is what gave me the idea. Similar to Matthias, I had the feeling that the mandarin liqueur needed some cognac in the recipe. Moreover, I also added a splash of mandarin eau de vie. Yet, to stay a bit closer to the original recipe I kept the Jamaica rum.

Surprisingly, the Mandarin Mai Tai at first tastes like regular one. You get the typical combination of Jamaica rum with lime and almonds. Yet, the mandarin flavour comes through after a short while and adds to the already pronounced citrus notes. Towards the end of the sip, the cognac also plays its role and leads to a warming and long finish.

*The fact that I received a product reviewed in this article for free, did not – in any way – influence the rating of said product. The liqueur was provided by Gin Eva.