This Green Hawaiian Cocktail is a beautiful and refreshing combination of vodka, coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda. It's the perfect easy cocktail recipe for summer!
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The vibrant green hue of this cocktail is as eye-catching as it is delicious, making it a standout addition to any gathering. With its tropical blend of flavors, it offers the perfect balance of sweetness and zest, enhanced by the subtle fizz of lemon-lime soda.
Whether you're lounging by the pool, hosting a summer party, or simply craving a taste of the tropics, the Green Hawaiian Cocktail is sure to transport you to an island paradise with every sip.
My husband, Josh, and I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise this past February and I certainly drank my fair share of them. I knew I could create a similar version when we got home and I did! I even made a few adjustments that I think make this drink even better.
So today we're not making a Blue Hawaiian, we're making a GREEN Hawaiian!
I love enjoying one of these sweet, refreshing cocktails on a hot summer's day! Some of my other favorite cocktails include our Bomb Pop Cocktail (perfect for the 4th of July), our Easy Raspberry Mimosas or our Pink Flamingo Vodka Slush!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Refreshing Summer Drink: This tropical cocktail recipe is one of my favorites! It's has just the right amount of sweetness so that it's easy to sip but isn't overly sweet. Perfect for hot summer days!
- Customizable: Making your own cocktails at home is great because you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. Make it sweeter, stronger or frozen if you prefer!
- Less Expensive: We all know how much these tasty cocktails can add up on vacation! That's why I love being able to make my favorite drinks right at home for WAY less!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this tasty drink!
- Coconut rum: The key ingredient that gives this drink it's sweet, tropical profile. Any type of coconut rum like Malibu, Blue Chair Bay or Cruzan coconut rum works!
- Vodka: Adding vodka gives this drink a fun twist! It helps balance the flavors and provides a neutral base so the tropical flavors of coconut and pineapple really shine!
- Blue curacao: Combined with the pineapple juice, the blue curacao gives this cocktail its beautiful green color!
- Pineapple juice: Fresh pineapple juice is super delicious but canned pineapple juice works just as well!
- Lemon-lime soda: I love adding lemon-lime soda to help balance out the sweetness of the coconut rum. It also adds a bit of carbonation to this drink which I love for any summer cocktail!
- Garnish: I like to top my cocktails with fresh pineapple and maraschino cherries. Feel free to add any other tropical fruit you like!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
You could also make this into a frozen drink by blending all of the ingredients in step 1 with some ice and then topping with the lemon-lime soda. Personally, I think the Green Hawaiian tastes best over ice, but let me know if you try the frozen, blended version.
- Alcohol-Free Version: Replace vodka and coconut rum with coconut water or coconut-flavored soda, and use non-alcoholic blue curaçao syrup.
- Stronger Flavor: Increase the amounts of vodka and coconut rum for a more potent cocktail.
- Sweeter Taste: Add more pineapple juice or a splash of simple syrup to enhance sweetness.
- Fresher Twist: Substitute lemon-lime soda with sparkling water or tonic water for a lighter, less sweet fizz.
- Creamy Variation: Use coconut milk or cream of coconut instead of lemon-lime soda for a rich, creamy texture.
- Fruitier Option: Add orange juice or mango juice for a more tropical flavor profile.
- Herbal Touch: Muddle fresh mint leaves or basil in the glass before adding the ingredients for a refreshing twist.
- Frozen Version: Blend all the ingredients with ice for a slushy-style Green Hawaiian.
- Vibrant Green: Add a drop of green food coloring if you want a more intense green hue.
- Alternative Garnishes: Use lime slices, orange wedges, or even edible flowers for creative presentation.
How to Make A Green Hawaiian Cocktail
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, grab a cocktail shaker and follow the steps below for this delicious drink!
- Step 1: Combine rum, vodka, blue curacao and pineapple juice into a glass filled with crushed ice and stir.
- Step 2: Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda. Garnish with fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry.
Helpful Tips
- Adjust the Sweetness: Add more pineapple juice or a splash of simple syrup for a sweeter drink, or reduce them for less sweetness.
- Chill Ingredients: Use pre-chilled mixers and spirits to keep the drink refreshingly cold without over-diluting with ice.
- Crushed Ice: Opt for crushed ice for a tropical feel and quicker chilling, or use larger cubes to reduce dilution.
- Garnish Creatively: Enhance presentation with pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries, or a fun paper umbrella.
- Experiment with Ratios: Tweak the amounts of rum, vodka, and pineapple juice to suit your taste preferences.
- Make It Green: For a bolder green, adjust the blue curaçao or add a touch of green food coloring.
Recipe FAQs
The difference lies in the color and ingredients. A Blue Hawaiian stays blue because it often includes cream of coconut or clear mixers, while a Green Hawaiian turns green as the yellow pineapple juice mixes with blue curaçao.
In my opinion, the Green Hawaiian is a bit less sweet than the Blue Hawaiian, but is just as refreshing!
It’s best to prepare the cocktail fresh, but you can mix the alcohol, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Add the soda and ice just before serving.
You can substitute lemon-lime soda with club soda, tonic water, or a splash of sparkling lemonade for a similar fizz.
To make a mocktail version of this fruity drink, mix equal parts pineapple juice and coconut water (or coconut milk for creaminess) with 1 ounce non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao syrup.
Shake over ice or blend for a slushy treat. You can also try my color changing lemonade or slush punch for get mocktail options!
Storage & Freezing Instructions
This drink is best served and enjoyed fresh!
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Did you try this recipe?
If you decide to try this Green Hawaiian Cocktail recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the 💬 comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
Green Hawaiian Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ounce coconut rum
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce blue curacao
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- Splash of lemon-lime soda
- Fresh pineapple and maraschino cherries for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine rum, vodka, blue curacao and pineapple juice into a glass filled with crushed ice and stir.
- Top with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry.
Notes
- Balanced Flavors: Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, you can increase the amount of pineapple juice or add a touch of simple syrup. Conversely, if you prefer a stronger drink, you can increase the amounts of coconut rum and vodka. Experiment with the proportions until you find the perfect balance of flavors for your Green Hawaiian Cocktail.
- Crushed Ice: Using crushed ice in the cocktail not only helps to chill the drink quickly but also adds to the tropical vibe. The smaller ice pieces melt faster, diluting the drink slightly and mellowing out the flavors. If you prefer a stronger drink, you can use larger ice cubes to minimize dilution.
- Creative Garnish: Enhance the presentation of your Green Hawaiian Cocktail by garnishing it with fresh pineapple and a maraschino cherry. These garnishes not only add visual appeal but also complement the tropical flavors of the cocktail. You can also add a colorful paper umbrella or a slice of lime for an extra touch of tropical flair.
Angela Woods
Can this be made a punch for a large crowd?
Sara
I've only made it by the glass, unfortunately.
Suzanne
Yum; this looks fantastic! I love the idea of the frozen version.
Sara
Yes! So refreshing for the summer!
Patricia
This cocktail is so refreshing! Love it!!