Nothing quite says vacation like a Bahama Mama cocktail! This summery drink is so fresh and fruity with a tropical kiss from rum.
I can almost hear the seagulls in the distance. While it’s reminiscent of vacation, it’s easy to whip up at home!
Think of this cocktail as an adult slushie. But if you aren’t into frozen drinks, you can serve on the rocks, too.
So, go dust off your blender and take a quick trip to paradise with this Bahama Mama cocktail.
Bahama Mama
If you love sweet and tangy cocktails, take a seat. You’ll want to stick around for this cocktail!
The Bahama Mama features citrusy orange juice and pineapple juice.
Then, it gets tropical with a hit from coconut rum and a kiss of sweetness from grenadine.
It’s very similar to a Mai Tai. However, it’s a little sweeter and incorporates coconut flavors.
You can serve it frozen or shake it up and serve it on the rocks for a cool treat.
Ingredients
There’s no need to track down fancy add-ins for this fantastic cocktail.
A little juice and the right rum is all you need. So, let’s look at the short and sweet ingredient list.
- Ice – Every tropical cocktail needs ice! You can serve this cocktail in two ways. Give it a spin in the blender for a slushie-like consistency, or serve it over on the rocks.
- Orange juice – You can use your favorite brand of orange, but reach for pulp-free. Orange juice with pulp won’t change the flavor. But it makes the cocktail a little less smooth.
- Pineapple juice – Save the imitations for your morning smoothies! Real pineapple juice is a must in this recipe.
- Rum – Reach for dark, full-bodied rum. Using dark rum helps to balance the sweet and tangy flavors in this cocktail.
- Coconut-flavored rum – Don’t skip the coconut rum! Coconut rum adds richness, delivering serious beachy vibes.
- Grenadine syrup – Wondering where this cocktail gets its beautiful sunset red color? The answer is pomegranate grenadine syrup! Grenadine adds so much color and a hint of sweetness.
How to Make Bahama Mama
The Bahama Mama is ready quicker than you can blink. Toss everything in the blender, and let it do all the heavy lifting.
Check out this quick rundown on how easy it is to mix this tasty cocktail.
1. Load the blender. Add the crushed ice, orange juice, pineapple juice, rum, coconut-flavored rum, and grenadine to a blender.
2. Blend. Pulse the ingredients a few times in the blender until it’s smooth and thick.
3. Pour. Pour the contents into a glass, and garnish it with cherries and a paper umbrella (optional). Enjoy!
Tips and Variations
Switching up your rum or adding clever garnishes is a great way to make this cocktail your own.
Here are some great variations on this island classic.
- Don’t mess with tradition. The original recipe includes coffee liquor in this cocktail, but many modern recipes exclude it. If you feel this cocktail is too fruity, swap out grenadine for a splash of Kahlua.
- Lighten it up. If dark rum isn’t your thing, you can easily swap dark rum for light rum. White rum isn’t as dark and intense, so your cocktail will be fruitier.
- Get creative with garnishes! Everyone loves a perfectly garnished cocktail. You can add a simple orange slice or try a brandied cherry for a pop of color.
What Kind of Alcohol Is in a Bahama Mama?
Bahama Mamas exclusively use rum. Dark or light rum delivers rich, earthy flavors with molasses undertones.
These flavors are the perfect backdrop to balance the sweetness of tropical fruits.
Adding coconut rum gives this cocktail 5-star resort vibes.
How to Make a Frozen Bahama Mama
Is there anything better than a frozen cocktail on a warm day? You don’t need any fancy equipment to make a frozen Bahama Mama.
Pop everything in the blender, and pulse until it achieves the perfect frozen consistency. Don’t blend it too long, or all the ice will melt.
Bahama Mama Cocktail
1
servings5
minutesGet a dose of the tropics with this Bahama Mama cocktail! The blend of orange juice, pineapple juice, rum, and grenadine is such a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
1 cup crushed ice
1 fluid ounce orange juice
1 fluid ounce pineapple juice
1/2 fluid ounce rum
1/2 fluid ounce coconut-flavored rum
1/2 fluid ounce grenadine syrup
Instructions
- Place the crushed ice, orange juice, pineapple juice, coconut rum, rum, and grenadine syrup into a blender.
- Pulse it on a low speed until nice and smooth.
- Pour it into a cocktail glass, garnish, and enjoy!
Notes
- For a perfectly thick frozen cocktail, don’t blend it for too long. Give it a few pulses, and taste test it.
- Dark rum works best in this recipe to balance the sweetness, but you can also use light rum.
- Garnish it with anything from orange slices to candied cherries.
- For a real treat, serve this cocktail inside a hollowed pineapple.
