There are plenty of delicious drinks to make with Malibu rum. Whether you're reinventing a classic or creating your own cocktail, Malibu rum adds sweetness, complexity, and a coconut taste of the tropics to your mixed drinks. The trick lies in knowing what goes with Malibu and other types of coconut rum. Malibu rum is a perennial, versatile favorite sure to please all kinds of cocktail lovers.
Malibu Basil Mojito
You wouldn't think basil, pineapple, and coconut rum would go together, but it makes a surprisingly flavorful cocktail. Basil is part of the mint family, which works well with pineapple and coconut rum. This twist on a mojito is refreshing and tasty.
Ingredients
- 10 basil leaves
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle basil leaves with simple syrup.
- Add ice, pineapple juice, lime juice, and Malibu rum.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a collins glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Frozen Malibu-Cantaloupe Daiquiri
Sweet, mellow cantaloupe blends well with the toasted coconut flavor in Malibu rum for a delicious frozen cocktail, and luckily this recipe makes two so you can share--or not.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Malibu rum
- 3 cups frozen cantaloupe chunks (rind and seeds removed)
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Melon balls or chunks on skewers for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add rum, cantaloupe chunks, simple syrup, and lime juice.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into rocks glasses.
- Garnish with melon balls.
Salty Dog on the Beach
What dog doesn't love a trip to the beach? Adding coconut to the salty dog cocktail brings a tropical punch to a sour and salty classic. Malibu rum brings balance and sweetness to grapefruit juice that's a beauty to behold.
Ingredients
- Salt and grapefruit wedge for rim
- ½ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- Ice
Instructions
- Run the grapefruit wedge around the edge of an old-fashioned glass and dip the glass in salt to rim it.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, grapefruit juice, and Malibu rum.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice.
Malibu Sunrise
Skip the tequila in favor of a flavorful coconut rum version of the classic. You'll never go back to the classic.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Malibu rum
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherries for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball or hurricane glass, add ice, rum, orange juice, and pineapple juice.
- Slowly pour grenadine down the inside of the glass, allowing it to sink. Do not mix.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherries.
Maliberry Fizz Martini
A fizzy coconut martini with fruity notes of raspberry and lemon takes a fruity martini to a new level.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ¾ ounce prosecco
- Ice
- Raspberry and lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, lemon juice, and raspberry liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with raspberry and lemon slice.
Summer Breeze
Who doesn't enjoy a bright blue cocktail? This drink practically shakes itself up.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ¼ ounce almond liqueur
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, almond liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Golden Pineapple
Few flavor pairings are more notable than coconut and pineapple. Impress your friends with this pairing, no need to tell them your secrets.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Malibu rum
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- ½ ounce honey liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add Malibu rum, pineapple juice, honey liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge.
Two-Shakes Coconut Daiquiri
If a frozen daiquiri is too intimidating or time-consuming, quickly shake this coconut daiquiri into a glass and be on your way.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Malibu rum
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime ribbon.
Nuts for Coconuts
The name speaks for itself. If you can't get enough coconut, this coconut martini goes over the top to satisfy any itch.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and shredded coconut for rim
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- ¾ ounce cream of coconut
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce vanilla schnapps
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the shredded coconut on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the shredded coconut to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, cream of coconut, lemon juice, and vanilla schnapps.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Birds Nest
A riff on the classic jungle bird, enjoy the balanced coconut flavors of the rum with the bitterness of the Campari.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- ¾ ounce Campari
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Pineapple leaves for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple leaf.
Tropical Lemon Drop
The classic lemon drop martini is difficult to improve, but a quick swap of spirits takes the cocktail from every day to a tropical experience.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut rum
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce limoncello
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add coconut rum, lemon juice, limoncello, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
West Coast Old-Fashioned
Go ahead and leave your bourbon on the self in favor of a coconut Old-Fashioned.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Malibu rum
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- 4 dashes aromatic bitters
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, Malibu rum, orange bitters, aromatic bitters, and simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Beachy Key Lime Pie Martini
Don't stop at the warm flavors of key lime; the coconut rum turns the tide to make this drink an even sunnier experience.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Malibu rum
- ¾ ounce key lime juice
- ½ ounce vanilla schnapps
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Malibu rum, key lime juice, vanilla schnapps, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Good Mixers for Malibu Rum
If you're wondering what to mix with Malibu rum and other types of coconut rum, there are plenty of good mixers. Because the Malibu rum itself is sweet, adding something acidic such as citrus juice helps to balance the flavors. It also blends well with other tropical flavors, such as pineapple or mango, and herbs such as mint or basil add a nice counterpoint to the rum. Some popular Malibu rum mix-ins for cocktails include the following.
- Pineapple juice
- Tropical flavored vodkas, such as pineapple
- Lime, grapefruit, or orange juice
- RumChata
- Lemon-lime soda and a dash of grenadine
- Cranberry juice
- Cola
- Ginger ale or ginger beer
A Taste of the Tropics
The next time you want a taste of the tropics, reach for a bottle of Malibu rum. It's sure to evoke the feeling of warm breezes, crashing waves, palm trees, and sand between your toes. FYI, there are plenty more coconut rum drinks you should know about. Give some of them a try.
