Spirit nerds – this one’s for you. A chance to sample a rum so rare there are only 23 bottles in all of Aotearoa and 1500 in the world. This is the rum that launched the Mai Tai, and at Mr Brightside from now till it runs out, you can have a classic Mai Tai made with the OG rum.
Appleton Estate, a pioneer of Jamaica’s rum craft, has recreated its J. Wray & Nephew 17-Year-Old, which was last produced in 1981 and is famed for its starring role in the original Mai Tai.
Before the umbrellas and sugary syrups took over, the Mai Tai was quite a simple drink. Victor J. Bergeron – better known as Trader Vic – takes credit for its creation, in 1944. His intent was to showcase the flavours of the J. Wray & Nephew 17-Year-Old. He did this with just a touch of lime, orgeat, orange curaçao and simple syrup.
Appleton Estate Master Blender Dr Joy Spence has spent nearly a decade recreating the blend using archival manuscripts from the 1940s. The result: Appleton Estate 17-Year-Old Legend.
Don’t expect this Mai Tai to be a cascade of fruit and sweetness – this balanced blend of the finest ingredients is the epitome of a classic cocktail, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.