Looking amazing in its gorgeous shade of blue, this frozen Blue Hawaiian cocktail is a refreshing rum-based drink that is absolutely perfect for summer sipping. It is made of a blend of rum, cream of coconut, coconut water or pineapple juice, lime, and curaçao, which adds a hint of sweet tropical orange.
Jump to:
This tiki cocktail is beautiful and it's easily adjustable to double or triple this recipe. You can blend a few up at a time, making it perfect for serving at summer parties or while relaxing with friends poolside. You will feel like you are on a tropical island surrounded by white sand with clear blue water lazily lapping on the shore.
The Royal Hawaiian is another wonderful cocktail that came from Hawaii. Or, maybe you'd like to take your taste buds to the Caribbean next? Try the Caribbean rum punch for another deliciously tropical cocktail that features orange and pineapple flavours. Or, a kiwi kirsch crush for an unexpectedly amazing blend of fresh kiwi and cherry.
Ingredients
- Cream of coconut - Sometimes labeled 'creme de coconut,' it is a sweetened and syrupy coconut cream that is most commonly used to sweeten tropical drinks, such as the piña colada. This is not the same thing as coconut cream and they are not interchangeable.
- Coconut water - Or, pineapple juice (see substitutions note below).
- White rum - White rum is used so as not to add any brownish colour to the drink.
- Malibu coconut rum - For an extra burst of delicious coconut flavour.
- Blue curaçao - This is the ingredient that gives the cocktail its signature blue colour. It is a liqueur that smells of sweet orange and tastes of bitter and tangy orange, that is artificially coloured to add a tropical look to cocktails. It is made from extracts of dried orange peels. Traditionally the bitter-fleshed laraha (also known as Curaçao oranges) from Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, were used in the production. However, now they are often combined with other types of oranges.
- Freshly squeezed lime juice - Adds fresh citrus and cuts some of the sweetness in the drink for more balance.
- Ice - For blending into a frozen cocktail.
- Garnish: Maraschino cherry and/or a pineapple wedges or tropical flowers.
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Substitutions
- Pineapple - You can make this cocktail with pineapple juice instead of coconut water. The pineapple flavour really is a delicious addition, however, the drink won't be the same pretty blue colour because blue (curaçao) combined with yellow (pineapple juice) makes green. Ensure that you are using 100% pineapple juice and not a juice blend.
- Triple Sec - You could substitute blue curaçao with a triple sec, such as Cointreau. But you will lose the beautiful blue colour.
- Vodka - You could substitute the rum with vodka and the coconut rum with coconut vodka if you don't like rum.
This drink can be blended, shaken with ice, or stirred and served on the rocks (crushed ice is a good option). If blending for a frozen cocktail, like I did, use more ice for a thicker, slushier drink and less ice for a thinner drink.
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
History
The history of this cocktail is often confused with that of its predecessor, the Blue Hawaii.
The Blue Hawaii was created by Harry K. Yee in 1957 at Henry Kaiser's Hawaiian Village Hotel, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii, which would later become the Hilton. It was commissioned by Bols, a Dutch distiller, in an endeavour to increase sales of their blue curaçao product. The drink was named after the hit song from 'Waikiki Wedding,' Bing Cosby's 1937 film.
The Blue Hawaiian, which is a riff off of the Blue Hawaii, is thought to have most likely been created by Don Beach ('Don the beachcomber') in Los Angeles, USA. Previously a drifter from Louisiana, he eventually washed up in Hollywood where he became involved in the movie industry and transformed the drinking scene. His fondness for rum and passion for Polynesian culture led him to create the Tiki bar and Tiki cocktails as we know them. He eventually settled in Hawaii after WWII.
Blue Hawaiian vs. Blue Hawaii
The Blue Hawaii cocktail is made up of rum and sometime vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet and sour mix. If you use sweet and sour mix, you are making a Blue Hawaii.
The Blue Hawaiian cocktail is made up of rum, coconut rum, blue curaçao, cream of coconut, and coconut water or pineapple juice. If you use anything coconut, you are making a Blue Hawaiian.
Instructions
Measure all of the ingredients into your blender.
Blend then pour into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and enjoy.
Equipment
To make this recipe you will need the following:
- Blender
- Japanese jigger
The Japanese jigger and many other useful bartending tools can be found in this cocktail bar set.
Buy Now →
Buy Now →
What kind of glass should you use?
You can serve a Blue Hawaiian in any kind of glassware. Often hurricane glasses or stemless wine glasses are used. Or, you could get extra tropical and serve it in a hollowed out coconut shell.
Buy Now →
FAQ
It is a liqueur that smells of sweet orange and tastes of bitter and tangy orange, a flavour that comes from the extracts of dried orange peels - traditionally the lahara orange from Curaçao.
The flavour of the Blue Hawaiian cocktail is coconut, sweet orange, and pineapple (if you add it).
📖 Recipe
Frozen Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Total Time: 1 minute
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: cocktails
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Description
This beautiful, frozen Blue Hawaiian cocktail is a refreshing rum-based drink that is absolutely perfect for summer sipping. It features creamy coconut, sweet tropical orange, and (optionally) pineapple flavours.
Ingredients
1 oz (30ml) white rum
½ oz (15ml) Malibu coconut rum
¾ oz (22ml) blue curaçao
3 oz (90ml) coconut water (or pineapple juice*)
1 oz (30ml) cream of coconut
¼ oz (7ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
2 cups (280g) ice **
Garnish:
1 maraschino cherry
Instructions
Measure all of the ingredients into your blender.
Blend then pour into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and enjoy.
Notes
You can make this cocktail with pineapple juice instead of coconut water. The pineapple flavour really is a delicious addition, however, the drink won't be the same pretty blue colour because blue (curaçao) combined with yellow (pineapple juice) makes green. Ensure that you are using 100% pineapple juice and not a juice blend.
Using this much ice will make a thick and slushy drink. Use less ice for a thinner drink.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 1730
- Sugar: 15.6 g
- Sodium: 294.7 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Blue Hawaiian cocktail
SungHo Chang says
Wow!! I wish this is going to be added for Tim Hortons!!
Asha says
Thank you
Victoria says
So cool. Luv it!!
Asha says
Thanks!
Sam says
So beautiful I had to try this. Tastes as good as it looks.
Asha says
Thanks so much
Marsha says
Phenomenal
Asha says
Thank you
Belinda says
This drink looks too fun. The kids want one too. Don't worry it's all mine.
Asha says
Hmmm yes will have to come up with an alcohol-free version 🙂
Angie says
Super fabulous drink. Thanks.
Asha says
Thanks for leaving a review 🙂
Shelley says
Thrilled with this drink. So beautiful and enjoyable. I made it tonight to see if it tasted as good as it looked; as wanted something special for an after-dinner Thanksgiving drink tomorrow. Thanks so much.
Asha says
Thanks Shelly, you must be in Canada too.
Carla says
Awesome refreshing drink.
Asha says
Thanks 🙂
Daphne says
A delicious promise that summer will come again. Thank you for sharing.
Asha says
Thanks, yes can't come soon enough!