We don’t know about you, but as we start to say goodbye to the dog days of summer, our summer cocktail hours ramp up! After all, is there anything better than a refreshing (and delicious) cocktail to beat the heat? Plus, when the drink in question is brightly colored and comes with a fun, tropical-inspired garnish, it’s almost too good to resist.

Enter the simple perfection of a mai tai! This tropical drink has a short ingredient list, is just the right amount of sweet to satisfy without overwhelming thanks to the nutty flavor of orgeat syrup and best of all takes just minutes to make. The dark rum and colorful curacao of the mai tai make this the perfect cocktail for backyard barbecues, retro tiki parties or merely a toast to summer sunsets.

So, follow along with Hilton Cancun’s very own Luis Alberto Jimenez and learn how to craft the ultimate mai tai recipe. It’s the perfect summer drink. You’ll enjoy yourself, impress all your friends and with one sip, will be instantly transported from your kitchen to the golden beaches (or infinity pools?) of Cancun.

Alison Cavatore is the assistant editor for the content marketing team at Hilton. She has written and copyedited for numerous print and digital publications in the U.S. and abroad. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Alison has lived in Miami, Scottsdale, Holland, France, Switzerland and Canada. She currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area.