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    Home » Classic Cocktails » Simple Blue Hawaii Tiki Cocktail

    Published: Feb 19, 2021 · Modified: Feb 25, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Simple Blue Hawaii Tiki Cocktail

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The Blue Hawaii is a tropical mid century favorite due to its sweet and tart flavor and ocean blue color.

    A Blue Hawaii cocktail in a hurricane glass with fruit and umbrella
    Drink a Blue Hawaii for a taste of the tropics no matter what time of year.

    Any Color as Long as its Blue...

    Many cocktails have a murky past and it is not certain who invented them or where they came from. The Blue Hawaii is different because we know exactly where and how it got its start.

    In 1957 an enterprising salesman for the Dutch distiller Bols, asked Honolulu's Hawaiian Village Hotel head bartender, Harry Yee, to invent a cocktail using their Blue Curaçao liqueur. Harry experimented for a while with various ingredients and eventually landed on this recipe, which incorporates different base spirits, fruit juices and the famous liqueur which gives it its color.

    The Blue Hawaii is Fit for The King

    Harry also gave the drink it's name, Blue Hawaii. Many people thought this was because of the Elvis Presley movie with the same name. But unfortunately, that is just another Island myth. Harry named it after a song from a much earlier Bing Crosby movie, but the same song was featured in both movies. So indirectly, Harry named Elvis' 1961 Technicolor tropical smash movie, Blue Hawaii.

    I'm not sure if it was the cocktails or the movies, but Hawaii soon became an exotic tourist destination, and in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state in the union.

    The Booming Tiki Trend

    Harry went on to create many more tropical cocktails which caught on in Hawaii and soon spread to the mainland. The Tiki craze was based on a faux tropical culture and was soon featured in movies, songs and culture. Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's bars and restaurants became very popular destinations for their Tiki drinks and cartoon-like take on Polynesian life.

    Ingredients for a Blue Hawaii

    Like many tropical drinks, this cocktail may seem complicated but its really quite simple with only a few ingredients:

    • Vodka
    • White rum
    • Blue Curaçao -- this is a delicious orange-flavored liqueur made from fruit peels from the Caribbean
    • Pineapple juice
    • Sweet n Sour (this one is super easy--just use my simple syrup recipe and squeeze in fresh lime juice until it's a little tangy)
    • Maraschino cherries and pineapple slices for garnish

    The hurricane glass is nearly as important as the drink itself. If you like Tiki drinks or tropical cocktails, you may want to invest in a set. Be careful though, these are large glasses and you'll find yourself mixing up a larger batch of drinks just to fill it!

    And of course you need to top it off with fresh fruit and a paper umbrella to instantly transport you to the tropics.

    Tips for Success

    Even though this is a simple drink to mix, here's a few things to keep in mind:

    • Whip up a small batch of simple syrup with fresh-squeezed lime juice rather than buying Sweet n Sour mix. Homemade syrup gives the drink a very balanced taste and is not sickly sweet like the bottled syrups.
    • You can just shake this drink up; no blender is required. This keeps things easy,

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a popular drink in Hawaii?

    There are several drinks that come to mind and certainly they can be Tiki related or not. While traveling there myself, I enjoyed the Blue Hawaii, Blue Hawaiian and of course the Mai Tai.

    Is Blue Curaçao vodka?

    Blue curaçao is a Caribbean liqueur made from dried peels of the Laraha citrus fruit and is merely colored blue. The blue curaçao liqueur is said to have been created by the Dutch Bols distillery.

    Similar Cocktails:

    Classic Mai Tai Cocktail Recipe

    Easy Blue Hawaiian Cocktail

    Do you have a favorite Tiki drink? Which do you prefer, the Blue Hawaii, or maybe a Blue Hawaiian?

    A Blue Hawaii cocktail in a hurricane glass with fruit and umbrella.

    Simple Blue Hawaii Tiki Cocktail

    Kevin Mayfield
    This tropical tiki drink is beloved for its great sweet and sour taste and arresting blue color.
    3.67 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Classic Cocktails
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Cocktail
    Calories 318 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 Ounce Vodka
    • 1 Ounce White Rum
    • ¾ Ounce Blue Curaçao
    • 3 Ounces Pineapple juice
    • 1 Ounce Sweet-n-Sour simple syrup
    • Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherries for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Place one cup of fresh ice in a cocktail shaker
    • Add in wet ingredients and shake for at least 30 seconds
    • Pour drink and ice into a hurricane glass
    • Add pineapple wedge and cherries as garnish

    Notes

    Feel free to put your cocktail through a blender if you'd prefer a frozen version.
    A dash of spray whipped cream makes it more decadent!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 20mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 1gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword 1950’s cocktail, Blue cocktail, Elvis cocktail, Hawaiian cocktail, madmen cocktail, mid century cocktail, movie cocktail, rat pack cocktail, Tiki cocktail, tropical cocktail
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    About Kevin Mayfield

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bruce says

      February 22, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      This drink was great!

      Reply
    2. Kevin says

      March 22, 2021 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks Bruce. There's more Tiki drinks on the way, so please check back.

      Reply

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

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