When it comes to cocktails, seasonality matters. Unless you’re intentionally drinking off-season — who doesn’t want green beer at Thanksgiving? — certain drinks go best with certain times of the year.
Hot Buttered Rum and Old Fashioneds match the mood of those cozy winter months, whereas Aperol Spritzes and coconut rum cocktails like Pina Coladas are best sipped while lounging poolside. Or sitting under a sprinkler.
Some of these tropical recipes call for coconut-flavored Malibu rum, while others use coconut milk or cream. All of them will make you feel like you’re standing in the middle of the jungle. Especially if you forgot to light the citronella candles again.
What to Mix With Coconut Rum
When it comes to mixing spirits, fruits, and the souls of your enemies with coconut rum, tropical fruits like pineapple and lime are a no-brainer. But, you can get more inventive. Here are some ideas:
- Pineapple
- Lime
- Mango
- Vanilla
- Banana
- Lychee
- Mint
- Brown sugar
- Lemongrass
- Ginger
13 Coconut Rum Cocktail Recipes
1. Coconut Mojito
Is this Mojito cocktail what they meant when they said put the lime in the coconut? And how do you get it in there again? We threw out the instructions.
2. Coquito
This creamy coconut cocktail is essentially the Puerto Rican take on Eggnog. Enjoy it at Christmas, or in August when all the craft stores start putting out their Christmas decorations.
3. Pineapple Coconut Moscow Mule
You can create any kind of mule as long as you’ve got ginger beer, alcohol, and one of those fancy copper mugs. Like this pineapple coconut mule or one that takes you to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
4. Malibu Bay Breeze
This colorful red-and-orange cocktail screams Malibu without the residents actually screaming at you to get off their private beach.
5. Bantha Colada
If you can’t get to Hollywood’s Star Wars-themed Scum and Villany Cantina (or to Disneyland), now you can enjoy spiked blue milk at home. Even without your own Bantha. Which is probably a good thing since they’re impossible to housetrain.
6. Coconut Watermelon Mojito
Mojitos are typically made with mint and lime, but this one uses watermelon and coconut and we’re pretty sure no one is complaining. Except Sally who complains about everything.
7. Piña Colada
Want to instantly feel like you’re on vacation? Drink a Piña Colada. For some reason the folks at the DMV don’t approve, though. (It’s probably our noisy blender.)
8. Painkiller
What’s the difference between a Piña Colada and a Painkiller cocktail? The Piña Colada doesn’t have the addition of orange juice and freshly grated nutmeg. Or the misnomer.
9. Dragonfruit Margarita
Turns out you don’t need actual dragons for this slushy purple margarita. Which is honestly a good thing, because we couldn’t even take care of our Tamagotchis.
10. Coconut Coffee
Our hangover cure is coconut water and caffeine, so this creamy coconut coffee cocktail made with Malibu rum is either the best or worst idea ever for the morning after. And for 8 AM Zoom calls that could have been emails.
11. Passionfruit Martini
Does passionfruit look like you’re eating an alien’s insides? Yes. Is it delicious? Also yes. Someone get Ripley a Martini glass.
12. Layered Coconut Mango Slushie
We love this tropical play on the creamsicle, mostly because our friend took all of our oranges. And our house key. Anyway, this mango cocktail made with coconut cream and rum tastes delicious on our front steps!
13. Pineapple Orange Coconut Rum
Any tropical cocktail that doesn’t require a blender is a win in our book. Your days are numbered, daiquiri.
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