The recipe
for your table
Shake both rums, the coffee liqueur, and the juices with ice.
Pour into a hurricane or tall tropical glass with fresh ice.
Let the grenadine run down the side for a sunset effect.
Garnish with orange and a cherry.
The story
The Bahama Mama belongs to the generation of carefree resort cocktails that emerged on the Caribbean islands in the 1960s and 1970s, when mass tourism discovered the islands. Its name refers to a famous calypso hit from the 1930s, and in the Bahamas, people proudly claim the cocktail as their own – although its exact inventor has disappeared into the rum haze of history. The hint of coffee liqueur sets it apart from all other tropical mixes: that little bitterness keeps all the fruit in balance.
The right glass
For the Bahama Mama, choose a generous glass that showcases the color gradient from red to orange: a 44 cl hurricane glass or a tall tropical long drink glass. Gold- or copper-colored tiki glasses add an extra sunny glow to this already warm cocktail. Plenty of ice and an exuberant garnish are essential. If you want to serve it in a true tiki glass, take a look at our tiki glasses.
Royal Leerdam Cocktail Hurricane Glass 44 cl (4 pieces)
Tiki Long Drink Glass Gold 45 cl
Both sets — €36.90 together, free shipping from €50.
Variations & twists
Every beach bar has its own version: blended with banana, it becomes a smoothie; with overproof rum as a float, it becomes a sunset with a boozy afterglow. You can replace the coffee liqueur with amaretto for a sweeter, nutty twist. Lots of ice and plenty of fruit are the only constants. Looking for more inspiration? Browse all 80 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
That single centiliter of coffee liqueur may seem odd, but it is the secret—don’t leave it out. For parties, you can easily prepare it in advance in a pitcher; just add the ice to each glass.
Creating the sunset effect
The trick lies in the specific gravity. Grenadine contains a lot of sugar and is therefore heavier than the shaken mixture of rum and juice, so it naturally sinks to the bottom. First shake everything except the grenadine with ice, then pour it over fresh ice in the glass. Next, slowly pour that 1 cl of grenadine along the inside of the glass or over the rounded side of a bar spoon. Do not stir. The gradient from red at the bottom to orange at the top will remain for about ten minutes—just long enough to serve it.
Which two rums do you combine
3 cl each, and that combination makes up the entire cocktail. The dark rum provides molasses, caramel, and a hint of smoke, and holds its own against 8 cl of pineapple juice; a Jamaican or Guyanese bottle works excellently here. The coconut rum brings tropical sweetness and a creamy note, and Malibu is the best-known option, although at 21 percent it is fairly light. White rum alone disappears completely behind the fruit, so it is not an alternative. If you want it stronger, float 1 cl of overproof rum on top as the final layer.
In a pitcher for six people
Multiply everything by six and you’ll have 18 cl dark rum, 18 cl coconut rum, 6 cl coffee liqueur, 48 cl pineapple juice, and 12 cl lemon juice. Mix them in a pitcher and chill for at least an hour, without ice. Keep the grenadine separate. When serving, fill each glass with fresh ice, pour in the mixture, and let 1 cl of grenadine sink to the bottom of each glass so everyone gets the layered color effect. Slice the orange beforehand and place the cherries in a bowl; serving will then take hardly any time.
Alcohol-free Bahama Mama
Without rum, you can still make a surprisingly complete tropical drink, provided you restore the depth. Use 6 cl alcohol-free rum or 4 cl coconut milk with half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, keep 8 cl pineapple juice and 2 cl lemon juice, and replace the coffee liqueur with 1 cl strong cold espresso and half a bar spoon of sugar syrup. That bitter coffee note matters more than you might think, because it keeps all that fruit in balance. The grenadine and garnish remain the same, so visually the drink is indistinguishable from the original.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Bahama Mama?
A Bahama Mama contains 3 cl dark rum, 3 cl coconut rum, 1 cl coffee liqueur, 8 cl pineapple juice, 2 cl fresh lemon juice, and 1 cl grenadine, garnished with orange and a cherry. That one centiliter of coffee liqueur is the secret: it keeps all that fruit in balance.
How do you create the sunset effect in a Bahama Mama?
Pour in the grenadine slowly along the inside of the glass last. Grenadine is heavier than the other ingredients, so it sinks to the bottom, creating the color gradient from red to orange. Shake the other ingredients with ice first, then pour them over fresh ice in the glass.
Which rum do you use for a Bahama Mama?
Two types, 3 cl each: dark rum for depth and coconut rum for tropical sweetness. That combination makes all the difference, because white rum alone disappears completely behind the pineapple juice. For a stronger drink, let a splash of overproof rum float on top.
Which glass do you use for a Bahama Mama?
A hurricane glass of approximately 44 cl or a tall tropical highball glass is the best choice. The tall, curved glass showcases the color gradient from red to orange and provides plenty of room for ice and an extravagant garnish. See our hurricane glasses.
Everything for your bar,
to one address
Glasses in hospitality quality, supplied per set. Order today, delivered quickly.
Shop the glasses →