Kentucky Mai Tai

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 30 ml Bourbon
- 30 ml Mezcal
- 15 ml Cynar
- 15 ml Peach Liqueur
- 15 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 15 ml Orgeat

GARNISH:
- Sprig of Mint
- Skewered Cherries
- Twist of Lemon

INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• Strain over fresh crushed ice into a cocktail glass.
• Top with more crushed ice.
• Garnish with a sprig of mint, twist of lemon and skewered cherries.

Cocktail author: Dan Sabo.

Kentucky Mai Tai is definitely one of the more extravagant and unusual Mai Tais out there. Replacing traditional rum base with split bourbon and mezcal will get anyone’s attention. It instantly transforms the cocktail, giving it a completely new and fascinating twist.

Bourbon and mezcal in even measures form a smoky, oaky base, playing well with the bitter-sweet artichoke notes of the Cynar. This particular combination pulls the cocktail away from its traditional sweet tiki roots, adding a lot more complexity to the taste. A nod to the tradition of Mai Tai is the addition of orgeat with its sweet almond notes, which blend seamlessly with sweet and fruity peach liqueur. Finishing touch of lemon juice balances out the cocktail, helps to round everything up and plays nice with the rest of the ingredients.

All in all, Kentucky Mai Tai will be a journey and a discovery for any cocktail enthusiast. Although, while influence of Mai Tai can be felt, I believe that this version is more of a cocktail in its own right, rather the riff on a well-known classic.

Source material:
https://punchdrink.com/recipes/kentucky-mai-tai/