11 Caribbean Cocktails that Serve Major Vacay Energy

The best Caribbean cocktails are like a little slice of summer holiday in a glass. Even if you happen to be looking out the window at scenes of sleet or pelting rain, these fun-loving mixed drinks provide an opportunity to take your taste buds on an outing to a sunny beach with gently lapping waves and salt on the breeze. Go on, pick your favourite, and get ready to be transported for a few moments of sun-kissed vacay bliss.  

1. Piña Colada

Arguably one of the best beach cocktails (opens in new window) ever, the Piña Colada (opens in new window) literally smells of every beachside childhood memory you’ve ever had, with a little added kick. A delicious tropical treat that tastes like pineapple and coconut, it goes creamy like a smoothie when you blend it, and is gorgeously rich and delicious over ice. It’s also quite easy to turn it into a tasty mocktail by leaving out the light rum. 

Make it a virgin! What is The Best Mocktail? Asked & Answered by the Pros (opens in new window) 

2. Cuba Libre

One of the most popular Caribbean cocktails around the globe, the Cuba Libre is so simple to make that it’s a little silly. Rum and cola are best friends, and you can make a Cuba Libre with your choice of white or dark rum. To make this classic seaside sipper, add lime to the mix. Simply pour one part rum and two parts cola into an ice-filled glass. Add a squeeze of lime juice, then drop the wedge into the drink. It’s as easy as that! 

3. Mojito

As far as Caribbean cocktail recipes go, the Mojito (opens in new window) is one of the most iconic.  This minty-cool marvel combines white rum, lime juice, soda water, sugar, and freshly muddled mint; it’s like a kiss of coolness in a tall glass tinkling with ice. Add a Panama hat and a crisp white shirt, and you’ve got the ultimate summertime selfie! 

We love using an amazing Jamaican spirit like Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum when we pour a Mojito at home. This clear, unaged rum has a delightful nose full of pineapple, ripe banana, and brown sugar notes that translate to a playful palate of vanilla, coconut, and molasses, ending on a long finish with lingering notes of toffee. Just gorgeous! 

4. Caribbean Crush

There is something beautifully whimsical about a layered drink that looks a little like an oceanside sunrise. 

Ingredients

• 30 ml SKYY Infusions Pineapple Vodka (opens in new window)

• 30 ml Wray & Nephew Rum

• 15 ml Grenadine

• 90 ml Pineapple juice

• Ice

• Garnish: Sparkling edible glitter rim (optional)

Method

1. Rim your serving glass with edible glitter if desired

2. Add vodka and rum to a cocktail shaker with ice

3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass over the grenadine

4. Top with pineapple juice

5. Stir gently to blend the colors

6. Serve

5.  Planter’s Punch

A laid-back sipper that’s as easy to pour as it is to enjoy, with a tropical kick of rum and pineapple.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Appleton Estate Rum

• 60 ml Pineapple juice

• 15 ml Lime juice

• 10 ml Grenadine

• Optional: 60 ml Soda water

• Ice

• Garnish: Seasonal fruit of choice

Method

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice

2. Add rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine

3. Stir well to combine

4. Strain into a serving glass with fresh ice

5. Top with club soda if you’d like a sparkly finish

6. Garnish with seasonal fruit

7. Serve

6. Calabash Citrus Punch

A zesty ginger-kissed rum cocktail with a touch of honey sweetness and juicy grapefruit zing.

Ingredients

• 2 cm Fresh ginger, peeled and cut into chunks

• 1 teaspoon Honey

• 45 ml Appleton Estate Rum

• 45 ml Fresh grapefruit juice

• Ice

• Garnish: Grapefruit wedge or slice of candied ginger (optional)

Method

1. Add ginger and honey to a cocktail shaker

2. Muddle until the ginger is fully crushed

3. Add rum, grapefruit juice, and ice

4. Shake well to combine

5. Strain into a tumbler with fresh ice

6. Garnish if desired

7. Serve

7. Ti’ Punch

A true Caribbean classic, this strong, simple aperitif is all about rum, lime, and sugar — best enjoyed slowly in sipping mode.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Wray & Nephew Rum

• 10 ml Cane syrup

• 1 Lime disc (see tip below)

• Optional: Ice

Method

1. Add rum and cane syrup to a rocks glass

2. Squeeze a lime disc between your fingers over the drink to release the oils

3. Drop the lime disc into the glass

4. Add ice if preferred

5. Serve

Top tip! A lime disc is cut from the side of the fruit with enough circumference to include some of the fruit’s flesh at the back of the peel.

8. Hurricane

Featuring light rum, dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, passionfruit purée, simple syrup, and grenadine as ingredients, the Hurricane cocktail is one of the best beach drink recipes for sure. It is traditionally garnished with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry (just in case you need any more fruit in there!), which is said to mimic Mardi Gras décor. 

9. Bahama Mama cocktail

A fruity frozen island favorite that blends rum, pineapple, and orange juice into a dreamy tropical slushy.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Orange juice

• 30 ml Pineapple juice

• 15 ml Wray & Nephew Rum

• 15 ml Coconut-flavored rum

• 15 ml Grenadine

• Crushed ice

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a blender with crushed ice

2. Blend until the drink has a slushy consistency

3. Pour into a serving glass

4. Serve

10. El Presidente

As its name suggests, the El Presidente rum cocktail was first stirred up in honor of a statesman, likely José Miguel Gómez, who was the leader of Cuba between 1909 and 1913. But as Cuban cocktails tend to go, this one takes the road less traveled, veering from a classically sour profile to the sweet, boozy end of the flavour spectrum, putting a delightful spin on the classic Manhattan cocktail template. 

11. Lime Daiquiri

As far as Caribbean drink recipes go, the Lime Daiquiri is perhaps one of the most well-known around the world. Featuring only three simple ingredients, the recipe is a delicate balancing act between the sweet and the sour. It’s a fresh and straightforward lime cocktail that is similar to a Classic Margarita, but instead of tequila, you’ll be using light rum. Chilled and strained into a coupe glass, it is a perfectly sophisticated choice for a balmy summer evening.