Whatever you do, don’t hold back on the mini umbrellas.
Okay winter, we gave you a chance. You had us dressing in chic oversized coats, sitting in dimly lit pubs next to crackling open fires, and lining up for viral hot chocolates we’d spied on our TikTok FYP. But we are done. It’s time to get excited about the inevitable warmer weather and swap out the Mulled Wine for some fun, tropical-inspired drinks. And why stop at drinks? We think you could go all out and invite your mates around for a Tropicana House Party complete with a DIY tiki bar in the backyard if you don’t mind getting on the (literal) tools.
Here at Dan’s Daily, we love how creative you can get with tropical-themed cocktails. The more over the top the garnishes are, the better. More mini umbrellas! Keep the rum coming! Swap every glass in your house for a coconut! Between tropical drinks always trending and a wave of next-gen tiki bars around the country, now is as good a time as ever to lean in and enjoy everything this drinks category has to offer. Here’s our round-up of 10 of the best tropical, tiki-style tipples.
We’re kicking things off with a refreshing and vibrant bang, and a drink that perfectly captures the essence of The Bahamas (if you can’t be there then this is the next best thing, right?). At first glance, its ingredients list appears pretty standard for a tropical-themed libation. Coconut? Tick. Pineapple? Tick. Rum? You bet. But there’s an unexpected plot twist: coffee liqueur. You’d be surprised at how this cheeky addition brings depth and richness to the drink, ensuring it isn’t your average ‘tropical fruit with rum’ affair. Experimenting with different rums (aged, spiced, dark, light) and juices (lime, orange) is highly encouraged, but the original recipe strikes the perfect balance of simple and delicious. We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: when a cocktail like this calls for fruit juice, it’s always better to get your hands on the fresh stuff.
Here we have the OG tiki cocktail, complete with a fun name and more garnishes than you can poke a barspoon at. We actually love how chaotic you can get with the garnishes on this cocktail: mint, pineapple, cherries, limes, a pineapple leaf, and don’t forget a cocktail umbrella. Some of the flavours in this cocktail can be pretty loud, so don’t be afraid to go full Frankenstein and experiment until you’ve landed something you’re happy with. Not a huge fan of falernum? Just add a dash. Prefer a little less rum? Halve the quantities and let the fresh juices do the talking. This version largely pulls back on the punchy flavour of this traditional tiki tipple, maintaining both white and dark rum while focusing on the vibrant freshness of the fruit juices and spices in the falernum. This is our pick for a Halloween-meets-tropical house party, for obvious reasons.
This Margarita-meets-Piña Colada mash-up is like the cocktail equivalent of Charli XCX and Lorde working it out on the remix. Somehow, the marriage of pineapple and coconut with lime, agave and tequila works absolute wonders, and we don’t think our tastebuds will ever be the same. You might think there’s a lot of effort involved to combine these two classic cocktails, but the good news is it’s super easy to shake everything up and throw it in a tall glass before proceeding to lounge by a pool or roll out a picnic rug on your nature strip. Our expert tip when creating this little number is to blend the pineapple juice and coconut milk for a nice silky texture that’ll give it a bartender’s touch. You’ll also win extra points if you think ahead and freeze the lime and pineapple juice before your friends arrive. Slushies, anyone?
Get all the tips with our Pineapple and Coconut Marg recipe here.
When tropicana meets tennis? Sure, we’ll go with it. Largely inspired by Wimbledon – and the 1.5 million strawberries that are served during the tournament – this cocktail brings together plenty of English classics, including London dry gin. There’s a generous serving of apple juice with some elderflower liqueur in the mix to ace the English countryside perfume that makes this cocktail a grand slam. We love how the higher ratio of raspberries brings a balancing tartness, but don’t be afraid to play around with other berry varieties like blueberries if they're in season. Got some basil in the fridge? Throw that in while you’re muddling for an unexpected herbaceous touch.
Game, set and get the Courtside recipe here.
Let’s be honest. Hosting a party is 70% planning and 30% trying to stop people from hitting ‘next’ on your Spotify playlist. We can’t help you with your “DJ” friends, but we can help you feel prepared ahead of your guests rocking up. Enter the classic punch: one of the earliest cocktails in the world, known for its convenience and ability to serve many guests quickly. A tropical blend of pineapple, lemon, triple sec, gin, sugar syrup and sparkling wine makes for a refreshing drink that’s asking to be sipped as the days grow longer. Adding jasmine tea, mint and Angostura Bitters ensures the flavours are perfectly balanced and sophisticated. The secret to keeping this punch chilled for as long as possible is the type of ice you use: try large blocks that will cool the punch, but not dilute the flavours.
Find more tips, tricks with our Pineapple and Gin Punch recipe here.
Go troppo and get shaking our Mai Tai recipe here.
We’re not entirely sure how throwing two kinds of juice, flavoured schnapps and vodka in a hurricane glass could lead to this cocktail being called ‘Sex on the Beach’ but we don’t make the rules. It’s giving major '80s vibes; in fact, it even made an appearance in the cult classic film Cocktail starring Tom Cruise before he was jumping on Oprah’s couch and doing his own stunts. Unless you’re a cocktail snob, there’s really nothing to dislike about this cheeky drink. And who doesn’t love yelling “I’ll have Sex on the Beach!” across a bar on a night out? So fun! So flirty! Is it the most complex drink out there? Not really. But who said cocktails need to be complicated to taste good? Stock up on the mini umbrellas for this vibrant beachy cocktail.
Get the Sex On The Beach recipe here.
When a cocktail has an international day of celebration, you know it’s good. Yes, Piña Colada Day is a thing. Yes, we think everyone should take annual leave on July 10 to sip one and sing ‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’ by Rupert Holmes at the top of our lungs. Obviously. This tropical delight combines rum, coconut cream, lime and pineapple, with flavours that transport you to your favourite holiday destination in just one sip. The beauty of a Piña Colada is it can be blended, or shaken and strained, depending on your preference. Either way, this creamy, fruity cocktail strikes the perfect balance of sweetness and can easily win over those who typically avoid creamy drinks.
Check out the full Piña Colada recipe and tips here.
Here’s how to make a Painkiller like a pro.
This cocktail has been kicking around since its creation at Kuala Lumpur’s Hilton Hotel in 1973 (and became an at-home Covid favourite of our Editor’s). Tart pineapple juice, bitter Campari, fresh lime juice and shaken ‘til ice cold. Bliss! There’s a lot bringing flavour to this cocktail, so you could use a lower-tier rum if you wanted to, but when it’s made with something really good, perhaps something well-aged, it really brings the base. As you’ve probably gathered, tiki cocktails are made for personalisation (as well as fun) so adjusting the measurements to suit your palate is welcomed. Depending on the characters brought by your rum, tweak the other ingredients to your liking to add more sweetness, bitterness or sourness.
Have a go at the Jungle Bird recipe here.
