Pina Colada

Almost everyone has heard of the Pina Colada (thanks in part to the 1979 Rupert Holmes song Escape (The Pina Colada Song) and almost just as many people have probably tried one. It is one of the most popular tropical cocktails and it is definitely one of the creamiest.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz light rum
• 1 1/2 oz coconut cream
• pineapple wedge for garnish
• maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Pour into a chilled cocktail or collins glass.
4. Garnish with the pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.
   

Get Exotic!

Purple Hooter Shooter

A popular purple shooter that is smooth and tasty. The Purple Hooter is also called a Purple Kamikaze or a Raspberry Gimlet.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz black raspberry liqueur
• 1/2 oz lime juice

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well.
3. Strain into a shot glass.

Purplicious....

Pretty in Pink Cosmo

The classic Cosmopolitan, became one of the favorite cocktails ever due mostly to it's role in the HBO show, Sex and the City. Most bartenders know how to make this light, fruity Martini, making it a great choice for a casual night out. There are hundreds of variations on the Cosmo, some use more or less cranberry juice, some triple sec instead of Cointreau, and some include a citrus vodka. It's all a matter of personal preference, this is the way I like it.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/4 oz cranberry juice
• orange peel for garnish

Preparation:

1. Shake all the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with an orange peel.

Optionally, use citron vodka in place of unflavored vodka for a fruitier taste.

Delish!!!!

Decadent Peach Bellini Dahling

The Bellini is a peachy version of the Champagne Cocktail and makes a great brunch cocktail. The story behind the drink is that is was created in the 1930's or 40's at Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy by bartender Giuseppe Cipriani and was named after a favorite painter, Giovanni Bellini. Originally, the Bellini was intended to use sparkling Italian wine and is still made that way in Italy, elsewhere it is often made with Champagne.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz peach juice or peach puree
• 4 oz Champagne

Preparation:

1. Pour the peach juice or peach puree into a Champagne flute.
2. Slowly add the Champagne.

Zesty Minty Mojitos

The Mojito has risen in the ranks to become of the most popular cocktails. It originated in Cuba, was second to the Daiduiri on Ernest Hemmingway's list of favorite cocktails and, since the 1980's, has become one of the more fashionable tropical cocktails. It's very simple, using mint and lime to accent the rum. Choose a premium run like Bacardi or Mount Gay for a spectacular Mojito.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp sugar
• 6-8 mint leaves
• club soda
• 1 lime, halved
• 2 oz light rum
• mint sprig for garnish

Preparation:

1. Place the sugar, the mint leaves, and a little club soda into a highball glass.
2. Muddle well to dissolve the sugar and to release the mint flavor.
3. Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass.
4. Drop one half of the lime into the glass.
5. Add the rum.
6. Stir well.
7. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
8. Add the rest of the club soda.
9. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Fresh!!!

Hunka Hunka Blue Hawaiian

There's something alluring about blue cocktails, they're exciting and almost exotic, definitely tropical. The Blue Hawaiian is the blue version of the popular Pina Colada, splitting the coconut to allow room for blue curacao. Get your ukelele and shake those hips.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 3/4 oz rum
• 3/4 oz blue curaçao
• 3/4 oz creme de coconut
• maraschino cherry for garnish
• pineapple wedge for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2. Stir well.
3. Strain into a collins glass filled with ice cubes.
4. Garnish with the cherry and pineapple.

Wanna Hula?

Surfer On Acid

The Surfer on Acid is one of those drinks that conjures up multiple, hilarious scenarios that may have led to the drink's naming. The coconut rum tames down the bite of the infamous Jägermeister . This cocktail is a delicious, neat, tropical drink that is perfect for a summer day at the beach and popular enough that every bartender should include it in their repertoire.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz coconut rum
• 1 oz Jägermeister
• pineapple juice

Preparation:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Surf's UP!