Bottles of Smith and Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao.

Mai Tai Set: Smith and Cross + Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

750ml & 114 Proof

Mai Tai Set: Smith and Cross + Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao is a Sets.

What is Mai Tai Set: Smith and Cross + Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao?

The Mai Tai Set featuring Smith and Cross Rum and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao brings together two powerhouse ingredients that can elevate your tropical cocktails to new heights. This pairing combines the bold, funky notes of Jamaican rum with the complex, orange-forward profile of a premium curaçao, allowing you to craft Mai Tais that rival those served at the world's best tiki bars. Interestingly, the original Mai Tai recipe was created in 1944 by Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron using a now-extinct 17-year-old J. Wray & Nephew rum. This set allows modern cocktail enthusiasts to recreate a similar flavor profile, with Smith and Cross providing the rich Jamaican rum character that was so prized in the original recipe.

Why do we love Mai Tai Set: Smith and Cross + Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao?

The Mai Tai Set featuring Smith and Cross Jamaican rum and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao offers cocktail enthusiasts a chance to recreate the complex flavors of the original 1944 Trader Vic's Mai Tai. Smith and Cross, with its bold 57% ABV and funky "hogo" character, provides a robust backbone, while Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, made with Cognac and bitter orange peels, adds a sophisticated twist on the traditional orange liqueur component, resulting in a Mai Tai that's both authentic and elevated.

How do you drink Mai Tai Set: Smith and Cross + Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao?

This powerful Mai Tai duo of Smith and Cross Jamaican rum and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao shines in tropical tiki-style cocktails, but also rewards sipping neat or with a large ice cube to open up the flavors. While perfect for warm summer evenings, these rich and complex spirits can transport you to a mental beach vacation any time of year, pairing beautifully with spicy Caribbean cuisine or grilled pineapple for dessert.

$69.99

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Tasting Notes

How It's Made

Fun Facts

Product Details

Nose: Rich molasses and tropical fruit aromas dominate. Ripe banana, pineapple, and mango mingle with dark brown sugar and a hint of vanilla. A subtle orange zest note from the curaçao adds brightness.

Palate: Full-bodied and intense. The Smith & Cross rum brings bold flavors of overripe bananas, caramelized sugar, and baking spices. The Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao contributes dried orange peel and a touch of bitter herbs. Hints of almond and coconut emerge mid-palate.

Finish: Long and warming. The high-proof rum leaves a lingering heat, while flavors of toasted oak, dark chocolate, and orange oil persist. A subtle saltiness reminiscent of sea air appears at the very end, balancing the sweetness.

The Mai Tai Set pairs Smith and Cross Navy Strength Jamaican rum with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, creating a potent foundation for the classic tiki cocktail. Smith and Cross is crafted using traditional pot still distillation and a blend of both heavy-bodied and lighter rums, while Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is made by macerating bitter orange peels in cognac and adding a touch of brandy aged in ex-cognac casks, resulting in a complex and aromatic orange liqueur.

The Mai Tai Set featuring Smith & Cross and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is a nod to the "Original Formula" Mai Tai created by Trader Vic in 1944. While many modern versions use light rum, this combination recreates the bold, funky flavors that made the cocktail famous.

Smith & Cross rum is bottled at a potent "navy strength" of 57% ABV, a tradition dating back to the 18th century when sailors would test the alcohol content of their rum rations by mixing it with gunpowder. If the powder still ignited, the rum was "proof."

Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao contains extract from the peels of Laraha oranges, a bitter variety that evolved from Valencia oranges planted by Spanish explorers on the island of Curaçao. These oranges are considered inedible fresh but produce an intensely aromatic oil.

Main Ingredient: Rum
Country of Origin: Jamaica + France