Bubbly, bright and blue, the Sparkling Blue Hawaii goes beautifully with your cabana clothing.
To quote the late, great David Lynch, “It’s a Friday once again.” And can you believe it, the cocktail hour is also upon us. It’s been a week fraught with personal tragedies, the loss of an old friend, and the news dropping that the James Bond films will no longer be a family business after 63 years. I co-chair the Los Angeles based 007 fan club “To Live and Let Die in L.A.”, and that news was like a figurative bomb going off in the community. A mixture of excitement at the prospect of new Bond movies, mixed with the sadness that Eon productions and the Broccoli family are no longer calling the shots. I talked with many fans yesterday from all over the world, and by the time the night was over, I found myself sipping on a Vesper.
But now the weekend is here, the weather in Los Angeles is beautiful, and I’m in the mood for something that’ll take me away from everything, so to speak. I love Bond, but the last week has been a little exhausting and I’m just not in the mood for another Vesper or Vodka Martini. I love them, don’t get me wrong, but I need a quick vacation. Hopping on a plane and heading over to Hawaii would be ideal, and since that’s not happening for a while, it’s time to use what a college professor of mine referred to as sense memory.
Tonight’s recipe is what I’m looking for… Vodka, silver rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice and sweet & sour mix, topped with sparkling wine. Fizzy, fruity and strong, the tropical flavors of this tipple took me right back to my last trip to Hawaii. Without leaving my end of the sofa in our living room, I’m suddenly walking barefoot down the shore near our hotel on Kauai. With Lihue airport off in the distance, a perfectly round lagoon is discovered. Splashing and frolicking ensues, while massive crabs clack around on the nearby rocks. The mighty Pacific is a short stroll away from this natural pool, and not a soul is in sight.
Then my cocktail is finished, the little umbrella in the glass sits alone amongst the sapphire-tinted ice cubes. Outside our apartment, a firetruck barrels by, sirens blaring. My phone is going crazy with social media notifications and messages.
Time for another quick trip to the islands, so another Sparkling Blue Hawaii is just the ticket.
What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Sparkling Blue Hawaii?
When I crafted a few of these for myself, I used what I had in my home bar, and what I have on hand is always reliable and good. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Bacardi Silver for the rum, and an unflavored rye or potato distilled vodka. The blue curaçao adds some extra orange bite to the sweet and sour notes, while giving your drink its classic look. For the bubbly, a dry prosecco or sparkling wine, like a Mionetto, Coppola Diamond or Sofia Blanc de Blancs, will add that extra blast of effervescence that makes this beverage so memorable and strong.
Ingredients
- 3/4 ounce vodka
- 3/4 ounce light rum
- 3/4 ounce blue curaçao
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce sweet-and-sour mix
- Splash sparkling wine
- Pineapple slice and maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice. Add the vodka, light rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and sweet-and-sour mix.
- Shake well to chill and combine the ingredients. Strain the mixture into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
- Top the drink with a splash of sparkling wine. You can adjust the amount depending on how fizzy you want your cocktail to be.
- Gently stir the cocktail with a bar spoon. Garnish with a slice of pineapple, a cherry, and a cocktail umbrella.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Fill a large hurricane glass with ice to hold your drink, and garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry. Don’t forget the little umbrella!
Can you use club soda instead of sparkling wine?
If you seek a lighter sip, both in flavor and alcohol content, you can top off your Sparkling Blue Hawaii with club soda instead. The calorie count will be lower, too.
Sparkling Blue Hawaii Variations
You don’t need to have experienced the Hawaiian islands in person, or even seen the Elvis Presley movie Blue Hawaii, to enjoy the handful of cocktails that bear the evocative name. Twist & Toast always provides fun and easy-to-make recipes for you and your friends to enjoy at home, so after you’ve had a few of these Polynesian-influenced elixirs, make sure you check out some of the other drinks featured on the site.
- The Blue Hawaii – The classic and popular resort beverage helps bring the islands home.
- Blue Hawaiian – A creamy and coconut-infused rum cocktail.
- Blue Hawaiian Punch – If you love a nice Hawaiian Punch, you’ll love this blue-colored drink.
- Frozen Blue Hawaiian – If the sun is just a tad too hot, this frozen treat is sure to cool you down.
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