Blue Curacao Cocktail - A Tropical Drink

What is curacao?

Curaçao is a liqueur made from the dried peels of the laraha, a bitter orange native to the island of Curacao.  The flesh of this orange is uneatable but the peels are very aromatic.

The origin of the liqueur is unknown but it is believed that the Dutch West Indies Company, who took possession of the island in 1634, developed an oil from the peel of the bitter oranges and sent it back to Amsterdam to create a liqueur. Here a blue coloring was added and sold as Crème de Ciel or Cream of the Sky.

Currently, the only genuine Curacao derived from the laraha is made by Senior & Co. in Curacao. Look for the word genuine on the label.

Best blue curacao cocktails

Pretty drinks are always a hit at parties and ones with blue curacao stand out with their awesome color. The ever-popular Blue Hawaiian drink and the Blue Iguana are just two of the fun tropical drinks you can make with this brightly colored liqueur.

This blue curacao drink is similar in flavor to the above but has a double dose of orange flavor in lieu of the pineapple plus a little added sparkle.

Variations

• Blue Curacao and Orange Juice - trade the sparkling water for orange juice.
• If you like a sweeter drink, try orange soda in place of the sparkling water.
• Blue Curacao and Sprite - little less orange flavor and a hint of lemon-lime tartness.
• Like drinks a little less fruity - switch out the sparkling water with plain soda water.
• Go fancy by switching the sparkling water for champagne. You can add a touch more orange juice to keep the same flavor profile.

How to make a blue curacao drink

How to add a sugar rim to your cocktails

1. Cut a lime into wedges. Press into rim on glass and wet all around rim with lime juice.
2. Mix sugar with orange food coloring or your preferred color and place on flat plate. Upend glass and rotate in sugar.
3. To completely coat, press edges into sugar where it didn't adhere.
4. Gather the 4 ingredients for cocktail - coconut rum, curacao, lime juice and sparkling orange-flavored water or orange juice.

How to make a blue cocktail

1. Pour curacao into pitcher or cocktail shaker.
2. Add coconut rum.
3. Give it a little tart kick with a tablespoon of lime juice.
4. Pour in orange-flavored sparkling water or orange juice. By the way, the lighter the water, the brighter the blue color will be.

Now pour that beautifully colored drink into a sugar-rimmed martini or tall clear highball glass and show off its gorgeous color. Add a slice of orange and serve. Isn't it beautiful and perfect for summer!

This curacao cocktail can be made for two and served immediately or make by the pitcherful reserving the sparkling water and adding it just prior to guests' arrival.

Believe me, this easy-to-make, citrusy sweet-tart drink will be your new summer go-to thirst quencher. Plus it is sure to be the prettiest rockin' cocktail at any party! Enjoy!

More tropical cocktail recipes

Pineapple Coconut Mojito is pure tropical with the light refreshing flavors of coconut, pineapple juice, and sparkling water.

Sea Breeze has all the delightfully fresh flavors of a regular sea breeze with a twist - sparkling grapefruit water.

Strawberry Rum Cocktail is a fruity cocktail with a little effervescence. Sweet strawberries, a squeeze of lime, light rum, and a champagne topper make it the perfect light summer thirst quencher.

Mermaid Water is a delicious rum punch with a beautiful aqua color.

Find lots of easy cocktail recipes here on 2CM!