PF Chang’s Chang Mai Tai: Easy Copycat Recipe

The Chang Mai Tai is the reason a lot of people order a drink at PF Chang’s before they even open the food menu. It is a layered rum cocktail, sweet with almond syrup and orange curaçao, finished with a dark rum float that colors the top of the glass. The almond syrup is what sets it apart from a standard Mai Tai, giving it a rounder, nuttier sweetness instead of a sharp citrus edge. You can build one at home in about five minutes, and everything on the list keeps in the liquor cabinet for the next round.

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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 Chang’s 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 Chang’s Cocktail?

It takes a lot of different bottles of booze to make a PF Chang’s 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 won’t knock your socks off, but it’s still quite respectable. Bacardi makes some of the best bang-for-your-buck rums out there, and almost every liquor store carries Bacardi 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 Curaçao, this cordial clocks in at just 30-proof. While the taste is extremely similar to Hiram Walker’s Blue Curaçao, 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.

Myers’s Dark Rum: Dark rums tend to have a more intense flavor than light rums, and Myers’s Dark Rum is an excellent example of this type of rum. Tasting experts can pick out notes of honey, raisins, and dark chocolate, but most people will notice only its heavier mouthfeel. In this recipe, Myers’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.

Bacardi 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 designed for sipping, it is not as harsh as other 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 Bacardi 151 Rum is Trader Vic’s favorite overproof rum, Lemon Hart 151, the creator of the Mai Tai.

Monin Almond Syrup: The secret ingredient that turns PF Chang’s 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 Monin near you, Torani is almost the same. Amaretto adds almond notes and, of course, raises the drink’s overall alcohol level.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Bacardi Light Rum
• Monin Almond Syrup
• Hiram Walker Orange Curaçao
• Myers’s Dark Rum
• Bacardi 151 Rum
• Pineapple slice
• Maraschino cherry

How to Make PF Chang Mai Tai

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add light rum.
3. Add almond syrup.
4. Add orange curaçao.
5. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
6. Pour dark rum and 151 rum on top.
7. Garnish with pineapple and cherry.

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!

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