PF Chang’s Chang Mai Tai

PF Chang’s Chang Mai Tai is a fruity cocktail perfect for a hot summer day. This delicious drink is made with three types of rum and orange curacao. It really packs a whollop! You are going to love this Mai Tai recipe.

homemade PF Chang Mai Tai, pineapple, and cocktail shaker

Tropical Mai Tai Recipe

You probably can’t escape to a tropical beach this weekend, but that’s no reason why you shouldn’t drink like you are in paradise. This Mai Tai from PF Chang’s China Bistro will transport you to your favorite Tiki Bar fantasy.

PF Changs Mai Tai isn’t the typical Mai Tai you will find in most bars. It has a much more complex and sophisticated flavor. You are going to love this delicious summer cocktail recipe. The next time you want to get away, give this recipe a try.

What’s in this PF Changs Cocktail?

It takes a lot of different bottles of booze to make a PF Changs Mai Tai:

Bacardi Superior Light Rum One of the most popular rums globally and the standard go-to for mixed drinks, Bacardi Superior Light Rum is crystal clear with a touch of sweetness. At 80-proof, it is definitely not going to knock your socks off, but it’s quite respectable. Barcadi makes some of the best bang-for-your-buck rums out there, and almost every liquor store carries Barcardi Superior Light Rum, but any clear rum will work in a pinch.

Hiram Walker Orange Curacao Flavored with the peel of the famous laraha citrus fruits that grow on the Caribbean island of Curacao, this cordial clocks in at just 30-proof. While the taste is extremely similar to the Hiram Walker’s Blue Curacao, this one is, well, not going to make your tongue look like you just sipped a blue Icee. Feel free to substitute the blue version of this cordial if you don’t mind drinking something that looks awful but tastes excellent. Alternatively, try an equal amount of Triple Sec.

Myer’s Dark Rum Dark rums tend to have a more intense flavor than light rums, and Myer’s Dark Rum is an excellent example of this type of rum. Tasting experts can pick out honey, raisins, and dark chocolate elements, but most people will only notice its heavier mouthfeel. In this recipe, Myer’s Dark Rum is used mainly as a float to add a cool effect to the drink; therefore, any dark rum will work well in this cocktail.

Barcardi 151 Rum At 75.5 percent alcohol, Bacardi 151 Rum is all about adding alcohol content to a drink. While this may not be a rum that is designed for sipping, it is not as harsh as other types of high-proof liquors. Bartenders who are into flair often use this rum in cocktails that they want to set on fire for dramatic effect. An alternative to Barcardi 151 Rum is Trader Vic’s, the creator of the Mai Tai, favorite overproof rum, Lemon Hart 151.

Monin Almond Syrup The secret ingredient that turns PF Changs Mai Tai into something unique. Monin Almond Syrup is entirely alcohol-free, and you can buy it in most grocery stores. Monin’s Almond Syrup is also 100 percent natural, and you can even find it in a sugar-free version. If you can’t find the Monin brand near you, the Torani brand is almost the same. Amaretto offers almond characteristics and, of course, raises the overall alcohol level of the drink.

Tips for Making and Serving a PF Chang’s Mai Tai

  • Don’t forget the garnishes! Tiki drinks are all about excess, so don’t skimp on pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries. For extra points, use cutlass-shaped swizzle sticks and paper parasols.
  • You don’t need to serve these drinks in a novelty coconut glass, but it sure is fun! Otherwise, use an old-fashioned glass.
  • Choose juices without pulp. Save that OJ with extra pulp for breakfast!

Check out more of our copykat cocktails on YouTube!

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Bacardi Light Rum
  • Monin Almond Syrup
  • Hiram Walker Orange Curacao
  • Myers’s Dark Rum
  • Barcardi 151 Rum
  • Pineapple slice
  • Maraschino cherry
PF Chang's Chang Mai Tai ingredients

How to Make PF Chang Mai Tai

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add light rum.
    pouring Bacardi light rum into a cocktail shaker
  3. Add almond syrup.
    pouring almond syrup into a cocktail shaker
  4. Add orange curacao.
    pouring orange curacao into a cocktail shaker
  5. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
    pouring a shaken Chang Mai Tai into a glass filled with ice
  6. Pour dark rum and 151 rum on top.
    dark and 151 rum float on a Change mai tai cocktail
  7. Garnish with pineapple and cherry.
homemade PF Chang's Chang Mai Tai, cocktail shaker, and pineapple

Easy Cocktail Recipes

Favorite Restaurant Copycat Recipes

Check out more of my easy cocktail recipes and the best copycat recipes for casual dining restaurants here on CopyKat!

homemade PF Chang Mai Tai, pineapple, and cocktail shaker

PF Chang’s Chang Mai Tai

You can make the famous Chang Mai Tai at home with this easy copycat recipe.
5 from 4 votes
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chang Mai Tai, Mai Tai
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 302kcal

Ingredients

  • ice
  • 1 1/2 ounces light rum
  • 1 ounce almond syrup
  • 1/2 ounce orange curaçao
  • 1/2 ounce dark rum
  • 1/4 ounce 151 rum
  • pineapple slices or chunks to garnish
  • maraschino cherry to garnish

Instructions

  • Add the light rum, almond syrup, and orange curaçao to a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
  • Pour dark rum and 151 rum on top and garnish with pineapple and a cherry.

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

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Hi there! I’m Stephanie Manley, the creator behind CopyKat.com — and a passionate advocate for helping home cooks recreate restaurant-style meals at home.

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