TROPICAL COCKTAILS
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
Henry James said it best. Safe to say he had a cocktail in hand while he spoke those words. Nothing beats a tropical cocktail on a hot summer’s day, whether you’re at the beach, on the boat or at the BBQ. And when ‘tropical’ comes to mind, one ingredient reigns supreme; the Coconut.
The summer of 2020 was rough, but all the down time allowed us to perfect our drink making skills. Needless to say, we envisioned ourselves on a tropical island with barreling surf while we sipped these, and not in a endless torment of panicked thoughts. Anyway, I digress.
Below are our favorite concoctions using the almighty drupe. As always, enjoy (ir)responsibly.
Tiki Mugs highly recommended.
Green Isaac’s Special
Invented and made famous by none other than Ernest Hemingway, this refreshing drink isn’t something you’d ever imagine being good. First mentioned in his book “Island’s In The Stream” where the protagonist does a lot of drinking, and as such needs another drink to help keep cool and his hangover under control. Make one of these and you’ll be transported to old Key West.
2 ounces London dry gin [we like Gray Whale]
4 ounces unsweetened coconut water
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
Enough dashes of Angostura bitters to give it a good rosy color
Lime wedge to garnish
Idle Hour
Invented by yours truly, this, I believe, is the ultimate boat drink. Named after the former Vanderbilt estate that bordered the Connetquot River, you can sip these all day and stay hydrated. Milky in color thanks to the pressed coconut, this hits nicely when it’s extra chilled. Sweet, but not overbearing at all.
2 ounces 1800 Coconut Tequila
4 ounces Pressed coconut water
1/2 lime, squeezed
Lime wedge to garnish
[optional] A few sprigs of mint, muddled into your drink receptacle
Cannon Ball
For the times when you need a no frills cocktail with just the right amount of flavor, the Cannon Ball is your answer. Some people despise the coconut flavor La Croix. Don’t talk to those people. They just don’t get it. Easy to mix and even easier to quaff. You’ll be putting these back all day.
2 ounces Tequila
6 ounces of La Croix Coconut Seltzer
Squeeze of lime
BONUS! Loaded Corona
Okay, technically not a cocktail, but a drink is a drink, right? And this one is super easy, no special ingredients needed. Just take your favorite style of Corona (or any Mexican Lager for that matter), pop the top, and pour in some Coconut Tequila till it reaches the lip. Pretty simple, right?
1 Corona (or any Mexican Lager)
1 ounce Coconut Tequila
Lime wedge to garnish
And there you have it, folks. 4 easy drinks to get you through the days ahead. Did you enjoy any of these, or have another drink you think should make the list? Drop a comment below, and maybe we’ll invite you out to make one and have it featured in the next round.