5 Tropical Cocktails for Your Next Beach Vacation

In partnership with Beaches Resorts.

There’s nothing quite like a beach vacation to relax and recharge. The sun, sand, and carefree lifestyle call to millions of travelers each year, who pack their bags and head for warm climates, whether during spring break, summer getaways, or to escape the winter chill.

The Caribbean islands are a great destination year-round, with temperatures that hover in the low-80s, though you may want to plan your trip during the drier months. Either way, once you arrive you’ll be greeted by lush scenery and sandy beaches, which are both more fun with a cocktail in hand.

These are the five most popular cocktails served at Beaches all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos. Mix one up at home—or even better, drink one straight from the source—to bring a little bit of the Caribbean into your life. These recipes are built for speed and serving large crowds. If you’re making drinks at home, feel free to sub any of the pre-mixed ingredients for fresh ingredients.

Dirty Banana

Ingredients:

1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce dark crème de cacao
3 ounces milk
0.5 ounce simple syrup
1 banana

Instructions:

1. In a blender, add ice and all other ingredients. Blend until smooth (about 30 seconds).
2. Pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Frozen Bob Marley

Ingredients:

2 ounces Strawberry Daiquiri mix
2 ounces Mango Daiquiri mix
2 ounce Appleton gold rum
1 ounce blue Curaçao

Instructions:

1. Add ice and the Strawberry Daiquiri mix to the blender and blend until slushy. Pour or scoop out the mixture into a glass to make the first layer of your cocktail.
2. Repeat the blending process with the Mango Daiquiri mix and more ice. Once these ingredients are slushy, add half of the mango mixture to your glass for your second cocktail layer. Do not stir.
3. For your third layer, add blue Curaçao to the remaining mango mixture in the blender. Expect the mixture to turn green. Once this happens, add it to your glass. Do not stir.
4. Add a float of rum to taste (optional).
5. Garnish with fresh fruit.

Miami Vice

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces Appleton white rum
2 ounces Strawberry Daiquiri mix
0.5 ounces lime juice
1.5 ounces dark rum
2 ounces Piña Colada mix
0.5 ounces pineapple juice

Instructions:

1. Add the white rum, Strawberry Daiquiri mix, lime juice and ice to a blender and blend until slushy. Pour mixture into a Hurricane glass.
2. Blend the Piña Colada mix with the dark rum, pineapple juice and ice until mixture is slushy, then pour it on top of the Daiquiri to create a layered effect.
3. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Hummingbird

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces Appleton Estate Special gold rum
1.5 ounces rum cream
0.5 ounces dark crème de cacao
0.5 ounce grenadine
1 banana

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients, plus ice, into a blender and blend until smooth (about 30 seconds).
2. Pour your mixture into a highball glass, garnish with a cherry, and serve.

Purple Rain

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces Appleton Estate V/X rum
1 splash blue Curaçao
1 splash sweet and sour mix
1 ounce cranberry juice
1 splash soda water

Instructions:

1. Add rum, blue Curaçao, sweet and sour, and cranberry juice to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake briefly, then strain into a highball glass. Top with soda.