A mai tai recipe is the classic Hawaiian tiki cocktail of light and dark rum, orange curaçao, lime, and orgeat — and you can build one, scaled to any party size, with the free Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer from Kahana Designs, a Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. Whether you're planning a backyard luau, a beach picnic, or just craving a taste of the islands on a Friday night, this free tool turns 25 tropical drink recipes — Mai Tai, Piña Colada, Painkiller, Blue Hawaiian, and more — into a scaled recipe card in seconds, with a mocktail option so everyone at the party can join in.
What is the Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer?
The Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer is a free, no-signup web tool that holds 25 island cocktail recipes across four categories: tiki classics like the Mai Tai, Zombie, Scorpion, and Painkiller; frozen and creamy blends like the Piña Colada, Lava Flow, and Chi Chi; tall refreshers like the Blue Hawaii, Coconut Mojito, and Tropical Margarita; and bubbly punches like the POG Mimosa and Tropical Sangria. Pick a drink, set how many you're pouring, and the tool does the math so every ingredient scales cleanly from a single nightcap to a party pitcher.
How do I use the Mai Tai mixer?
- Open the Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer.
- Choose your drink from the dropdown — Mai Tai is selected by default.
- Enter how many drinks you're making, from 1 to 60.
- Toggle "Make it virgin" if you want a mocktail version with the alcohol swapped for juices and syrups.
- Tap "Mix my drink" to get a scaled ingredient list, step-by-step instructions, and a garnish suggestion.
- Share or copy the recipe to send to whoever's hosting the party.
Is the Mai Tai mixer free?
Yes. The Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer is completely free to use, with no account or sign-up required — you can mix as many rounds of recipes as you'd like.
What's the story behind the Mai Tai?
The Mai Tai's exact origin is debated between two California tiki bars in the 1940s, but its flavor profile — dark and light rum, orange curaçao, lime, and orgeat (almond syrup) — became inseparable from Hawaiʻi once resort bars on Oʻahu and Maui started serving their own pineapple-forward versions in the 1950s and '60s. Today the Mai Tai is as much a symbol of island hospitality as it is a drink, poured at luaus, sunset happy hours, and family gatherings across the islands. We built this mixer so you can bring a little of that same island hospitality home, wherever you're pouring from.
Planning a bigger island-style spread to go with the drinks? Browse our Food & Drink collection for Hawaiian foodie tees that make a fun conversation piece at any luau or backyard party.
Bring the islands home: Explore our Food & Drink collection — original designs from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. A few of the newest additions:
Aloha Wine O'Clock Tee — a sunset-hour tribute for anyone who loves happy hour with an island view.
Hawaii Foodie Life Tee — for anyone who plans their whole day around the next great island meal.
Craft Beer Hawaii Tee — a shoutout to Hawaiʻi's local taproom scene, made for the beer lovers in the ʻohana.
Manapua Bun Tee — a fun nod to the island snack no one can eat just one of.
Keep reading from the Kahana Designs journal
- The Luʻau: Then and Now
- The Hawaiian Plate Lunch
- Hawaiian Foods You Have to Try
- What Is Poke? A Guide to Hawaiʻi's Favorite Dish
- Hawaiian Food & Drink: Tees for Island Foodies
Frequently asked questions
What is in a classic Mai Tai?
A traditional Mai Tai is made with light and dark rum, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice, and orgeat (almond syrup), shaken with ice and garnished with mint and a lime wheel. Many Hawaiian-style versions add pineapple and orange juice for a fruitier take.
Is the Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer free?
Yes, the mixer is 100% free to use with no sign-up required.
Can I make a virgin Mai Tai?
Yes — toggle the "virgin" option in the mixer and it swaps the rum for extra juices and syrups so the drink still tastes balanced and tropical, with no alcohol.
How many drinks can the mixer scale to?
You can scale any recipe from a single serving up to 60 drinks, which makes it easy to plan a round for the whole party in one calculation.