vacation cocktails!

As the weather cools, the more I (as a monkey) long for warmer climates. So, drink along with me while I indulge myself with these vacation cocktails. Side note: My "coffee" mugs make the perfect vessel to covertly transport these delicious drinks! OK, let's go on vacation!

1. piña colada

The Pina Colada originated in Puerto Rico in the 19th century and consists of pineapple and coconut flavors that will whisk you away to this lovely US territory. Here’s the recipe!

• 1½ cup crushed ice
• ½ cup diced pineapple juice
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz coconut cream (like Coco López)
• 1½ oz white rum
• 1 oz dark rum

Throw all of the ingredients (except the dark rum) in the blender. Pour into your glass, float the dark rum on top, and garnish with whatever the Hell you want!

2. margarita

The history surrounding the margarita gets a little complicated, with some believing it was invented by an Irishman in Mexico, or a Mexican in the US. Who cares! Here the recipe to transport you to Margaritaville:

• 1 ½ oz silver tequila
• 1 oz triple sec (or orange liqueur)
• ¾ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• ½ oz agave or simple syrup
• ice 

Rim your glass with the juice from a lime wedge and coat in salt -- or don't. Add tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and some ice to a shaker or blender and do your thing! Pour it into a glass, and drink it! Then make some for your friends.

3. daiquiri

This is a CLASSIC! It’s said to have been invented in 1898 by an American Mining Engineer in the town of Daiquiri, Cuba. This drink is now known to have many different flavor variations (strawberry, pineapple, mango, etc.), but nothing beats the classic recipe!

• 2 oz light rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• ¾ oz simple syrup ( or demerara syrup)
• Ice

Throw all of this into a shaker and shake it like you're mad at it! The trick to a great daiquiri is shaking it at least 30 times to break up the ice. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lime slice!

4. mai thai

A delicious tiki cocktail that was invented in the 1930’s by Donn Beach to showcase the flavors of good quality rum. Here’s a recipe that will take you away to a tiki bar:

• 1 ½ oz white rum
• ¾ oz orange curacao 
• ¾ oz lime juice
• ½ oz orgeat
• ½ oz dark rum
• Pineapple slice or cherry for garnish

Add the white rum, curacao, lime juice, and orgeat to a shaker with some crushed ice and shake. Pour into a double rocks glass and float the dark rum on top. Garnish with a slice of pineapple or a cherry and enjoy (:

5. mojito

The mojito was born in Havana, Cuba, but it’s exact origini is up for debate. The local South American Indians actually used the same combination of ingredients that we know and love as a remedy to treat various tropical illnesses. Note to self: if you’re feeling under the weather, have a mojito! Here’s the recipe:

• 5 mint leaves
• 2  oz white rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Ice
• Lime slices

Muddle your mint leaves at the bottom of a cocktail shaker until aromatic. Add the rum, lime juice, simple syrup, some ice and then shake. Strain over ice into your favorite glass and top with either club soda and sparkling water. Garnish with a lime slice and more mint. Cheers!

6. rum punch

This one was invented in the 17th century by shipmen as an alternative to beer. Typically served in a massive punch bowl, this cocktail is full of rum, spices, and citrus flavors that will make you want to party! Here’s the recipe:

• 2 cups white rum
• 1 cup coconut rum
• 2 ½ cups fresh orange juice and pineapple juice
• ½ cup fresh lime juice
• 3 tbsp Grenadine

Throw everything together into a pitcher or punch bowl and chill before serving. Serve in your favorite glasses and for added garnish, try either a slice of orange, pineapple, or a cherry. Enjoy!

7. caipirinha

What was once only known as Brazil’s national cocktail, has now become a favorite around the world. It’s believed that it was initially used as a medicine to ease the effects of the Spanish Flu towards the end of World War I. Here’s the recipe, so you can enjoy one for yourself!

• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 oz cachaca

Muddle the lime wedges and sugar in the bottom of your glass. Add ice and cachaca and give it a stir to mix everything. Enjoy a little taste of Brazil.

8. dirty monkey

It only seemed fitting that I include this one (for obvious reasons). While the exact origin is unknown, what we know is that this drink is popular on both coasts of Mexico and is full of 3 different types of liquor (one of them is banana!) Grab your blenders, because this is a frozen treat that you won’t want to miss out on!

• ½ ripe banana
• 1 ½ oz aged rum
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• ½ oz Kahlua 
• A splash of banana liqueur 
• A splash of cream of coconut
• Chocolate syrup for garnish

Combine all ingredients, except for the chocolate syrup into a blender with a cup of ice and blend away! Drizzle the chocolate syrup around the inside of your glass and pour the mixture in. Enjoy this scrumptious cocktail (:

9. mud slide

This creamy cocktail was born at Wreck Bar in Rum Point Club on Grand Cayman Island in the late 1970’s! Legend has it that a customer ordered a White Russian and the bar only had Irish cream liqueur instead of heavy cream, and that’s how the popular cocktail was born. Here’s the recipe so you can try one for yourself: 

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur 
• 1 oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1 ½ oz heavy cream
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Add your vodka, coffee liqueur, Bailey’s, and heavy cream to a shaker with some ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with chocolate shavings! Yum!

10. lava flow

This drink’s origin is unknown, but it’s linked to Hawaii and emulates the flow of a volcano! Grab your blenders again, because this one takes a little bit of work, but it’s so so worth it. 

• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 2 oz strawberries
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz coconut cream
• 1 banana
• 1 cup crushed ice

Add both rums and the strawberries into your blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture into a blending glass and rinse out your blender. Add the pineapple juice, coconut cream, and banana into the blender with your ice and blend until smooth. Pour both mixtures into your glass from opposite sides and watch the strawberry mixture erupt and rise to the top like lava.

11. pain killer

This last cocktail originated in the 1970’s at the Soggy Dollar Bar at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. This rich, fruity cocktail does exactly what it says. Whip up one of these to keep the party going!

• 2 oz dark rum
• 4 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1 oz cream of coconut
• Nutmeg and pineapple wedge for garnish

Add your rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut into a shaker with ice and shake to mix. Strain over ice into a hurricane glass and top with nutmeg and a pineapple wedge for added garnish. Pop in a straw and you’re good to go! Cheers!

Pssst! Thanks for reading my full blog! As a thank you, use coupon code DRINKS20 to get 20% off and FREE SHIPPING on all of my drinkware at checkout.

Cheers!

Pleep