15 of the Best Tiki Cocktails

When it comes to crowd-pleasing cocktails, tiki cocktails are in a league of their own. The best tiki cocktails go all out on the tropical vibe. They’re sweet, mostly made with rum, and always with a flamboyant, vibrant garnish bursting out of the glass.

The tiki craze spawned from the Great Depression when two kingpins wanted to create a cheery distraction from the doom and gloom. Donn Beach (aka Don the Beachcomber) and Victor Bergeron (aka Trader Vic) exploded onto the California scene in the 30s and started playing one-upmanship with their faux tropical paradise bars and tiki cocktail recipes. Here are a few cocktails from Don and Trader Vic’s legacy. Big thanks! 

1. Piña Colada

We start our list with a pin-up of the best beach cocktails, the Piña Colada. Undeniably tastier when sipped within earshot of lapping waves, this grown-up pineapple milkshake is silky smooth and sweetened with cream of coconut and fresh lime juice. This cocktail is a must for any reputable classic tiki cocktails list.

2. Rum Punch

Rum Punch is one of those perfect tiki cocktails that channels swashbuckling Jack Sparrow vibes. When the need to watch Pirates of the Caribbean films on a rainy day with a bunch of friends strikes, make a jug of this sweet and sour tiki cocktail to bring a little sunshine.

3. Mai Tai

The Mai Tai is the quintessential tiki drink poured with dark and light rum. This tropical sip is tart and sweet, shaken with fresh lime juice, an orange liqueur like Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge (opens in new window), and orgeat syrup. Orgeat is an almondy syrup made with a little orange flower water that makes this tiki cocktail stand out from the crowd. There is good reason a Mai Tai is on the IBA’s official list of cocktails, it’s one of the classic tiki cocktails!

4. Zombie Cocktail

Let’s introduce the Zombie cocktail—if you haven’t already tried this easy fruity cocktail recipe. This tiki bar classic is a tad potent, shaken up with equal measures of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum (opens in new window) and Wray and Nephew overproof rum (opens in new window), lime juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine. The double rum kick is balanced with the super sweet juice and grenadine combo. If you’re not under the shade of a palm tree, make sure you have a colourful umbrella bursting out of the top of your glass for all the retro vibes.

Also see: Caribbean Inspiration: 10 Falernum Cocktails To Try

5. Hurricane Cocktail

The Hurricane cocktail is another of the classic tiki cocktails that includes both light and dark rum. Pick a top-drawer one from the aged Maison La Mauny range (opens in new window), Signature Appleton Estate (opens in new window), or the Trois Rivières collection (opens in new window) from Martinique. The duo of rums is mixed with fresh orange and passion fruit juice, a dash of simple syrup and grenadine, and a good squeeze of lime to bring it all together! Make sure you honour the name and pour it in a hurricane glass for all the island vibes.

Learn more: The 10 Best Beach Cocktails to Sip this Summer

6. Navy Grog

Poured with a trifecta of rum, this tiki drink combines all three types of rum in one boozy powerhouse of a cocktail. Gold rum gives rich caramel notes, which mix perfectly with the fruity brightness of white rum and the spice of dark rum. It’s easy to make: just pour 30ml of each of the rums, top up with 30ml of honey syrup, 20ml of each club soda, grapefruit, and lime juice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and sip gently.

7. Three Dots and a Dash

Anyone who’s down with Morse code will know that three dots and a dash stand for V for Victory. This tropical cocktail was created by the kingpin of tiki cocktails, Donn Beach, during WWII and is a classic rum, syrup, and juice combo.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Trois Rivières rum (opens in new window)

• 15 ml Blended aged rum

• 10 ml Velvet Falernum

• 10 ml Allspice dram

• 15 ml Honey syrup

• 15 ml Lime juice (fresh)

• 15 ml Orange juice (fresh)

• 1 dash Angostura bitters

• 3 Maraschino cherries or blueberries (for garnish, skewered to represent three dots and a dash)

• Ice

Method

1. Add both rums, falernum, allspice dram, honey syrup, lime juice, orange juice, and bitters to a shaker with ice

2. Shake well until chilled

3. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice

4. Garnish with three cherries or blueberries skewered on a stick

5. Serve

More inspo: The 12 Best Fruity Cocktails to Serve this Summer

8. Singapore Sling

The Singapore Sling is lively, exotic, and a touch theatrical. It’s bursting with layered flavours and a playful sense of adventure, offering both sweetness and depth in one glass. Think of it as a cocktail that feels like a tropical getaway—colourful, spirited, and full of charm.

9. Halekulani

Pronounced Ha-le-koo-lah-nee, meaning house befitting heaven, this cocktail was created in 1930 at the famed Halekulani resort in Waikiki, Hawaii. It was the signature drink of the bar and is made with bourbon. It’s punchier than a Whiskey Sour but more tropical with the caramel bourbon vibes. When shaken, it’s the most beautiful plum colour.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Rye whiskey

• 15 ml Demerara sugar syrup

• 15 ml Lemon juice (fresh)

• 15 ml Orange juice (fresh)

• 15 ml Pineapple juice (fresh)

• 1 tsp Grenadine

• 1 dash Aromatic bitters

• Ice

Method

1. Add rye whiskey, demerara sugar syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice

2. Shake well until chilled

3. Strain into a serving glass over fresh ice

4. Add grenadine and a dash of aromatic bitters

5. Serve immediately

Read next: 9 Summer Whiskey Cocktails that Go Down a Treat

10. Painkiller

The Painkiller is smooth, tropical, and comforting. It has a rich, laid-back vibe that feels like a mini island escape, blending indulgence with easygoing charm. Think of it as the cocktail equivalent of kicking back in the sun without a care in the world.

11. Jungle Bird

The Malaysian Jungle Bird cocktail is known for its unique blend of flavours that make it a favourite drink among locals and tourists alike. Despite containing Campari (opens in new window), typically associated with bitter cocktails like the Negroni, the Jungle Bird recipe offers a much sweeter taste that sets it apart from other Campari-based drinks. 

12. Rum Runner

A terrific tropical drink that’s on the stronger side, the Rum Runner cocktail is sweet and fruity filled with fruit liqueurs, juices, and a sneaky kick.

Ingredients

• 30 ml Wray & Nephew Light Rum

• 30 ml Appleton Estate Dark Rum

• 30 ml Banana liqueur

• 15 ml Blackberry liqueur

• 30 ml Pineapple juice

• Splash of grenadine

• Fresh seasonal fruit (for garnish)

• Ice

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice

2. Shake until well chilled

3. Strain into a serving glass over fresh ice

4. Garnish with fresh fruit

5. Serve

13. Blue Hawaiian Long Island Iced Tea

If you are keen on a fun, refreshing drink with an island-style vibe, you’ve got to try our Blue Hawaiian Long Island Iced Tea recipe. Featuring a bright cerulean color thanks to the inclusion of blue curaçao, it looks as lively and boisterous as it tastes. Even though it features a long-ish list of ingredients, it also comes together very easily, which makes it perfect for beginners.  

Summer vibes! 13 Easy Tequila Summer Cocktails for Beginners

14. Mojito

With its muddled mint leaves and buoyant lime wedges, the Mojito is a summery classic for a reason. The bright citrus and vanilla flavours of white rum bounces off the fresh lime and fragrant mint, with sugar adding a touch of sweetness to temper the acidity and club soda bringing it all together for an effervescent finish.

15. Banana Daiquiri

The Banana Daiquiri tastes like summer in a glass and is a great addition to your outdoor party menus. What’s more, this boozy adult slushie can easily be made in a batch, which makes it a great solution for fuss-free entertainment.