Blue Hawaii is a rum-based cocktail with blue Curaçao and pineapple juice, often served over ice with a slice of pineapple. It was invented in 1957 in a Waikiki bar and is a popular choice for tropical-themed parties. Variations include using different colors of Curaçao or flavored rums.
A Blue Hawaii is a cocktail that features, at a minimum, rum and blue Curaçao, with pineapple juice along with a sweet and sour mix being common additions. The drink can also be made with vodka and other juices, depending on personal taste, and is traditionally served over ice with a slice of pineapple. Blue Hawaii should not be confused with the Blue Hawaiian, a closely related cocktail that includes coconut cream, making for a much richer drink with a very distinctive flavor.
Supposedly, Blue Hawaii was invented in 1957 in a Waikiki bar on the island of Honolulu. According to legend, the bartender was asked to concoct a cocktail that used Curaçao blue, in hopes of boosting sales of the signature liqueur. Apparently Blue Hawaii was a hit, because it quickly spread to the islands and then to the mainland, where many people were hungry for Hawaiian-themed drinks, foods and paraphernalia.
As a general rule, Blue Hawaii is considered a hot cocktail. When well blended, it has a distinctive and somewhat refreshing flavor, and the blue Curaçao makes the drink look quite novel, especially when served with other tropical fruit or a miniature umbrella. To enhance the tropical vibe, some bartenders serve their Blue Hawaiis in novelty cups or mix it up to make a frozen drink.
Blue Curaçao gives Blue Hawaii a very distinctive and unmistakable color, making it an easy drink to identify. Most bars that offer tropical cocktails have Blue Hawaii on their drink menu, or are able to, and it’s a popular alcoholic punch choice for tropical-themed parties, as it’s easy to mix in large batches.
For variations on the basic theme, Curaçao of other colors can be used, and the base liquor can always be modified to suit personal tastes. Some people like to use flavored rums in their Blue Hawaii cocktails, although one should be cautious about doing so, as Curaçao has a very distinctive flavor that can clash with some spirits. Amateur bartenders also find that the quality of their Blue Hawaiis is usually greatly improved by mixing the sweet and sour mix themselves, using simple syrup and citrus juice, both of which should be available in any well-stocked bar.
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