Here are the most popular blue curacao drinks to try! These blue cocktails have a sweet tart flavor and a brilliant ocean-tinted hue.
Looking for blue curacao drinks? There’s nothing more novel than a bright ocean-colored alcoholic drink, is there? Indeed, in all our 200+ cocktail recipes, the blue cocktails are the ones that stand out visually. What’s the secret? Blue curacao, a beautifully tinted orange liqueur made in the Caribbean. It gives drinks a citrusy flavor and a color that makes them look just like swimming pool water.
What are the best alcoholic drinks to make in this color? Here are the top blue drinks to try, in order of popularity! Combine curacao with vodka, rum, or tequila and you’ll get a different drink out of each one. The most popular curacao drink is by far the Blue Hawaii…but try them all and let us know what you think!
And now…the top blue curacao drinks to try!
The most popular blue drink? The Blue Hawaii, aka Blue Hawaiian! It's a tropical cocktail made with rum, vodka, blue curacao, and pineapple juice. It was invented in 1957 in Waikiki, Hawaii. The reason behind the drink? Well, it was all a marketing ploy. A sales rep asked Harry to create a drink with his company’s product, blue curacao, the orange flavored liqueur that gives this drink its color!
The margarita is one of the most popular classic cocktails in history. It was invented in Mexico in the 1930’s and has stood the test of time. In fact, it’s hard to find a drink that’s more universally loved. The drink has spawned many, many variations: like the Blue Margarita! Swap out the Triple Sec for blue curacao and you've got a whole new drink.
Here’s a bright blue drink that’s fresh and sweet tart: the Blue Long Island Iced Tea! The traditional Long Island Iced Tea has a bit of a reputation for being a low-brow, high alcohol drink. But this classic has beautifully fresh flavor and less alcohol than most cocktails. This blue spin on the classic uses blue curacao for its ocean-hued color, and it adds a lovely citrusy flavor.
Try this bubbly bright blue masterpiece: the Aqua Velva! A child of the 1980’s, it’s got a searing neon color that belies its birth. While some versions of this cocktail can be sickly sweet, make it with fresh lemon juice and soda water and it’s a refreshingly complex. The botanical notes in the gin shine though, pairing perfectly with the citrus of the blue curacao.
The Blue Lagoon cocktail has many variations, but the most common base recipe mixes vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade! Like many cocktails, the origin of the drink is cloudy. Some say it was invented in 1972 by bartender Andy MacElhone at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The most common cocktail recipe uses lemonade, but our spin uses simple syrup and fresh lemon juice for an even tastier drink.
What is curacao?
Curacao is an orange liqueur invented in the 19th century by Dutch settlers on Curaçao, an island in the Caribbean. There were originally several colors of Curaçao liqueur, including clear, blue, red, green and orange. The most popular colors today are blue and clear. The liqueur is flavored with the Laraha orange peel, a special type of orange tree that grows on the island.
The original curacao liqueur has been made on the island since 1896. The Bols company invented Blue Curacao and started selling it as early as 1912. It’s become popular over the years for making blue alcoholic drinks that are often associated with beach resorts.
More alcoholic drinks by color!
Love picking drinks based on color? Us too! Outside of these curacao drinks, here are a few more alcoholic drinks sorted by hue:
- 10 Genius Green Cocktails From neon to pale green, these drinks use liqueurs or natural ingredients for color.
- 12 Brilliant Red Cocktails There are red drinks for everyone, from sweet martini to bitter Negroni.
- 10 Perfect Pink Cocktails From dusty rose to fuchsia, these pink drinks are 100% delicious.
Best Curacao Drink: Blue Hawaii (& More!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
Here are the ingredients you need to make the Blue Hawaii drink! Its ocean-tinted hue is thanks to blue curacao liqueur.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce* white rum
- 1 ounce** vodka
- ¾ ounce blue curacao
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce lime juice (or use 1 ½ ounces homemade sour mix for the lime, lemon and simple syrup)
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Crushed ice, for serving
- For the garnish: pineapple wedge, cocktail cherry
Instructions
- Place the rum, vodka, blue curacao, pineapple juice, lime juice, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold.
- Strain the drink into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.
Notes
*For conversion to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
**If you prefer, use 2 ounces rum and omit the vodka.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Curacao drink, Blue curacao drinks, Blue drinks, Blue cocktails
I have tried and failed making a beautiful drink that is purple on the top and what looks like blue curaçao on the bottom. I have a gorgeous photo that I cannot seem to send through this link. I’m hoping I can send you the photo so you can help me figure out the recipe.
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