As summer ends and the school season rolls around, this rainbow paradise cocktail blend will help parents lay back and relax. This post will guide you through the steps to make this beautiful and delicious cocktail.
Even if you aren’t under the crushing weight of stress, this rainbow paradise cocktail will transport you to a lovely tropical vacation where you can escape from whatever you need.
Not only does this cocktail taste amazing, but it is also super fun to make and even prettier to look at! This alcoholic drink is definitely Instagram-worthy and you may have a hard time looking away!
This post is all about the most beautiful rainbow paradise cocktail that will bring you back to summer vacation even if it’s months away.
Rainbow Paradise Ingredients:
If you are planning to make this yourself, this is what you will need:
Blue Curaçao-
Blue curaçao is a colorless liquor made from the dried peel of bitter orange. It tastes similar to Triple Sec where it starts sweet but then has a bitter aftertaste.
Triple Sec can also be used as an alternative to blue curaçao for this drink in particular.
Its invention is widely speculated as some believe it was created by Dutch settlers that landed on the Caribbean island Curaçao. In contrast, others believe that it was invented by Bols a Dutch spirits brand.
Most believe that Blue Curaçao was invented by Senior Curaçao of Curaçao island.
There are many variations of Curaçao liqueur and it can take the form of many colors. Blue tends to be the most stunning, but clear is found to be common as well.
Blue curaçao has an alcohol percentage of around 24% – 25%, a moderate percentage compared to most 40% ABV (Alcohol By Volume) hard liqueur drinks.
A popular and cheap version of the blue curaçao you need for this drink:
Pineapple Juice-
It should be noted that while pineapple juice is preferred, orange juice is a great alternative. They will give off different tastes though so you can create the drink off of whichever one you like more.
Pineapple juice is just as sweet as the actual fruit but may have a tart aftertaste, similar to the blue curaçao. It also is a very high source of folate and vitamin C.
Pineapple juice dates back hundreds of years and tends to pair well with Dark Rum, Vodka, and Tequila drinks.
This is the pineapple juice we used:
The good thing about this particular drink is that it’s easy to buy in bulk and it’s super cheap compared to most other juices!
This recipe could also become a rainbow cocktail with vodka because vodka can be used as a replacement for Coconut Rum. The variation will also result in a stronger alcoholic taste, whereas the rum will contribute to the tropical taste.
Coconut Rum has a sweet taste with a dash of fruity rum and an almond and coconut finish. The drink has an aroma of toasted coconut with a palate of vanilla custard to add.
Created in 1978 by the cocktail legend Tom Jago, it was originally a mashup of fruit-flavored cocktail spirits, rum, and coconut flavoring in Curaçao. The rum helped to simplify making pina coladas for bartenders.
Coconut Rum was based on a triple distilled light-bodied rum produced from molasses and best paired with Blue Curaçao, White or Dark Rum, Brandy, and Midori inclusive drinks.
It is imperative to note that Malibu Coconut Rum has an alcohol percentage of 21%, a moderate percentage compared to most 40% ABV (Alcohol By Volume) hard liqueurs.
For this recipe we used Malibu Coconut Rum, but depending on the brand the alcohol content may vary.
The link to buy Malibu coconut rum is here
Grenadine-
Grenadine is a sweet syrup with a splash of tartness derived from pomegranates.
Although Grenadine mainly comes in a pomegranate flavoring, cherry, strawberry, and cranberry have also been added to this sweet concoction for cocktails and mocktails around the globe.
It has a very fruity and sweet taste and is non-alcoholic. Grenadine could pair well with really any drink, but here are some alcoholic ideas: Rum, Brandy, Vodka, Tequila, Whiskey, Midori, Gin, and almost any drink you could imagine.
This is the exact same brand of grenadine we used to create the rainbow paradise cocktail:
Each bottle’s price varies on brand and size, but as long as you stick with classic grenadine, there should be no issue.
Water-
Without water, the blue curaçao would be way too dense, and the classic three colors that make the rainbow cocktail recognizable would be out of order.
The water lightens the color of the blue curaçao and makes the substance light enough to sit on top of the pineapple juice layer.
Ice-
Believe it or not, ice is an extremely vital step to making this rainbow paradise cocktail. Not only is it used in the cocktail shaker, but also in the drink itself.
In the cocktail shaker, ice helps to incorporate air into the liquids, helping them to fuse together even more than if they were just stirred with a spoon.
The ice slowly melts as alcohol comes into contact with it, and therefore dilutes the drink. This regulates the amount of alcohol you consume. (Ice-cold drinks also seem to taste better right?)
Those are the main ingredients that will contribute to the finished taste, but you will need these as well:
Cocktail Shaker-
Unless you frequently make cocktails or other drinks, you may not have a shaker. That is why a DIY version is included in this post too!
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use two cups. Just make sure one is slightly smaller so the liquid doesn’t spill everywhere.
Worried that using two glass cups won’t go well? No worries! Amazon provides several cheap options that will get the job done.
Are inexpensive and can be delivered fast, straight to your door.
Or, if you are planning to start your own journey as a cocktail mixologist, this cocktail shaker set can get you started!
This is slightly more expensive than the shaker itself, but it also comes with more products. There are also many other kits out there that are much more costly than this one.
These shakers should give you an idea of what you are looking for. It is recommended that if you are starting out you get a cheaper one because as long as it does the job, the outcome will be identical.
16 oz glass cup-
A 16 oz glass cup or larger is big enough to hold the rainbow cocktail. Anything less and it won’t fit in the cup.
An orange wedge-
Just for decoration, but maybe squeezing it into the drink will add a new taste to the cocktail….
Cocktail umbrella-
Another decoration, but this one can’t be added to the drink for extra flavor. However, it will give your drink an extra tropical touch.
It is also important to remember that you don’t need the orange wedge or the cocktail umbrella, but it does add to the presentation of the overall drink.
And now for the moment you have been waiting for:
The Rainbow Paradise Cocktail Recipe!
The Ultimate Rainbow Paradise Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 16 oz Glass Cup
- 1 Large Cup
- 1 Smaller Cup ~needs to be smaller than the large cup to use as a shaker
- 1 Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 oz Grenadine
- 2 full cups of Ice cubes ~one for the drink and the other to split for the ice shakers
- 2 oz Coconut Rum ~also can use Vodka
- 4 oz Pineapple Juice ~can be replaced with orange juice
- 1 oz Water
- 1/2-2 oz Blue Curçao ~1/2 for a light drink, 2 for a strong drink
- 1 Orange Wedge ~optional
- 1 Cocktail Umbrella ~optional
Instructions
- Pour the Grenadine Syrup into a 16 oz glass cup.
- Fill the 16 oz glass to the brim with ice cubes.
- Fill your shaker with half a cup of ice.
- Mix Coconut Rum and Pineapple Juice in a shaker and shake well. If you don't have an ice shaker, this is where you would use your two cups.
- Pour the mixture into the 16 oz glass cup.
- Rinse the shaker/cups out with water.
- Refill the shaker/cups with half a cup of ice.
- Add Water and Blue Curaçao into the shaker and shake well.
- Grab a spoon and invert it over the 16 oz glass cup.
- Pour the Water and Blue Curaçao mixture over the spoon and into the cup.
- Top the glass with an Orange Wedge and a Cocktail Umbrella.
- Recipe Complete!
There you have it! A delicious cocktail for your homemade vacation!
If you prefer to drink each component separately, you can use a straw and drink each layer at a time. Although, stirring it all together creates a beautiful, deep purple hue.
The finished taste is fruity with reminders of the blue curaçao and the smell almost imitates fruit punch.
This cocktail is perfect for the end of a long day, special occasions, poolside relaxing, or even the start of something new. The drink itself screams ‘celebration’ whether that be for a party or individual hurdles.
The recipe is quite delicious and tastes rather fruity so if you tend to steer away from alcohol because of its taste this might be the drink for you.
There are a few alcoholic notes but for the most part, the fruity flavor takes over the other individual flavors.
If you don’t finish it but want to save it, there are a couple of steps you need to take.
– Take all of the ice cubes out of the glass, if you leave them in then the ice will melt and the next time you try to drink your cocktail it will be severely watered down.
– Pour it into another glass that you can put a lid on. One example that we used was a mason jar. The drink will be contained and free of the danger that can come from open foods and containers.
– Put your enclosed cocktail into the refrigerator. Without the ice, the cocktail will warm up so putting it in the refrigerator ensures that your drink stays cold.
Aaaand you’re off! This cocktail recipe is perfect for experienced and inexperienced mixologists in the kitchen.
This recipe came from Vega Recepten, so make sure to check them out as well!
Try this recipe out with your friends and test out new concoctions for your own twist on this classic cocktail!
I made this drink and it was one of the greatest drinks I’ve ever had. It reminds me of a Hawaiian drink. Well done!