What is a Milwaukee Mai Tai you may ask?  Well, it is a Mai Tai made with Milwaukee’s own Roaring Dan’s Rum. Roaring Dan’s rum is made by The Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, WI. They have only been around for a few years, but their award winning Vodka and Gin have become very popular through out the Midwest.

Roaring Dan’s Rum, which was released in June, is distilled with pure Wisconsin Maple Syrup giving it an excellent maple flavor.  The maple goes really well with the oak and bourbon barrels that it was aged in.  It also has a hint of caramel.  

The rum is named after  Roaring Dan Seavey.  The only man to have ever been charged with piracy on the great lakes.  What would a rum be without a pirate?  As the story goes, Roaring Dan stole a ship on Lake Michigan and a government revenue ship was sent to capture him. One warning shot from the cannon was all it took for him to surrender.  He was then transported to Chicago to face charges.  Mysteriously, those charges were dropped.  

To make a Milwaukee Mai Tai fill your cocktail shaker with:

• 1 cup crushed ice
• 2 oz Roaring Dan’s Rum
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz Orgeat syrup

Shake well, until the outside of the shaker is frosted.  Pour unstrained into a cocktail glass. The Milwaukee Mai Tai is quite delicious.  The oaky maple rum goes well with the Cointreau and lime juice.  The Orgeat syrup adds a nice touch of sweetness.

If you are ever in the Milwaukee area I would encourage you to stop by The Great Lakes Distillery.  They give tours and for only a couple bucks you can sample their wide variety of products.  It’s always a great time.

Mahalo!