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Looking for the perfect tropical escape in a glass? The Bahama Mama cocktail brings together a masterful blend of three distinct rums with fresh fruit juices to transport you straight to the Caribbean shores. We’ve perfected this recipe through countless iterations to achieve the ideal balance of sweet and spirit.

A Bahama Mama cocktail garnished with cherries and mint sits on a tiled surface with blurred pineapple and orange juice bottles in the background.

What Is a Bahama Mama Cocktail?

The Bahama Mama is a layered tropical cocktail that emerged from the bustling beach bars of Nassau in the 1950s. Originally crafted as a sunset-colored showstopper for tourists, it’s evolved into a sophisticated rum-forward cocktail that showcases the versatility of Caribbean spirits.

A Bahama mama cocktail with ice, cherries, and leaves sits on a blue and white patterned tile table.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

  • SMOKY – Our version strikes the perfect balance between three distinct rums, each bringing its own character – dark rum provides depth, white rum offers clarity, and coconut rum adds tropical essence.
  • CLASSIC – The layered pour technique creates a stunning sunset effect that elevates this cocktail from a simple beach drink to an Instagram-worthy masterpiece.

What You Need to Make a Bahama Mama Cocktail

  • Dark Rum: Provides rich molasses notes and serves as the cocktail’s backbone.
  • White Rum: Adds clean sugarcane brightness without overwhelming the fruit juices.
  • Malibu Coconut Rum: Introduces a subtle tropical coconut essence.
  • Orange Juice: Fresh-squeezed delivers optimal brightness and natural sweetness.
  • Pineapple Juice: Adds tropical complexity and silky texture.
  • Grenadine: Creates the signature sunset effect and balances the spirits.
  • Maraschino Cherries: More than garnish, they add a classic tiki cocktail finish.

How to Make a Bahama Mama Cocktail

  1. Layer grenadine in an ice-filled hurricane glass, allowing it to settle at the bottom.
  2. Combine all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker with fresh ice.
  3. Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds until properly chilled and aerated.
  4. Strain carefully over the grenadine layer to maintain the gradient effect.
  5. Garnish with premium maraschino cherries.
  • White Rum is poured into a textured cocktail shaker on a blue and white tiled surface.
  • Orange juice poured into a cocktail shaker on a blue and white tiled surface.
  • Ice splashing into the cocktail shaker filled with juice and rum.
  • Grenadine being poured into a ice filled cocktail glass.

Expert Recipe Tips

  • Tip 1: For the best flavor profile, choose a Jamaican dark rum with prominent molasses notes.
  • Tip 2: Fresh-squeezed juices make a remarkable difference – avoid prepared juice cocktail blends.
  • Tip 3: Chill your hurricane glass beforehand to maintain the layered effect longer.
A Bahama mama garnished with pineapple leaves and skewered cherries sits on a blue-patterned surface, with a blurred bottle and fruit in the background.

How to Serve This Bahama Mama Cocktail

Serve in a hurricane glass to showcase the dramatic color gradient. If you’re drinking outdoors (especially near a pool), consider a double-walled plastic hurricane glass to maintain temperature longer and minimize any risk of broken glass…

More Cocktail Recipes

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Explore our collection of tropical rum cocktails, including our signature Mai Tai and Royal Hawaiian.

Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe

We've packed all the sunshine and spirit of the Caribbean into this Bahama Mama recipe, blending three different rums with freshly squeezed juices for a perfectly balanced tropical getaway in your glass. You'll taste the layers of flavor with every sip—just like the beautiful sunset colors you'll see. It's like bringing a piece of the islands right to your home bar.
Print Recipe
A Bahama Mama cocktail garnished with cherries and mint sits on a tiled surface with blurred pineapple and orange juice bottles in the background.
Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 oz dark rum
  • 1 oz Malibu
  • 1 oz white rum
  • 3 oz orange juice
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 1-2 oz Grenadine
  • Maraschino cherries for garnish

Instructions

  • Fill a glass with ice and add the grenadine. Set the glass aside.
  • Meanwhile, add all the remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake until chilled.
  • Strain over ice and garnish with maraschino cherry.
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Kita

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this cocktail without coconut rum?

You can substitute coconut rum with additional dark rum and add 1/2 oz cream of coconut for similar flavor profile.

Why isn’t my cocktail creating distinct layers?

Temperature and pouring technique are crucial. Ensure your grenadine is chilled and pour the shaken mixture slowly over the back of a spoon.

What’s the best dark rum for this cocktail?

We recommend Appleton Estate or Mount Gay Black Barrel for their robust molasses character.

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Award-winning cocktail maker, picture taker, content writer, editor, and all around imbiber behind the Libation Chronicles and a few other fun projects.

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13 Comments

  1. Why did you even bother to put juice in it? Holy liquor! Are you sure you don’t live with the group of Storm Troopers?

    Reply

  2. Mmmmm, I want this with a huge tray of chips and guac. For every meal.

    Reply

  3. Mmmmm what is that cheesy yumminess in the background? Looks like a perfect match for your drink!!

    Reply

  4. I’m not big on coconut mixed drinks (for some reason it makes me think of what a tanning salon would taste like), but I love everything else in this drink so I may have to try it out

    Reply

  9. I love that you included the caveat about Bacardi 151. Phew… that stuff is potent. That aside, this sounds like it would be the perfect summertime drink!

    Reply

  12. I’ve been looking for a good Bahama Mama recipe! Thank you so much! This looks really good!

    Reply

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