There is nothing that says “I’m on vacation” quite as much as a tropical cocktail. Excuse us, we asked for no salt? These mixed drinks feature tropical fruits, juices, specialty liquors like Velvet Falernum that will sit untouched in the back of your liquor cabinet for the next decade, and tantalizing garnishes.
If you need a blender for all that ice you’ll be crushing to make these, this one should do the trick.
From classic drinks you’ll find on every tiki bar menu to creative spins you haven’t considered, here’s your “let’s go enjoy these by the pool” cocktails for summer. Pool floats encouraged, but not required.
25 Tropical Cocktails
1. Passion Fruit Margaritas
There’s margaritas and then there’s these. For this tropical cocktail, they’ve mixed sweet tart passion fruit with lime juice, orange liqueur, and tequila for a nearly perfect tangy margarita. Who cares if the garnish looks like they’ve skewered an alien?
2. Guava Mojitos
For a traditional Mojito, you’ll muddle mint and sugar before adding lime. For this twist on the classic Cuban cocktail, you’ll add in fresh guava juice. And by fresh we mean, you’ll find it in aisle 3.
3. Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail
If you don’t think Mai Tais are sweet enough, you’ll love this recipe. And you might be part hummingbird. Serve this pineapple version in a tall glass or a nectar feeder if you’ve got one handy.
4. Passion Fruit Mojitos
Thought the margarita was going to have all the fun with passion fruit? Well, you guessed wrong! Oh, uh, look, it’s going to be ok. Here, have this tart Mojito cocktail and pretend you’re on a warm sandy beach.
5. Sex on the Beach
Funny, this tropical drink doesn’t feel like hiding under a towel, not getting arrested, and ending up with sand everywhere. But, if that’s what vodka, peach schnapps, and a bunch of fruit juices equate to you… enjoy.
6. Piña Colada Cocktail
The Piña Colada hails from Puerto Rico and literally translates to “strained pineapple.” We’re gonna pretend we don’t know that.
7. Coconut Pineapple Margarita
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a Piña Colada and a Margarita got together and had a baby? This. Welp, down the hatch!
8. Grilled Pineapple Moscow Mule
Toss grilled pineapple and pineapple juice into a Moscow Mule for a sweeter take on the spicy cocktail. Don’t have a grill? Find someone who is throwing a BBQ and tell them “this is our grill now.” But just for five minutes while we toast these golden slices!
9. Coconut Mojito
Does it feel like a Mandela effect that mojitos had coconut in them or is it just us? (For the record, we have no idea what the Mandela effect is.)
10. Frozen Mango Margaritas
Sweet fresh mango (you can store bought frozen fruit or mango nectar, too) plays well with tequila and fresh lime juice in this tropical cocktail. Almost too well.
11. Piña Colada Mule
If you want a spicier take on the classic Piña Colada, throw in some ginger beer to make it a mule. It probably won’t take you to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. But you can ask.
12. Rum Runner Cocktail
The Rum Runner is basically a very grown up version of fruit punch. By which we mean it has alcohol in it.
13. Malibu Sunset Cocktails
The Malibu Sunset goes by a number of names: Malibu Barbie, Panty Dropper, Get Off My Private Beach Or I’m Calling the Cops. Whatever you call it, this coconut rum-based drink and its layers of rum, pineapple juice, and grenadine will have you feeling like you’re in California.
14. Caribbean Rum Punch
To make this classic boozy punch and turn any meeting into a party, combine light rum, dark rum, Triple Sec, cream of coconut, and a few more ingredients. Why is HR calling us?
15. Hawaiian Bonfire Cocktail
Unlike most tropical cocktails, this recipe blends the traditional flavors of pineapple and lime with cinnamon syrup and spicy rye whiskey. But, like most tropical drinks, this sweet and smoky cocktail can be made by the pitcher. Or the catcher if you’re really in a pinch.
16. Hibiscus Margaritas
These jewel-toned red margaritas get their color and tart flavor from hibiscus syrup and a hibiscus salt rim. And tequila.
17. Electric Smurf Drink
The Electric Smurf is full of the tropical flavors of coconut rum and pineapple juice, and gets its vibrant blue color from Blue Curaçao. Or, Brainy. Same difference.
18. Prickly Pear Mojito
For a Mojito that literally refuses to blend in, try this one made with hot pink prickly pear syrup. Barbie would approve. Ken is on probation from making important decisions since we saw what he did to his hair.
19. Caipirinha Cocktail
The Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail. It’s made with sugarcane-based cachaça liquor, lime, and sugar.
20. Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Unless you’re one of those “red pepper flakes are spicy” people, you’ve had a spicy margarita. But, these jalapeño tequila ones have a hint of sweetness thanks to pineapple juice. And all that love we threw into the blender.
21. Bay Breeze
Sometimes called a Hawaiian Sea Breeze, this Bay Breeze cocktail is a super refreshing combination of vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice. Tastes like college. Now, with hangovers.
22. Bahama Mama
This Bahamian cocktail was reportedly named for the calypso singer Dottie Lee Anderson. To create the layered drink, you’ll mix together two different kinds of rum, pineapple and orange juice, and grenadine.
23. Painkiller Cocktail
The Painkiller is a classic Tiki cocktail made with a fruity mix of pineapple, orange, coconut, and high-proof rum. You can kind of think of it as a cousin to the Piña Colada that lives in Palm Springs and only comes to LA on weekends.
24. Jungle Bird Cocktail
The Jungle Bird is another classic Tiki drink that pairs sweet, tropical flavors with bitter Campari, an Italian liqueur. It’s often garnished with pineapple leaves, which are intended to mimic the feathers of a bird! This little number is cute and delicious and doesn’t violate health codes.
25. Zombie Cocktail
The Zombie is delicious but potent, thanks to the fact that it’s pretty much the Long Island Iced Tea of Tiki cocktails.
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