Adding coconut to drinks is an excellent way to liven or even brighten up any cocktail you come across. Be it an original recipe or an updated classic, you can seamlessly introduce that signature coconut flavor. With coconut available in so many forms to play with, including coconut spirits, cream of coconut, and coconut milk, there's no shortage of coconut cocktail options.
Coconut Drinks That Use Flavored Spirits
Coconut rum or other coconut flavored spirits add an easy blast of tropical flavor to all your coconut cocktails. These drinks are sure to bring to mind bright, sunny days with your toes in the sand on a tropical beach.
Coconut Martini
Sip your way to a tropical mindset, or just enjoy a flavored martini that isn't fruit.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces coconut rum
- ½ ounce vanilla vodka
- ½ ounce cream of coconut
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, vanilla vodka, cream of coconut, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Coconut Margarita
No one can resist a coconut margarita. Offer your friends a classic or a coconut margarita, and only the ones who you need to question why your friends won't pick the coconut marg.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut tequila
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Lime wheel and coconut slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut tequila, cream of coconut, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lime wheel and coconut slice.
Bahama Mama
Go full sweet and sunny coconut flavors with this tasty island cocktail, the Bahama mama.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- ¾ ounce overproof rum
- ½ ounce coffee liqueur
- 2¼ ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Orange wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, overproof rum, coffee liqueur, pineapple juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange wedge and cherry.
Coconut Mojito
Make a few simple ingredient swaps to craft a refreshing new take on the classic mojito.
Ingredients
- 7-8 fresh mint leaves
- 1½ ounces coconut rum
- 1 ounce white rum
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
- Add ice, coconut rum, white rum, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.
Coconut Rum Punch
Give your rum punch a makeover by adding those desired coconut flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce cream of coconut
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Lime wheel and blackberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lime wheel and blackberry.
Pineapple Coconut Mimosa
When you've just sat down at brunch, and you're thinking to yourself about if it's a mimosa day (it is) a pineapple coconut mimosa day.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce coconut rum
- ¾ ounce pineapple juice
- Prosecco to top off
Instructions
- Chill a Champagne flute.
- In chilled flute, add coconut rum and pineapple juice.
- Top off with prosecco.
Coconut Old-Fashioned
Flip the script on the classic bourbon old-fashioned with some coconut rum.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 ounce aged rum
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 3-4 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, coconut rum, aged rum, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Coconut Daiquiri
Skip the sugary frozen daiquiri in favor of this simple coconut-forward treat.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces coconut rum
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, coconut rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.
Lava Flow
When you're deciding if you should have a milkshake or cocktail, this coconut drink swoops in to the rescue and reminds you there's no need to choose.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 2½ ounces strawberries, frozen or fresh
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces cream of coconut
- 1 banana
- 1 cup ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add white rum, coconut rum, and strawberries.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glass and rinse blender.
- In blender, add ice, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and banana.
- Blend until smooth.
- Simultaneously pour mix from blender and strawberry mix into highball glass simultaneously, creating a swirl, layering effect.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Cream of Coconut Cocktails
Ah sweet, creamy cream of coconut. This cocktail mainstay adds delightful coconutty sweetness to your mixed drinks.
Bushwacker
The unusual name aside, this is a sister cocktail of the chocolatey frozen mudslide.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- ¾ ounce crème de cacao
- 2 ounces milk
- 1¼ ounces cream of coconut
- 1 cup ice
- Grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
-
In a blender, add ice, dark rum, coffee liqueur, creme de cacao, milk, and cream of coconut.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into highball or hurricane glass.
- Garnish with grated nutmeg.
Painkiller
If you're in need of a cure, look no further than the painkiller for whatever ails your soul. Too many, though, and you'll wind up in bed in need of ibuprofen.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, dark rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg.
Blue Hawaiian
Add a little color to your coconut wave with a delicious blue Hawaiian.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- 2½ ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut
- ½ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Drinks With Coconut Water and Seltzer
Coconut water and coconut flavored seltzer can add a subtle hint of coconut flavor to your drinks.
Citrus and Coconut
Go the lighter route by using coconut water in a cocktail; it's almost like a spa day.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Coconut water to top off
- Lime wheel, lemon wheel, and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add vodka, lime juice, and lemon juice.
- Top off with coconut water.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lime wheel, lemon wheel, and mint sprig.
Coconut Highball
You may raise your eyebrows at this unusual combination of scotch and coconut, but, honestly, you'll never go back to a scotch and amaretto.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces scotch
- Ice
- Coconut-flavored seltzer to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice and scotch.
- Top off with coconut club soda.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Coconut Milk Cocktails
Add a splash of rich, creamy flavor to your cocktails with just one simple ingredient: coconut milk! It's great to have on hand anyway, so why not capitalize on this pantry staple?
Coconut Milk Piña Colada
With this recipe, you'll have your piña colada in hand in less than 90 seconds. Ready, set...
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 2 ounces coconut milk
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into hurricane or highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Coconut Milk Chi Chi
Sometimes you come across a spirit that just isn't for you or doesn't speak to your soul. If rum is that spirit for you, then give vodka a try in this piña colada riff.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces coconut milk
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- Grated nutmeg, cherry, and pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, coconut milk, and pineapple juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with grated nutmeg, cherry, and pineapple wedge.
Coconut Milk White Russian
If you're dairy-free by choice or due to allergy or intolerance, don't miss out on a white Russian for one minute more.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce coconut milk
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
- Top off with coconut milk.
Coconut Drinks to Worthy of a Stir, Sip, and Smile
Don't be caught off guard when the mood strikes for that coconut craving. Whipping up a coconut cocktail is as simple as two ingredients or as lavish and pulling out the blender to layer colors. And the next time you're at the store, grab a can of coconut milk. There are cocktails to explore, so be sure to try some other rum coconut drinks as well!
