It's hard to go wrong with a drink as simple and delicious as Malibu rum and pineapple juice, but if you’re looking to test your mixology skills, we have some cocktail recipes for you.

Malibu, which is a rum-based coconut liqueur, adds a touch of the tropics to any drink. It’s common in fruity, beachy cocktails like piña coladas but it’s used in classic drinks like fizzes, daiquiris, and mojitos. With a mid-range alcohol content of around 20%, Malibu coconut rum goes down a bit smoother than stronger liquors used in mixed drinks. 

We know we said this article was for fans of coconut, but it’s actually for anyone who loves tropical drinks. If coconut isn’t your thing, Malibu also has a line of rum liquors in flavors like passionfruit, strawberry, pineapple, and mango. You can substitute whichever suits your taste. 

Below, we’ll show you what to mix with Malibu, and how to make classic, simple coconut rum drinks. No matter what time of year or climate, mixing up a drink recipe that tastes like paradise is always a good idea.

1. Malibu bay breeze

‍One might expect a cocktail named “bay breeze” to be sky blue, but this drink is actually a pleasing sunset red. This cocktail features a balanced ratio of cranberry juice, Malibu rum, and pineapple juice. Add a bit of ice to a tall cocktail glass and then add in equal parts of the three ingredients. Try about 4 ounces of each, depending on the size of your glass. If you’re lucky, you may get a bit of separation, making your drink look more like a sunset in a glass. Serve with a citrus wedge and enjoy. 

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2. Piña colada

‍A traditional piña colada is made with 1 part coconut cream, 1 part white rum, and 3 parts Pineapple juice. Pour the drink ingredients over ice cubes in a glass, stir gently to combine, and garnish the glass with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry. 

To make a Malibu piña colada, simply switch out the white rum from the classic recipe for this cocktail. Your drink will be less strong without regular rum. If you’d like to amp up the alcohol content, splash in a bit of light rum, too. 

Want to make the frozen variety? Instead of mixing the drink up in a glass, blend it with crushed ice until you’ve achieved a slush.

Here are some important tips for buying the best coconut cream. Stay away from the super-condensed, unsweetened cooking varieties. These normally go in curries, not drinks. Remember that coconut cream isn’t the same as coconut milk or coconut water, which can be much more watery. The cream that goes into cocktails is denser and sweeter. 

Bartender’s tip: “Parts” is a kitchen and bar term meaning equal measurements. For example, if a recipe calls for one part butter to every one part sugar, that means that for every tablespoon of butter, you’d add in a tablespoon of sugar. Cocktail measurements work the same way. If a recipe calls for one part rum to every one part juice, that means that for every ounce of rum you put it, you also splash in an ounce of juice.   

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3. Mojito

‍A mojito is the go-to refreshing rum cocktail. Minty, citrusy, and full of club soda (stay hydrated!), this cocktail is perfect for an afternoon at the beach. Start by muddling mint leaves and lime juice in a tall glass. Muddling “bruises” the mint leaves, helping to extract their flavor. If you don’t have a muddling tool, you can use a wooden chopstick or the end of a long spoon to press down repeatedly on the mint and lime mix. Then, add some ice to the glass and 1 shot of Malibu. Top with some seltzer or club soda. Garnish with mint leaves and a lime wedge.

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‍4. Malibu sunset

‍As the name implies, this drink looks like a pink, tropical sunset. You’ll feel like you’re sitting in the Malibu sand. To mix one up, all you have to do is add 2 ounces of Malibu rum and 4 ounces of pineapple-orange juice to a glass with ice. Stir to combine. Drizzle in a bit of grenadine for sweetness and plop in some delicious cocktail cherries. You can also garnish this cocktail with orange slices or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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5. Daiquiri

‍If you aren’t a coconut lover, don’t worry—this one’s for you. Instead of regular Malibu, this cocktail recipe uses Malibu Watermelon rum. Daiquiris, in their purest form, are just rum, citrus, and sugar. 

To make, combine 1 part Malibu Watermelon, ½ part lime juice, and ¼ part simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. After shaking, strain into a coupe, martini, or other squat cocktail glass and top up with a bit of club soda or soda water. Garnish with a tiny watermelon wedge. You can substitute the Watermelon rum for any other fruit flavor you prefer. You can never go wrong with a strawberry daiquiri in the sun. 

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6. Sex on Malibu beach

‍A sex on the beach is a cocktail that typically contains rum or vodka as the base liquor. We’re adding in a bit of the coconut liquor for a cocktail with Malibu and vodka in this variation. To make, combine 1 ounce of vodka, 1 ounce of Malibu rum, 3 ½ ounces of freshly squeezed orange juice, 3 ½ ounces of cranberry juice, 1 ounce of peach schnapps, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract with plenty of ice in a cocktail shaker. After shaking well, strain into a tall cocktail glass over ice and enjoy.

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It’s time to sail away to the tropics. Order Malibu rum from Gopuff, and add some mixers and snacks to your virtual shopping cart as well. Kick back, relax, and make a Zoom party link or invite some friends over because Gopuff will deliver in minutes.