I don't think any of the "It's not a mai tai" people are saying this is a bad drink; they're just saying it shouldn't be classified as just Mai Tai (even if qualified by a personal recipe).
As I wouldn't call a Sazerac an "Old Fashioned," I wouldn't call this a Mai Tai of any sort personally, but if you must, Pineapple Mai Tai or maybe a Deconstructed Mai Tai? The added ingredients mimic some of the standard ingredients. I think it is divergent enough to have it's own name or a more descriptive Mai Tai variant name.

Avery, I think you’ll find that Appleton Estate 8 Reserve is a Single Estate Jamaica Rum.
Personally I don’t add the Crème de menthe as I don’t have any, but use the rest of the ingredients. So far I’ve not had any complaints.

When I clicked "Caribbean Aged Rum," it showed me Don Q 7-year. Does it show you Appleton?

I didn't have any pineapple rum, so I subbed Malibu. And subbed peppermint schnapps for the creme de menthe. It worked perfectly. Anyone know how I might batch this up? Would love to prepare some in advance for a party... but I'm not sure how to interpret the dashes and drops for a 25-person version, say.

Isn't Malibu Coconut and not Pineapple? Or do they make a pineapple now?

I've always heard this called Wray and Ting in the tiki/rum community. (though Ting Wray is pretty cute)

I used Kahlua instead of Galiano. (probably would have tried Mr. Black if I'd had some) But this is a very tequila-forward cocktail, which is surprising, as the other sherry cocktails I've tried are generally sherry-forward.
I'd say it's like you finished Tequila in a sherry cask. Probably would have a bit more coffee notes if I used Mr. Black.

What would the suggested type of rum be? Aged Jamaican? When I’m logged in it suggests Appleton when I’m logged out it suggest Bacardi 8 which are TOTALLY different rums.

Oh, yes, I was definitely thinking 57% was Navy Strenght. Enlighting. That is the ABV is on Smith & Cross, which is touted as "Navy Strenght" on their bottle. So that is actually "English Proof"?

I see Pussers Gunpowder Proof got it right at 54.5%

Oh, yes, I was definitely thinking 57% was Navy Strenght. Enlighting. That is the ABV is on Smith & Cross, which is touted as "Navy Strenght" on their bottle. So that is actually "English Proof"?

I definitely wouldn’t have put those together but it’s not too bad if you are okay with the smoke from mezcal as that is still definitely the predominant flavor.

How would substituting simple syrup for agave work? What's the flavor of agave?

I've noticed most Margarita recipes call for Blanco, not Reposado tequila as this one has. (and most on this site actually) Is that a conscious choice?

My take on this for tonight:
0.5 oz. Lime Juice (sour) 1
1 oz. Grenadine (sweet) 2
1.5 oz. W&N (strong) 3
2 oz. Pineapple juice (weak and part sweet) 4 combined with OJ
2 oz. orange juice
I also added about 1 tablespoon and a half of strawberry jam I had in the fridge.
This ended up probably a bit sweet, so I'd ditch the Grenadine and go full strawberry. Syrup or preserves, probably syrup, maybe 1 oz. or to taste for sweet/strawberry flavor.

Ooh, that didn't format well. The number after the close bracket is the ratio in the basic recipe.
I might also go with 2 oz. of W&N but it's probably good as-is unless you want it stronger. You can taste it just a bit which is probably good.

My take on this for tonight:
0.5 oz. Lime Juice (sour) 1
1 oz. Grenadine (sweet) 2
1.5 oz. W&N (strong) 3
2 oz. Pineapple juice (weak and part sweet) 4 combined with OJ
2 oz. orange juice
I also added about 1 tablespoon and a half of strawberry jam I had in the fridge.
This ended up probably a bit sweet, so I'd ditch the Grenadine and go full strawberry. Syrup or preserves, probably syrup, maybe 1 oz. or to taste for sweet/strawberry flavor.

I watched a YouTube video of an old Jamaican guy making rum punch in a large batch check said the basic recipe was 1 part sour (lime juice), 2 parts sweet (strawberry syrup from Jamaica), 3 parts strong (the wray & nephew), and 4 parts weak (which was water in the basic version).

But! His upgraded version was similar to this drink with orange and pineapple juice, which are part weak and part sweet, so left the strawberry till last and added to taste basically, but his "secret ingredient" was ginger paste concentrate, again from Jamaica, but I'd think you could use some ginger beer and not have to water it down with more juice like he did. So I'm going to try and balance this like he did that bowl full.

I watched a YouTube video of an old Jamaican guy making rum punch in a large batch check said the basic recipe was 1 part sour (lime juice), 2 parts sweet (strawberry syrup from Jamaica), 3 parts strong (the wray & nephew), and 4 parts weak (which was water in the basic version).

What is a good replacement for this in a Vesper Martini? I think I may have read Cocchi Americano is similar to the original Kina Lillet?

How do you make the white tea & coconut foam?

Can this be swapped with "triple sec?"

This tastes WAY different than Apple Brandy. Applejack and Apple Brandy should have their own classifications and drinks.