All About Tiki Cocktails: 8 Iconic Tiki Drinks and Tropical Cocktails

Though tiki drinks may be synonymous with Hawaiian backdrops and Polynesian flavors, most tiki drinks were actually invented in the 1930s and ’40s in California. In the history of tiki cocktails, there are two notable players whose names shine above the rest: Donn Beach (aka Don the Beachcomber) and Victor Bergeron (aka Trader Vic). If Don the Beachcomber was the grandfather of tiki, Trader Vic was its renegade prophet. Emerging as Don the Beachcomber’s primary competitor, he borrowed elements from Don’s wildly popular restaurants and put his own twist on them. Trader Vic also liberally borrowed and reinterpreted a few drink recipes along the way, and his Mai Tai may very well be his masterpiece.

Here are eight delicious tropical cocktails:

1. 1. Piña Colada: The Piña Colada is a Puerto Rican rum drink made with pineapple juice (the name means “strained pineapple” in Spanish) and sweetened cream of coconut. For an even fresher flavor, add a little lime juice to the blend.
2. 2. Mai Tai: The Mai Tai is the quintessential tiki drink, made with equal parts dark and light rum combined with an orange liqueur like triple sec or Curaçao and fresh lime juice, finished with the subtly floral almond perfume from orgeat syrup. Mai Tais are traditionally made using a combination of Jamaican rums and rhum agricole (a rum made from pure pressed cane juice). Learn how to make a Mai Tai with our recipe here.
3. 3. Singapore Sling: The Singapore Sling is a classic gin cocktail that’s known for being refreshing and fruity. The original recipe calls for a combination of gin, cherry brandy, Cointreau liqueur, Bénédictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, and bitters. Our recipe for a Singapore Sling is here.
4. 4. Hurricane: The Hurricane cocktail is a classic tropical drink invented at Pat O’Brien’s New Orleans bar in the 1940s. A Hurricane is made of both light and dark rum, orange juice, passion fruit juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and lime juice.
5. 5. Planter’s Punch: The Planter’s Punch cocktail is a fruity rum punch. In addition to rum, Planter’s Punch consists of orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, grenadine, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. This flavorful punch tastes best when made with dark rum from the Caribbean.
6. 6. Mojito: The Mojito is a widely popular highball cocktail that originated in Havana, Cuba. Mojitos are made with white rum, simple syrup, and a lot of mint and lime muddled together, all topped with ice. Cool and refreshing, Mojitos are the perfect summer cocktail.
7. 7. Sex on the Beach: The Sex on the Beach is a popular fruity cocktail that’s simple to make and easy to drink. A favorite cocktail for spring breaks and beach vacations, the recipe calls for just four ingredients—vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice—served in a highball glass and garnished with an orange slice. Learn to make a Sex on the Beach with our recipe here.
8. 8. Painkiller: The Painkiller is a fruity rum cocktail similar to a Piña Colada, except it substitutes orange juice for cream of coconut and is garnished with a dusting of nutmeg. The Painkiller cocktail is trademarked by rum maker Pusser’s and therefore requires the use of Pusser’s Navy Strength Rum.

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