Hawaiian Martini

The Hawaiian Martini is fruity, smooth, and just the right amount of tropical. It blends vodka, coconut rum, triple sec, and pineapple juice for a beachy feel, with a splash of grenadine that adds a sweet finish and sunset-style color. It’s a laid-back cocktail that’s great for summer nights, weekend get-togethers, or when you want something fun without a lot of effort. The coconut and pineapple play well together, while the vodka and triple sec keep it crisp. Serve it chilled in a martini glass and garnish with a cherry or pineapple slice for an extra touch.

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Tasting Notes

The Hawaiian Martini is fruity, smooth, and bright with a layered finish. Vodka and coconut rum give it a light but sturdy base with a tropical twist. Triple sec adds a little orange flavor that blends cleanly with the rest. Pineapple juice brings in sweetness and acidity without being too sharp. The grenadine, added last, sinks to the bottom and gives a soft, sweet finish with a pop of color. It’s a fun, tropical drink that’s easy to sip and looks good in the glass—especially when served with a clean layer of red at the bottom.

Equipment and Glassware

You’ll need a shaker to mix and chill the base ingredients before pouring. A jigger helps with measuring out each part, especially the small amount of grenadine. Use a strainer to keep the pour clean and avoid any ice shards. A martini or coupe glass works best—something that shows off the color and shape of the drink. A bar spoon is helpful when adding the grenadine so it layers instead of mixing right in. Chill your glass ahead of time if you want the colors to stay sharp and the drink to hold its chill longer.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz vodka
• 1 oz coconut rum
• 1 oz triple sec
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz grenadine
• Pineapple wedge, for garnish

Instructions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add vodka, coconut rum, triple sec, and pineapple juice.
• Shake well for about 15 seconds until chilled.
• Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
• Slowly pour the grenadine into the drink to create a layered effect.
• Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Pro Tips

• Use cold ingredients and a chilled glass to help keep the drink crisp.
• Shake the base ingredients long enough to fully mix and chill, but not so long that it gets too diluted.
• Pour the grenadine slowly too fast and it’ll mix in instead of settling.
• If you want a cleaner layer, use a spoon to control the pour.
• Fresh pineapple juice works best, but canned or bottled is fine if it’s not from concentrate.
• For a slightly stronger drink, reduce the pineapple juice by 0.5 oz.
• A garnish is optional, but helps with presentation.

When to Serve

The Hawaiian Martini is a great pick for summer nights, beach-themed parties, or backyard get-togethers. It works well as a pre-dinner drink or a happy hour option when you want something fruity but not too heavy. It’s also a fun choice for brunch, bridal showers, or weekend hangouts with friends. The tropical flavor and bold color make it feel festive without requiring any hard-to-find ingredients. Serve it when the weather’s warm or whenever you want a drink that looks good and tastes light and easy.

Which Liquor Brands to Choose

• Go with a smooth vodka like Tito’s, Absolut, or Ketel One. For coconut rum, Malibu is the most common and works well in this recipe.
• Triple sec options like DeKuyper or Cointreau both blend well Cointreau gives a cleaner finish if you want to upgrade.
• Use fresh pineapple juice if available, or try not-from-concentrate bottled juice for the best flavor.
• Any standard grenadine works Rose’s is widely used, or try a small-batch brand for a deeper color and cleaner taste.
• For garnish, maraschino cherries or fresh pineapple are both solid picks.

Similar Cocktails

• Sunset Martini
• Firebirds Pineapple Martini
• Bikini Martini
• Pineapple Lemon Drop
• Pineapple Cosmopolitan