If you're soon to be beachside, wiggling your toes into the sand, and want a few details to add to your daydream, these beach drinks will be the perfect character list. Whether you plan to swim up to the waterside bar or are plotting your next do-it-yourself beach paradise trip, there's no shortage of sunshine or beach cocktails.
Mango Pineapple Daiquiri
If you're ordering this drink poolside, there's an equal chance you'll enjoy this frozen, in a martini glass, or on ice. The variations are all about whether you want to enjoy your drink while floating or sunbathing.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces mango rum
- 2 ounces mango juice
- 1 ounce pineapple liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, mango rum, mango juice, pineapple liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge.
Margarita
Belly up to the poolside bar, or craft your own, and enjoy a margarita in the sunshine. If you want to go the frozen margarita route, use a full cup of ice and add all ingredients to the blender.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Mojito
This warm-weather cocktail just tastes better when there's sand between your toes and the sun on your face.
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- 1¾ ounces white rum
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add mint leaves, white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Do not strain; pour into highball glass.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Bay Breeze
At the core of a bay breeze cocktail is the classic vodka cranberry known as the Cape Codder. The bay breeze stands out by adding the queen of tropical fruit flavors: pineapple.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2¾ ounces cranberry juice
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge.
Mai Tai
Nothing beats a drink with layers, especially when one layer is due to a delicious float of dark rum.
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orgeat, or almond syrup
- ¾ ounce dark rum
- Crushed ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, orange liqueur, lime juice, and orgeat.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over crushed ice.
- Slowly pour dark rum down the back of a bar spoon to create float.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Piña Colada
The piña colada is a cocktail worthy of song and, quite honestly, all of your attention anytime you're beachside.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 2 ounces cream of coconut
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup ice
- Orange slice and pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add ice, white rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and lime juice.
- Blender until smooth.
- Pour into highball or hurricane glass.
- Garnish with orange slice and pineapple wedge.
Beachy Long Island Iced Tea
The LIT isn't tropical in its roots, but nothing beats a cocktail you can sip and savor without losing your seat. Use coconut rum for a soft, sunny flair.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce tequila
- ½ ounce gin
- ½ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce coconut rum
- ½ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Cola to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, tequila, gin, vodka, coconut rum, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with cola.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Coconut Cuba Libre
A simple rum and cola really hits the spot, and if you want a little something extra, then add a splash or two of lime juice.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces coconut rum
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Cola to top off
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, rum, and lime juice.
- Top off with cola.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Rum Runner
The rum runner has been running resorts and beachside cocktail menus since the mid-1950s. Why not taste for yourself why it's so popular?
Ingredients
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce banana liqueur
- ¼ ounce crème de mûre
- 2½ ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, dark rum, banana liqueur, crème de mûre, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Sex on the Beach
Not nearly as gritty and sandy as what it's named after, this giggle-worthy drink name is also very deserving of ordering any chance you get.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce peach liqueur
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, peach liqueur, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
Blue Lagoon
The blue lagoon lets you coordinate your cocktail with your ocean-- and maybe even your bathing suit. What a life.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce blue curaçao
- 4½ ounces lemonade
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon slice.
Creamsicle
Why not drink your dessert? Otherwise, you'll have to deal with a sugary mess. Best not to risk it.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla rum
- ½ ounce almond liqueur
- ½ ounce cream of coconut
- 4 ounces orange juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla rum, almond liqueur, cream of coconut, and orange juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.
Caribbean Rum Punch
Rum doesn't scream resort. It whispers it like a soft ocean breeze between the trees during those perfectly warm nights.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce almond liqueur
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, light rum, dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, almond liqueur, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange wedge.
Tequila Sunrise
Enjoy the sunset with a tequila sunrise in your hand. Be the sunset. Ahhh.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces tequila
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- 1 ounce mango juice
- ¾ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, pineapple juice, orange juice, and mango juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball or hurricane glass over fresh ice.
- Slowly pour grenadine down the side, allowing it to sink. Do not stir.
- Garnish with cherry.
Drunken Banana
Go the way of a frozen drink that toes the line with a milkshake. Consider this a serving of fruit, if you'd like.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce banana liqueur
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- Half a banana
- 1 cup ice
- Banana slice for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a blender, add ice, white rum, banana liqueur, coffee liqueur, heavy cream, and half a banana.
- Blend until smooth or desired consistency.
- Pour into rocks glass.
- Garnish with banana slice, if desired.
Pineapple Rum Slush
Get that slush consistency by blending until this is totally smooth. You'll notice this recipe doesn't call for ice; add more or less frozen pineapple based on personal preference.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gold rum
- 1½ ounces coconut milk
- ¾ cup frozen pineapple
- Pineapple leaf for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add frozen pineapple, gold rum, and coconut milk.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into rocks glass.
- Garnish with pineapple leaf.
Paloma
Life at the beach is sweet enough that sometimes you want a little tart. Take it easy on the mixing and sugars by enjoying tequila with some grapefruit juice and just a splash of grapefruit soda.
Ingredients
- Grapefruit wedge and salt for garnish
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Grapefruit soda to top off
- Grapefruit slice for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the grapefruit wedge.
- With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, grapefruit juice, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Top off with grapefruit soda.
- Garnish with grapefruit slice.
Purple Haze
Why not match your drink to the beautiful flowers beside you? You'll find you're as pretty as a flower.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- 2 ounces cherry juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, raspberry liqueur, cherry juice, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Beach Drinks for Sandy Toes
There's no beach necessary when making or sipping a beach cocktail because sometimes a resort is a state of mind, whether you want a tropical classic, a bikini-tini, or a smoky bonfire on the beach cocktail. However, planning a beach trip means it's high time you took a sip of a vacation in a glass so you can start all of your prep work. And when the time comes for the wind in your hair and sun on your face, a beach cocktail will complete the day.
