Bahama Mama Cocktail

May 13: World Cocktail Day

North of the equator, spring has already sprung. But in the Southern Hemisphere, fall is just beginning. On World Cocktail Day, drinking a Bahama Mama can feel like an eternal summer vacation!

There are different versions of the Bahama Mama cocktail’s origin stories as there are recipes of this refreshingly cool cocktail. Prohibition in the United States boosted the Bahamas’ economy when Americans would visit for alcohol tourism and rum smuggling. Around this time, there was a song called “Bahama Mama: That Goombay Tune” (1932) that evoked a vacation vibe. The upbeat song was also revived during the Disco Era. This tropical cocktail was perfect for parties with music and dancing. Bahama Mama could also refer to Dottie Lee Anderson, the Caribbean entertainer famous in the 1950s. It was around this time that the cocktail became popular and was printed in different publications. The recipe contains at its very core rum, fruit juices, grenadine and ice.

No matter the mystery of the drink’s history or ingredient combinations—just “chillax” and enjoy a classic Bahama Mama on World Cocktail Day or year-round.

Recipe

(Adapted from Mashed)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup crushed ice
  • 2 ounces orange juice
  • 2 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce rum (dark, light, gold or spiced)
  • 1 ounce coconut rum
  • ½ – 1 ounce grenadine
  • Fruit garnishes

Directions

Fill a shaker with crushed ice. Pour in the orange and pineapple juices.

Pour in the rums and grenadine. Shake well. Pour into a glass. Garnish with orange slice, pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.

Notes

  • For a frozen cocktail, blend the Bahama Mama ingredients and pour in a glass. Garnish with sliced/cut fruits.
  • Some recipes include fresh lemon or lime juice, banana-flavored liqueur and coffee liqueur.
  • Search our blog for other cocktail recipes (drinks or desserts).