Blue Hawaii

blue hawaii traditional recipe

If you’re thinking, “Hey that’s green not blue!” you wouldn’t be the first. In fact the Blue Hawaii is a completely separate cocktail than the Blue Hawaiian, which is blue. This cocktail was created by Harry Yee, the bartender of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 1957. The drink is a classic tiki cocktail, and the drink that inspired me to spend many drunk hours inventing my own tiki cocktail, the Louverture.

What Is The Difference Between A Blue Hawaii And A Blue Hawaiian?

While the names are similar, the drinks are in fact quite different. The Blue Hawaiian is a pina colada with an added spash of blue curacao, whereas a blue hawaii forgoes the coconut cream for sour mix. I personally think the blue hawaii is the better cocktail, but we are all entitled to our own opinions.

Blue Hawaii Ingredients

  • 1 oz (30 ml) White Rum. I used golden rum for this version because I was all out of white rum, and to be honest I like it more.
  • 1 oz (30 ml) Vodka
  • 1.3 oz (40 ml) Pineapple Juice. Freshly pressed is much, much better than from a carton.
  • 1/2 oz (15 ml) Blue Curacao. Not gonna lie, I used regular curacao with a drop of blue food coloring since I couldn’t find blue curacao. Look at the picture though, does it not look the same?
  • 1/2 oz (15 ml) Sour Mix. Better if homemade, rather than bottled.

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard. At least 15 seconds should do it, you want the pineapple juice to create a foam not unlike using an egg white in a sour cocktail. Strain into an ice filled poco grande glass, garnish with a pineapple wedge, a cherry, and a paper umbrella if you have one. Serve cold and enjoy.

Classic Blue Hawaii without garnish
blue hawaii traditional recipe

Blue Hawaii

The Blue Hawaii cocktail was first created by Harry Yee in 1957. It is a quintessential tiki cocktail that is known the world over.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes
Course Cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine American, Hawaiian, Tiki
Servings 1 drink
Calories

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Poco Grande (optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 30 ml Rum Traditional is white, but I used gold
  • 30 ml Vodka
  • 40 ml Pineapple Juice freshly pressed
  • 15 ml Blue Curacao
  • 15 ml Sour Mix homemade preferred.

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a shaker with some crushed ice. Give a hard shake for 15 seconds to make the pineapple foam up, then strain into a poco grande glass. You can use a hurricane glass if you want to double the recipe.
  • Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.
Keyword Bees Knees Cocktail, Blue Hawaii, Why Is The Blue Hawaii Green?
blue hawaii pin

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