The Fight Over Who Invented the Mai Tai

Two legends of tropical drinking culture spent decades connected to one of the biggest cocktail origin disputes ever. Who invented the Mai Tai? Trader Vic said he created it in 1944. Donn Beach had already been building the tropical cocktail world for years—and later connections to earlier drinks complicated the story. Then Hawaii helped transform the Mai Tai into something neither man had originally made. This is the story of Trader Vic, Donn Beach, tiki culture, rare Jamaican rum, orgeat, the Q.B. Cooler, and the long-running fight over who really created one of the world’s most famous tropical cocktails. Neat tells the remarkable true stories behind the drinks we know—from strange origins and forgotten people to scandals, rivalries, inventions, disasters, myths, and moments that changed drinking culture forever. New stories every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Stories Behind Every Pour. Please drink responsibly. Chapters: 00:00 The Dirty Stinker Quote 00:45 Two Tiki Legends 01:35 Donn Beach's Escape 03:15 Trader Vic Takes Notes 04:25 Vic's Original Recipe 06:25 The Q.B. Cooler Theory 09:05 Hawaii Changes Everything 12:00 Who Actually Invented It