Tropical Dream Drink

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Whisk yourself away to the shores of relaxation with a Tropical Dream cocktail.

There’s a wonderful period of time each year, usually starting right as summer ends, when all of us get excited for the spooky season of Halloween, then plans begin right after for Thanksgiving and the following winter holidays. And these reveries all culminate as the ball drops on New Year’s at midnight. Twinkling lights, festive decorations, and time with loved ones make these blustery months cozy and worth looking toward.

But then comes the rest of January. The lights have been taken down, Disneyland is no longer decorated for the season, and now we’re just in winter. Cold, dark, and bleak. Santa has gone back to the North Pole, and the carols have stopped being sung. The hard turn from extended time off into a regular workflow is always depressing. And you immediately begin missing the past few weeks.

As much as you’d like to pack your bags and fly off to some warm, sunny, exotic destination, you can’t. You just had a vacation for the holidays, and even though those days were filled with shopping, cooking, and stress, you just can’t convince yourself to go away somewhere and lounge on the beach. You might never come back.

So you do the next best thing. Grabbing a tall glass, fresh ice, and some coconut rum, pineapple juice and blue curaçao, you stir yourself a layered, fruity, and biting Tropical Dream cocktail. And as you sit in your favorite chair, you decide to ignore the rain and snow out your window, and instead stare deeply into the refreshing and ocean-like look this tipple has.

Summer may be half a year away, but a Tropical Dream or two helps pass the time.

What is the best alcohol to use in a Tropical Dream Drink?

The base spirit and star of the show here is a coconut rum. While there are many brands that produce this tropical-flavored liquor, some of the more popular and easy-to-find options are Bacardi, Captain Morgan, and, of course, Malibu. The bitter orange taste from an azure-hued blue curaçao adds a nice, citrusy bite on the finish, and along with a float of pineapple juice helps to achieve the layered, marine look.

What glassware and garnish are used?

A tall and curvy hurricane glass is the best receptacle to build your Tropical Dream in. Fill with ice, craft your drink, then pop a straw in, and garnish with a fresh pineapple wedge on the rim, and a couple of bright red maraschino cherries as well.

How do you “float” the pineapple juice?

Pouring the pineapple juice slowly over the back of a barspoon will “float” the ingredient on top of your mixture, which will contribute to achieving the layered presentation.

Other drinks similar to the Tropical Dream

After dreaming a little tropical dream with tonight’s concoction, you may be thinking ahead to your next wintry escape via a few mixed drinks. There is a bevy of fruity and coconut-infused recipes that are both easy to make and delicious. Try a few of these if you haven’t already.

• Rum Punch – A sweet and coconut-tinged tipple that’s refreshing at any time of the year.
• Hawaiian Mimosa – Have a bubbly brunch with this Polynesian-inspired mixture.
• Goombay Smash – An escape is just a sip or two away with this Bahamian cocktail.
• Drunken Monkey – A rum- and fruit-filled favorite that you can make at home.