Here are my top coconut cocktails with creamy, tropical flavor! Pair coconut with rum, tequila, or vodka for deliciously refreshing drinks, from creamy coconut margaritas to classic piña coladas.
There’s nothing quite like infusing coconut flavor into cocktails! It brings a creamy body and a tropical vibe to drinks of all kinds. It’s a natural to pair with rum, like with the classic pina colada. But you can also try more unique coconut rum cocktails like the Bushwacker, or even a coconut margarita or martini!
I’ve been perfecting coconut cocktails for years, and I can tell you that the secret isn’t just dumping in coconut milk. The best coconut cocktails incorporate that rich, creamy flavor in different ways, and pair it with bright citrus and quality spirits. Keep reading for what I hope will become your new go-to recipes!
The Top Coconut Cocktails to Try
Here’s a coconut cocktail that’s creamy, cool, refreshing and an absolute must for any coconut lover: the coconut margarita! Tropical coconut pairs perfectly with the zing of lime and bite of tequila. My favorite part is the toasted coconut drink rim, which gives you a crunchy, tropical infusion to each sip.
Ingredients: Cream of coconut, tequila, lime juice, triple sec (or Cointreau)
The most popular coconut cocktail of them all is the classic Piña Colada! The original drink was invented in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1954. It stars pineapple juice, rum, and cream of coconut, served blended or with crushed ice.
Also try: Frozen Piña Colada using coconut milk
Ingredients: White rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, frozen pineapple, ice, lime juice
There’s something about the tropical creaminess of coconut that makes it perfect for cocktails. It’s best known for the classic piña colada, but one of my favorite unique spins is the Coconut Martini! Inspired by my popular coconut margarita, this one features vodka instead of tequila. It comes out cool and creamy, with a crunchy toasted coconut rim.
Ingredients: Cream of coconut, lime, vodka
Want a mojito that’s impossibly even better than the classic? Try this Coconut Mojito! Coconut infuses a tropical sweetness and creamy body into this cocktail that’s altogether irresistible. Cream of coconut and coconut rum come together to make magic.
Ingredients: Mint, white rum, coconut rum, lime juice, cream of coconut, soda water
Here’s a coconut cocktail that will blow your mind with its creamy, chocolaty flavor: the Bushwacker! This is one of my favorites in the list, equal parts refreshing and rich. Invented in the 1970’s, it’s like a mashup of a chocolate milkshake and piña colada. It’s lusciously smooth with notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla.
Ingredients: Aged rum, Kahlua, creme de cacao, cream of coconut, milk, ice
So you love piña coladas? Then you absolutely must try a Painkiller cocktail! This 1970’s coconut cocktail is a spin on the classic piña colada, but even better. It stars aged rum, cream of coconut, and orange juice, which add intrigue and nuance to this sophisticated drink.
Ingredients: Aged rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, orange juice, grated nutmeg
Here’s a coconut cocktail that’s tropical, fruity, and bubby all at once: the Pineapple Coconut Mimosa! This spin on the classic brunch cocktail might be even better. Sweet pineapple juice is a unique offset to crisp, dry champagne. Creamy coconut milk makes a frothy topping so it looks like the bubbles never die! This one is the perfect signature drink for a special brunch or party.
Ingredients: Pineapple juice, sparkling wine, coconut milk
Love a good Piña Colada? Then here’s the drink for you: the Chi Chi drink! This Piña Colada with vodka is just as good as the original, in our opinion. It’s surprising how well it holds up to the rum-based classic. Whip it up in a blender and it’s tangy, sweet, coconut-y and tropical: the perfect beachy drink for summer or anytime you’re craving sun.
Ingredients: Frozen pineapple, ice, vodka, cream of coconut, pineapple juice
Ingredient spotlight: cream of coconut
You might think that coconut cream is what makes the flavor in these coconut cocktails. But most of the cocktails below use a special ingredient called cream of coconut! Look for that when you make the drinks below. Here’s what to know about cream of coconut vs coconut cream:
- Cream of coconut is a sweetened syrup used for cocktails made with coconut cream and sugar. It’s sold in handy squeeze bottles to make it easy to add to drinks. Cream of coconut is easy to find online or at your local liquor store. Popular brands are Coco Real or Coco Lopez.
- Coconut cream is unsweetened! It’s thick with a strong coconut flavor and sold in cans next to the coconut milk. Coconut cream is made from chilling coconut milk and then skimming off the layer of cream that floats to the top.
Dietary notes and substitutions
All of these coconut cocktails are naturally vegan and gluten-free.
For lower-alcohol versions: You can reduce the spirits by half and add more fruit juice.
For non-alcoholic options: Try my Virgin Piña Colada Recipe or 15 Easy Mocktail Recipes for alcohol-free alternatives.
Storage and make-ahead tips
While these cocktails are best served fresh, you can prep some components ahead:
Coconut rim prep: Toast coconut and store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Cream of coconut storage: Cream of coconut keeps well in the refrigerator for months after opening.
Batch cocktails: For parties, you can multiply the recipes and mix in pitchers, but add ice right before serving to prevent dilution.
Coconut Margarita (& More Coconut Cocktails!)
This coconut margarita recipe is the cocktail you didn’t know you were missing! It’s zingy and creamy, pairing lime and tequila with coconut.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
- Sweetened shredded coconut, for the rim
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- ½ ounce triple sec (or Cointreau)
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce cream of coconut (not coconut cream)
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
- Toast the coconut. Remove it from the heat and place it in a single layer on a plate.
- Add a bit of extra cream of coconut to a separate plate and dip the edge of the rim of the glass into it. Then dip the rim into the plate of toasted coconut.
- Place the tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and cream of coconut in a cocktail shaker and add one handful ice. Shake until cold. Strain the margarita into the glass with the coconut rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.
- For a pitcher: add 2 cups tequila, ½ cup triple sec, ½ cup lime juice, and 1 cup cream of coconut to a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir.
More cocktail recipes
There are so many drinks to try outside of these Licor 43 cocktails! Here are 300+ cocktail recipes for every occasion:
See Also: our master list of Types of Alcohol and Liquor Names!
