The Blue Hawaii is a tropical beverage, not to be confused with the so-called “Blue Hawaiian” (a drink which is largely similar except for its use of coconut and definite lack of vodka). It is a rum-based cocktail which uses sweet and sour mix and pineapple juice to give it its distinctive, sharp taste, a flavour which can be enhanced further with the addition of some vodka. Its distinctly tropical shade of blue is derived from the Dutch liqueur Blue Curacao, which is made with the bitter flavour of the dried peels of the laraha fruit.
Its origins can be traced back to 1957 where, at the famous Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, the head bartender Harry Yee was tasked with giving birth to a drink that featured the distinctive blue colour of Bols’ Curacao liqueur. Although the drink has clearly evolved over time, Yee created a drink which we recognise as the Blue Hawaii’s ancestor, one which had the same shade of blue and was decorated with a pineapple wedge and a cocktail umbrella.
What Goes in to the Blue Hawaii?
- Light rum (3/4 ounce)
- Blue Curacao (1/2 ounce)
- Pineapple juice (3 whole unsweetened ounces)
- Sweet and Sour mix (1 whole ounce)
- Optional - vodka (3/4 ounce)
Preparing your Cocktail
Although most normally seen served “on the rocks” with ice cubes, the Blue Hawaii can also be presented in “frozen” form. This means that the ingredients are blended with crushed ice, allowing it to melt and diffuse further over time. As with its preparation and ingredients, there are many variations to its presentation, something which is in keeping with its character as a tropical beverage. It can be served in tiki mugs and even carved out coconuts and pineapples, but is most commonly presented in parfait cocktail glasses such as the vase-shaped “hurricane” glass.
Ingredients differ according to the creator, and vodka can partially or fully replace the rum. Flavoured rum such as Malibu can make the cocktail taste even more interesting, and indeed even the pineapple juice is sometimes left out in favour of a more sour taste. The only component left unchanged in the most drastic cases is the Blue Curacao, integral to the drink’s appearance (although a pleasing green shade can be given to the cocktail with an increased amount of pineapple juice).
How to Make the Cocktail
- Add the Curacao to the light rum, and add vodka if desired. Stir together
- Add the pineapple mixer and shake together
- Top off with Sweet and Sour Mix. Rather than use the bottled variety, make some from fresh ingredients. You can find a useful article on how to make it and some other cocktails which use the flavouring here
- Stir or shake all the ingredients with ice and pour into a chilled hurricane glass. Garnish the glass with a slice of pineapple
Stephen Lunn - I am a student over here in Northern Ireland, nearing the end of BSc in Music Technology. A freelance writer, I've been providing content ...
