Classic Caribbean Cocktails to Try at Home (No Flight Needed!)
You may not be able to book a flight to your favorite Caribbean destination every time you’re craving a signature drink, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one at home! Whether you’re after something light and citrusy or sweet and fruity, you’ll find your dream drink in our roundup of classic Caribbean cocktails.
Bust out the tiny umbrellas, close your eyes, and crank up that ocean waves playlist on Spotify—you’ll be feeling those sunny island vibes in no time!
Margaritas // Mexico
Nothing says ¡fiesta! like a margarita (or two) at the end of a long week. Ditch the store-bought mix and keep things authentic with this easy recipe.
What you’ll need:
Kosher salt (for serving)
½ thick lime wheel (for serving)
2 oz tequila
¾ oz fresh lime juice
¾ oz simple syrup
Directions:
Place some salt on a small plate. Rub rim of an old-fashioned or rocks glass with lime (reserve for serving); dip in salt. Fill with ice and set aside.
Combine tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold (about 20 seconds).
Strain cocktail through a strainer into reserved glass. Garnish with lime wheel.
Piña Colada // Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is home to the Bacardi rum factory and its national drink is the piña colada. With this recipe, you’ll learn how to make one just like the locals do!
What you’ll need:
1.5 oz light rum
2 oz coconut milk
2 oz pineapple juice
Cherry (for serving)
Directions:
Add light rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and ice to a blender and blend till smooth. Pour into a glass and add a cherry for garnish.
Bahama Mama // Bahamas
The Bahamas is known for its sweet drinks, and the fruity Bahama Mama is no exception. Rum-lovers, this is the drink for you!
What you’ll need:
1 oz orange juice
1 oz pineapple juice
1 cup crushed ice
0.5 oz rum
0.5 oz coconut rum
0.5 oz grenadine
Directions:
Combine orange juice, pineapple juice, crushed ice, rum, coconut rum, and grenadine in a blender. Blend until slushy.
Rum Punch // Barbados
Barbados is home to one of the world’s oldest rum distilleries, so you know the island’s signature rum punch—sweet, sour, and deliciously spiced—is one of the best in the Caribbean.
What you’ll need:
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
2 oz rum
Angostura bitters
Nutmeg (optional, for serving)
Directions:
Mix lime juice, simple syrup, and rum, and add a dash of Angostura bitters. Top with grated nutmeg if desired.
Painkiller // U.S. Virgin Islands
A twist on the piña colada, this fruity, rum-infused cocktail is a Virgin Islands specialty. It’s like a splash of sunshine in a glass!
What you’ll need:
1 oz orange juice
1 oz coconut milk
4 oz pineapple juice
2 oz rum
Nutmeg (for serving)
Directions:
Mix 1 oz orange juice with 1 oz coconut milk, then add 4 oz pineapple juice and 2 oz rum. Pour over crushed ice and add nutmeg for garnish.
Mojito // Cuba
The mojito has its roots in vibrant Havana, where hotel bartenders nowadays often add Angostura bitters to cut the sweetness of the drink. The mojito is often cited as Ernest Hemingway’s favorite drink thanks to the time he spent in Cuba.
What you’ll need:
1/2 oz lime juice (fresh-squeezed)
1 tsp superfine sugar
3 mint leaves
2 oz white rum
Club soda
Directions:
Use a spoon or muddler to mash the sugar, lime juice, and mint together in the bottom of the glasses. Fill each glass about half full with crushed ice. Pour rum into each glass. Fill the glasses with club soda, stir, and drink!
Cayman Lemonade // Cayman Islands
Bring the tropics to you by whipping up a glass of heavenly Cayman Lemonade—sweet, fizzy, and just the right amount of tart!
What you’ll need:
1 oz peach schnapps
1 oz vodka
1 oz triple sec
Cranberry juice
Soda water
1/2 cup of ice
Directions:
Mix vodka, triple sec, and peach schnapps in a shaker. Pour over ice, add a squeeze of lime and a splash each of cranberry juice and soda, then stir and enjoy!
If you’re done with the DIY cocktails and ready to be sipping the real deal on a sunny Caribbean beach, then you’re ready to join our travel club! 😉🍹🌴
Courtnie is the founder & CEO of TravelBash. After years as an ambitious fundraiser, she took her passion for travel full-time. She has lived all over the U.S. and abroad and after planning her own destination wedding, she decided to help other couples plan their big day abroad too. She has written “Passport to Paradise: The Complete Destination Wedding Guide,” a top seller on Amazon. She has also been featured in Travel + Leisure, Destination I Do and The Washington Post. As a certified travel advisor, expert event planner and natural connector, she uses her powers to create VIP travel experiences.
