A tropical drink in one shot. The perfect pina colada shot.
It’s been unseasonably hot here in New England, and that tropical heat put me in the mood for something refreshing. I wanted to capture all the classic pina colada flavors in a single, smooth shot. The result is an easy, bright little cocktail that tastes like a mini vacation.
This is week four of our summer cocktail party series. A few of my favorite bloggers and I are sharing seasonal drinks each week, and I can’t believe we’re already more than halfway through—just two weeks left. Be sure to check the end to see the other cocktails featured this week.
I’m a big country music fan, and Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay rum is my go-to. I always keep a bottle of the coconut rum on hand. During a recent trip to the liquor store to grab Aperol, I spotted a pineapple rum cream I’d never seen before. It sounded perfect for a pina colada-style shot, so I grabbed it on a whim.
Back home I tasted the pineapple rum cream and was struck by how smooth it was. I decided to pair it with the Blue Chair Bay coconut rum to recreate the classic pina colada flavor in shot form.
To elevate the presentation, I rimmed the shot glasses with toasted coconut. I made a simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water over medium heat until the sugar dissolved and the mixture began to bubble. Then I spread shredded coconut on a baking sheet and toasted it in a 325°F oven for 5–10 minutes, watching closely since coconut browns quickly.
Once the coconut and syrup cooled, I dipped each shot glass rim into the syrup and then into the toasted coconut for a crunchy, fragrant rim. The toasted coconut adds both texture and aroma that pair perfectly with the creamy rums.
Pina Colada Shots
5 minutes
5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 part Coconut Rum
- 1 part Pineapple Rum Cream
- Ice
- Simple Syrup
- Toasted Coconut
- Fresh pineapple wedge
Instructions
- Place simple syrup in one shallow bowl and toasted coconut in another.
- Dip each shot glass rim into the simple syrup, then press into the toasted coconut to coat the rim.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add equal parts coconut rum and pineapple rum cream, shake vigorously, and strain into the rimmed shot glasses. Garnish with a small pineapple wedge if desired and enjoy.
Here are 7 of our favorite Summer cocktails.
Red, White and Blue Layered Cocktail from Creative Ramblings • Pina Colada Shots from Weekend Craft • Blueberry Lemonade with Vodka from A Turtle’s Life for Me • Boozy Orange Creamsicle Floats from Happy Go Lucky • Coconut White Russian from Daily DIY Life • Frozen Mojito from Create & Babble