The Perfect Tiki Cocktail Recipe

3.30 from 37 votes
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This tiki cocktail recipe is far from the brightly colored, super sweet cocktails served in tiki bars! Here we have a gorgeous alcoholic drink that’s invigorating, with its fresh fruit juice and flavorful bitters. It’s easy to make too – perfect for summer parties!

top down shot of tiki cocktail

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This is the perfect tiki drink recipe. It will definitely change your view of the tiki cocktail! Tiki drinks are sometimes synonymous with overly sweet, sugary neon libations served in tiki heads.

But that’s not a true tiki drink. When made right, tiki drinks can be just as “old-fashioned” as bourbon in a cup!! This one we created uses bitters and fresh juices and it’s super easy to make. Perfect for summer entertaining!

How To Make The Perfect Tiki Cocktail – Step By Step

  • Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe cup and garnish with a flower and a pineapple!

An Easy Summer Cocktail

Cocktails don’t get much easier than this one! Just put the five ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake for 20 seconds and voila – tiki time! The lime and pineapple give this a refreshing kick, it’ll be a summer smash!

Best Spiced Rum For A Tiki Cocktail

Spiced rum is the base alcohol in this lovely tipple. Here are some suggestions for great spiced rum:

  • Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum (37.5% ABV) …
  • Chairman’s Reserve spiced rum (40% ABV) …
  • Don Q oak barrel spiced rum (45% ABV) …
  • Foursquare spiced rum (37.5% ABV) …
  • Bounty spiced rum (40% ABV) …
  • RumJava signature rum (35% ABV) ..

Origin Of The Tiki Cocktail

Tiki drinks and the culture actually started in Los Angeles! It was in 1934 when Polynesian-themed bar and restaurant, Don The Beachcomber opened.

They served rum punches and Polynesian-inspired food. A few years later, Trader Vics opened his first tiki restaurant in Oakland, CA.

So although inspired by the South Pacific, the first-ever tiki cocktail recipe was made right here in Los Angeles.

Tips For A Tiki Cocktail

  • Shake the ingredients with the ice in the cocktail shaker until the shaker feels ice cold.
  • Make sure to strain the cocktail into the glass.
  • Use fresh lime juice.
  • Garnish with a slice of pineapple.
top down shot of drink in glass

Check Out These Other Great Rum Cocktail Recipes

The Perfect Beach Bellini Tea Cocktail

Toasted Pineapple Coconut Cocktail

Spiked Pumpkin Horchata Recipe

Coconut Mojito Recipe

Classic Mojito

Orange Juice and Rum

The Brass Monkey

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3.30 from 37 votes

The Perfect Tiki Drink Recipe

By: Eden
Get back to basics with this tiki recipe!
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
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Ingredients 

  • 1 oz spiced rum
  • 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 tsp maraschino cherry syrup
  • dash grapefruit bitters (we like Scrappy’s!)

Instructions 

  • Add the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe cup and garnish with a flower and a pineapple!

Nutrition

Serving: 0g, Calories: 114kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 73mg, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin C: 9.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

About Eden

I’m Eden Passante and I develop, create, style and photograph every recipe and party on Sugar and Charm. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm and have a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and I’m here to help you create simple and easy recipes for entertaining and how to add charm to any gathering!

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3.30 from 37 votes (37 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Courtney-Lynn says:

    Wow! Looks delicious! I would love one (maybe two or three) I must remember this for my next pool party. Your photos are stunning as always.

    1. Eden says:

      Thank you Courtney!! I think you’d like this one for a pool party 🙂 SO easy to make which is always a plus!!! XO