Mai Tai vs Margarita: Which Has More Alcohol?

Mai Tai vs Margarita: Which is the Stronger Cocktail?

Let’s compare Mai Tai vs Margarita and see which one will get you drunk quicker! Getting drunk might be your intention, or your intention may be NOT to get drunk. Either way, it is a good idea to educate yourself about the alcohol content of your favorite drinks to help you make an informed decision.

In this Cocktail Magic article we will take a deep dive into the origin, ingredients, alcohol content, flavors and serving style of Mai Tai vs Margarita. We will also delve into the versatility of both cocktails.

Origins

Most people think of Hawaii when they see a Mai Tai but it is actually a Californian creation. There are a few origin stories floating around but the common thread is that it was invented in California around the 1940’s.

The Margarita is, of course, an iconic Mexican drink and was also invented around the 1930’s or 1940’s.

Core Ingredients

In our Mai Tai vs Margarita comparison, the main difference between the two is the spirit base.

With the Mai Tai, it is all about the rum, and in particular about the rum blend. The fundamental nature of the Mai Tai is that it’s a showcase for great rum to shine. All the other ingredients are in small, supporting roles.

I like to use a 2 oz (60ml) mix of dark Jamaican rum and white rum. The dark rum gives the drink a smoky, sweet, caramel flavor, and the white rum brings a lighter flavor and texture with fruity hues. The blend of rums are mixed with 0.85 oz (25ml) lime juice, 0.5 oz (15ml) orange curaçao liqueur, 0.5 oz (15ml) orgeat syrup, and a touch of simple syrup.

Orgeat (pronounced Orzha) syrup is a roasted nut syrup which you can make yourself if you have the time and the motivation. I find that the commercial brands are very good though, and very convenient. My personal favorite of the commercial brands is Latitude 29 which I find is just the right level of sweetness and almond flavor.

The Margarita, being a Mexican creation, is all about the tequila. 1.5 oz (44ml) of tequila is then mixed with 0.75 oz (22ml) fresh lime juice and 0.75 oz (22ml) Cointreau to create the cocktail.

The quality and characteristics of tequila you choose will determine the flavour of your Margarita. My personal favorite is Pueblo Viejo Blanco. It is not the most exciting tequila when you sip it neat, but put it in a Margarita and it really makes the drink sing. This tequila has a hint of lime notes, and a level of acidity that sits perfectly with the other Margarita ingredients. It is also one of the most affordable brands of tequila on the market.

Did you notice the similarities here? Basically the traditional Mai Tai is a rum based Margarita!

Flavor Profile: Mai Tai vs Margarita

The Mai Tai is one of the classic Tiki drinks. Rum based, add in a citrus component and a sweet liqueur, and finish it off with the most outlandish tropical garnishes you can muster. The Mai Tai is citrusy, nutty, sweet and most importantly heavy in rum flavor.

The Margarita has the bright, zesty and tart flavour of fresh lime balanced out by a smooth tequila. The salty rimmed glass balances the drink nicely and cuts through both the lime and the tequila.

Serving Style

I like to put the ingredients of a Mai Tai in a cocktail shaker with some cubed ice and give it a short, very hard shake. The idea is to chill the drink, but not dilute it too much. I then pour the whole lot (no straining) over crushed ice in a double old-fashioned glass, and garnish it with a lime shell and mint sprig. The combination of the cubed ice and the crushed ice optimizes the dilution and chill.

The first step in serving a Margarita is to salt the rim of the glasses. This can be done by running a slice of lime around the rims and then dipping the rims into a saucer of salt.

Personally, I love a good frozen Margarita. Put the ingredients in a blender with ice and blend until smooth, then pour into your salted rim glass and serve with a straw. Alternatively you could shake or stir the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, and then strain the contents elegantly into your glass.

Versatility: Mai Tai vs Margarita

Both cocktails can be customized according to your tastes, preferences and creativity.

Mai Tai: Experiment with different types of rum and syrups used. Light rum, dark rum, Jamaican rum, aged rum and over proof rum can all be used. For the syrups, try the commercial Orgeat syrups and see how they influence the flavor. You could also try making your own version of Orgeat syrup, using different types of nuts to see what works best for you.

The Margarita has many different versions and styles. One of my favorites is the spicy Margarita, served with jalapeno peppers to add a spicy kick.

There are literally hundreds of versions of the Margarita. Try Fruity Margaritas (strawberry, watermelon, mango), Herb Margaritas (Ginger, Sage, Vanilla) and lots more. You might even come up with a new version unique to your tastes.

Alcohol Content

Here is where we get down into the details that we are looking for in our Mai Tai vs Margarita comparison. How much alcohol is in each cocktail?

Looking at the Mai Tai first, a typical recipe contains 2 ounces (60ml) of rum, of which 0.8 ounces of this is alcohol.  There is also 0.5 ounces of Curacao (15ml) in this drink which contains 0.2% of alcohol. The rest of the ingredients in the Mai Tai – orgeat syrup, lime juice and sugar syrup – don’t contain any alcohol. This brings the alcohol content of a Mai Tai to 1%.

In comparison, the typical Margarita recipe calls for 1.5 ounces (44 ml) of tequila, of which 0.6% is alcohol. In addition to this, there is 0.75 ounces (22ml) of Cointreau which is 0.3% alcohol. This makes the alcohol content of a Margarita 0.9%

Which is Stronger: Mai Tai vs Margarita

The winner is this duel is the Mai Tai!

The Mai Tai is generally stronger due to the combination of multiple rums, including high-proof options, making it a more potent choice than the Margarita. If you want to get drunk quickly then the Mai Tai is your go to cocktail. If you want to pace yourself and not get drunk too quickly, then Margarita is the drink for you. Especially if you serve it with lots of ice!

Of course, this is just a guide. There will be variations in alcohol content in various brands of rum and tequila, depending on the age, distilling process and other factors. Another important factor is how much ice is served with the drink, as melted ice can dilute the drink. It’s important to note it doesn’t decrease the amount of alcohol in the drink, it just means you take longer to drink it.