Guava Mai Tai: Our Signature Mai Tai Recipe with Guava Juice

Tiki Christmas, anyone?! 😉 This vibrant guava nectar cocktail is the perfect way to get into a celebratory mood, promise! It's a tropical-twist on a total classic, and whether you're dreaming of a beach vacation or just want a taste of paradise right in your living room, this mai tai recipe with guava juice is your ticket there. ✨

The Mai Tai's Journey: From OG to Island Getaway

The OG Mai Tai was created way back in the 1940s, and its name, from the Tahitian word for "good," was a perfect fit. Its simple formula, rum, curaçao, orgeat, and lime juice, was a well-balanced, nutty, and boozy legend. Over the decades, the Mai Tai became a canvas for creativity, with bartenders adding fresh, fruity goodness to give the cocktail a lighter, more tropical feel. This is where guava comes in. Its sweet, floral notes play beautifully with the rum, adding a layer of flavor that feels both fresh and indulgent.

A Little Scoop on Our Guava Nectar Cocktail Ingredients

The secret to a knockout guava nectar cocktail lies in the quality of its ingredients. Each one plays a vital role in creating a balanced and flavorful drink. Let’s get to it!

• The Rums: We use two types of rum to make things extra interesting! Gold rum gives us a smooth, strong base, while aged spiced rum brings a complex layer of warm spices like vanilla and cinnamon that love to hang out with the guava and orgeat.
• The Orgeat: This is the heart of the Mai Tai, and ours is extra special. While most recipes use boring almond orgeat, this definitive mai tai recipe with guava juice features El Guapo™ Creole Orgeat. With its unique notes of roasted pecans and aromatic spices, it gives this cocktail a distinct, Southern flair.
• The Juices: The combo of guava nectar, pineapple juice, and orange mango juice is a total tropical symphony! The guava is the superstar, the pineapple adds a touch of tartness, and the orange mango rounds it all out with a tropical sweetness.
• The Bitters: A few dashes of our El Guapo™ Polynesian Kiss Bitters is the final touch! These bitters bring bright, fruity notes of hibiscus and passionfruit that cut through the richness of the rum and juices, tying all the flavors together perfectly. 💋

A Foolproof Mai Tai Recipe with Guava Juice

This recipe is designed to make two drinks at once, so you can share the tiki spirit!

x @the.sauceress

Makes 2 cocktails

• 1.5 oz Gold Rum
• 1.5 oz Aged Spiced Rum
• 1 oz El Guapo™ Creole Orgeat
• 2 oz Guava Nectar
• 1 oz Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz @nataliesoj Orange Mango Juice
• 0.5 oz Lime Juice
• 2 Barspoons Orange Blossom Water
• 6 Dashes El Guapo™ Polynesian Kiss Bitters
• Edible flowers & fruit, for garnish (we used orchids & baby pineapples 🍍)

Instructions:

1. Combine both rums, El Guapo™ Creole Orgeat, guava nectar, all the juices, orange blossom water, and our El Guapo™ Polynesian Kiss Bitters into a cocktail shaker.
2. Add a single, large cube of ice. 🧊
3. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. This chills and properly dilutes the ingredients.
4. Strain the cocktail into two hurricane glasses full of crushed or nugget ice.
5. Garnish with a tropical blossom or some fruit. CHEERS! ✨

Looking for more cocktail inspiration? Explore our complete collection of recipes and discover your next favorite drink. Have a question? Contact us for assistance, or visit El Guapo’s homepage to explore everything we offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why use two different types of rum? 

A: Combining gold and aged spiced rum adds complexity and depth to the cocktail. The gold rum provides the classic spirit base, while the spiced rum introduces warm, complementary flavors that make the drink more dynamic.

Q: What’s the difference between guava juice and guava nectar? 

A: Guava juice is typically thinner and more tart, while guava nectar is thicker and sweeter. Using guava nectar gives the cocktail a richer mouthfeel and a more pronounced fruity flavor.

Q: Can I use simple syrup instead of orgeat? 

A: You can, but it will change the flavor profile significantly. The orgeat provides a unique nutty and floral taste that is essential to a traditional Mai Tai. For the best result, stick with El Guapo™ Creole Orgeat.