Tropical Cocktails Day Date in the current year: June 26, 2024

There is no strict definition of a tropical cocktail, but the majority of cocktails that are described as tropical are rum-based (although they may contain other liquors in addition to or instead of rum) and contain tropical fruit juices, orange-flavored liqueurs, bitters, and sweet syrups. They are often brightly colored and lavishly decorated – a cocktail umbrella is a must! Tropical cocktails are a staple at the so-called tiki bars with their Polynesian-inspired aesthetics.

Some of the most popular tropical cocktails include the Blue Hawaii, the caipirinha, the daiquiri, the hurricane, the Mai Tai, the mojito, and the piña colada, to name a few. Let’s take a closer look at each of these iconic mixed drinks.

A tribute to Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger’s 1937 song “Blue Hawaii”, featured as the title track of the 1961 Elvis Presley film of the same name, the Blue Hawaii cocktail consists of light rum (that may be partially or completely substituted by vodka), Blue Curaçao, pineapple juice, and sour mix (lemon/lime juice and simple syrup). It is served on the rocks or blended with ice.

The caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil. It is a simple yet delicious and refreshing cocktail consisting of just three ingredients: cachaça (Brazilian distilled spirit made from sugarcane juice), lime, and sugar.

The mojito and the daiquiri, both invented in Cuba, are somewhat similar to the caipirinha but contain rum instead of cachaça. The daiquiri consists of rum, lime juice and sugar, while the main ingredients of the mojito are white rum, fresh lime juice, cane sugar or sugar syrup, mint, and soda water.

The origins of the hurricane cocktail are somewhat murky, but it is very popular in New Orleans. It commonly consists of equal parts dark and white rum, half part overproof (extra strong) rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup. The Mai Tai is another iconic tropical cocktail based on rum; its other ingredients include orange liqueur (typically Curaçao), almond-flavored orgeat syrup, and lime juice.

And last but not least: the piña colada, regarded by some as the quintessential tropical cocktail. Invented in Puerto Rico, it is made with rum, pineapple juice and cream of coconut, and served blended or shaken with ice.

Tropical Cocktails Day was created in 2013 by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, a freelance author and editor nicknamed the Queen of Holidays thanks to the numerous fun holidays she came up with. The main goal of Tropical Cocktail Day is to honor those refreshing cocktails that are perfect for outdoor parties, seaside vacations, luxurious cruises, or simply relaxing in your backyard on a hot summer day.

There are many ways to celebrate this amazing holiday. You can go out to your favorite tiki bar with a bunch of friends, throw a cocktail party at home, plan your next vacation while sipping a tropical cocktail, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #TropicalCocktailsDay.