The Blue Hawaiian is akin to the Pina Colada, based on rum, pineapple juice and cream of coconut. It promises a little taste of tropical paradise.
The big difference is the color: as the name suggests, it’s blue. Specifically, it’s the color of a sparkling pool on a clear, sunny afternoon.
But there is one other difference between the Blue Hawaiian and its tropical cousin: the flavor of orange. The blue Curaçao adds a distinct note of orange to this drink.
The orange doesn’t overwhelm the pineapple and coconut flavor, though. It just adds another wonderful sweet, tart layer to the taste of the drink.
And that makes this drink a little less mellow than the Pina Colada. That little sour note from the orange gives it a refreshing twist.
The Blue Hawaiian is a great choice for a tiki party. Just be sure to serve it in clear tiki glasses so you can enjoy watching the blue color in the flickering firelight.
This is a drink designed to make you feel like it’s summer no matter where you are or what the weather’s like. Not only does it taste like the tropics, it also looks like them.
This drink has an exotic feel that makes you feel transported. Between the flavors and the look of it, it’s easy to imagine you’re someplace magical.
And sometimes that’s just what you need from a cocktail. It’s the drinking equivalent of “Calgon, take me away!”
Cocktails are about visual appeal as well as taste. You can garnish this one with a simple cocktail umbrella, or you can spear a pineapple, a cherry, or both.
You could also garnish it with a chunk of cocktail. Whatever fruits you garnish it with, you can eat them along with the drink, which is always fun.
Either way, it’s a striking cocktail, with that lovely blue. It deserves a hurricane glass and a nice big pineapple wedge, at the very least.
You can make this cocktail a blended drink, by mixing everything together with ice in a blender. That keeps it nice and cool for a hot day.
Or you chill it and pour straight up, or pour over ice. The most common method is probably to shake it with ice and pour it into an empty glass with just three or four ice cubes.
But on a hot day, you may welcome the addition of some ice – and this cocktail can take it. It’s got enough flavor not to just water down into nothing.
Blue Hawaiian Drink Recipe
Blue Hawaiian classic cocktail recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Blue Curacao
- 1 ounce white rum
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce sweetened coconut cream
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a hurricane glass.
- Alternately, you can pour the drink, ice and all, into the glass.
- Alternately, you can put all the ingredients in a blender with ice, pulse the blender a few times until it's smooth, and serve it as a blended drink.
Kathy Sly says
June 16, 2017 at 5:04 pmThe Blue Hawaiia Blended Cocktail that I had the priveledge of enjoying at TGIF was an extrordinary & refreshing cocktail that I have had since going to Hawaii and tasting Mei Tai’s for the first time. It was 92 degrees and very humid. I usually don’t drink alcohol but this cocktail was so refreshing and didn’t taste of alcohol that I would suggest anyone to try. I will definately consume another.
Jim G says
January 13, 2018 at 4:07 pmI like these with ice, not blended.
donnita says
January 19, 2018 at 6:44 pmwhat happens if I can’t find the cream of coconut
Mixy says
January 20, 2018 at 7:49 amHmm, I don’t know. I’ve always found it in the cocktail mixers section at grocery stores. Check this thread for suggestions, though: https://food52.com/hotline/4977-substitute-for-coconut-cream
Ken says
January 26, 2018 at 12:21 pmI love them blended with ice in a blender. My favorite Hawaiian tiki drink. The coconut cream has a bit of calories, so you can cut that back a bit if you want to, without affecting the taste. I’ve been making these for years as 1 oz blue curacao : 1 oz coconut rum : 2 oz pineapple juice : 1/2 oz coconut cream. Keep in mind that tiki drinks tend to be a bit more alcoholic than they taste like, so sip them slowly and enjoy. Even better to drink it in a bamboo shaped mug or coconut shaped mug like Mr. Howell had on Gilligan’s Island.
Ken says
January 26, 2018 at 12:23 pmAnd I forgot, add 8 ice cubes and blend in a blender. You may want to pre-chill the blender, the glass, and the other ingredients in a refrigerator before making the drink. This’ll prevent any early melting of the ice.
Mixy says
January 26, 2018 at 3:14 pmThat sounds fantastic! Now I need to get these mugs you’re talking about, LOL.
Angel says
June 11, 2018 at 11:56 amI would like to make a pitcher for 15 people what would be the amounts in this recipe of each ingredient?
Thanks
Anel
Mixy says
June 12, 2018 at 8:41 amYou multiply everything by 15. So, 15 ounces Blue Curacao, 15 ounces white rum, 45 ounces pineapple juice, 15 ounces sweetened coconut cream. You might need more than one pitcher! :)
Joi says
May 19, 2019 at 6:08 pmThe pineapple juice turned it kinda green. How can I prevent that?
Mixy says
May 20, 2019 at 7:41 amMake sure you use pineapple juice without artificial color. Real juice doesn’t really add enough color to the drink to change it.