Rainbow Cocktail

Add a splash of color to your next party with this rainbow drink that boasts three beautifully displayed layers of tropical and fruity flavors.

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Table of Contents

Rainbow Cocktail Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Rainbow Cocktail Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Why We Love This Recipe
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This vibrant rainbow drink is all about bright colors and tropical vibes that will awaken your senses. Layers of colorful juice and liqueur make up this delightful, magical drink that is brimming with fruity and fun flavors.

Rainbow Cocktail Ingredients

Rainbow Cocktail raw ingredients that are labeled

A rainbow cocktail is more than just a drink, it’s a piece of art. With its vivid hues, it is sure to catch your attention.

But the real magic happens when you take a sip. Sweet and tangy, with just the right amount of fruit flavor, it’s a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.

Each layer of this colorful drink brings a unique taste that keeps you coming back for more.

You’ll need:

For The Red Layer:

½ ounce of grenadine syrup
¾ to 1 cup of ice cubes

For The Yellow Layer:

⅓ cup of pineapple juice (not from concentrate)
1 ounce of coconut rum (I used the Malibu brand)

For The Blue Layer:

½ ounce of blue curaçao liqueur
½ ounce of clear rum (also known as silver rum – I used the Bacardi brand)

Optional Garnish:

AirHeads Xtremes Rainbow Berry Ribbon Candy threaded onto a long skewer
A colorful twisty straw

PRO TIP:

Blue curaçao liqueur tastes exactly the same as orange-colored curaçao. They are both orange-flavored liqueurs. I used blue for the look of a rainbow.

Substitutions And Additions

PINEAPPLE JUICE: I like to get the little mini (6-ounce) cans of pineapple juice to keep on hand in my pantry.

These are great for this rainbow recipe, so you do not need to open a large bottle of pineapple juice to make a couple of cocktails.

GARNISH: Elevate your drink with garnishes like your favorite fruits or herbs for added color and flavor.

How To Make This Rainbow Cocktail Recipe

Make sure to follow our step-by-step instructions so that you are able to recreate the perfect layers for this colorful drink. The heavier liquids need to sit on the bottom of the glass, followed by the lighter ones.

STEP ONE: In an 8 to 10-ounce stemless champagne glass, add your red layer by carefully pouring the grenadine syrup into the bottom of the glass.

Be very careful not to get any of the grenadine on the sides of the glass.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

It is very important that you add the grenadine syrup before adding the ice to your glass. Grenadine is a thick, sweet, pomegranate-flavored non-alcoholic syrup commonly used to flavor cocktails. It will hold its layer if you place it in the bottom of the glass first.

STEP TWO: Add your ice cubes to the glass, one by one, so you do not disturb the grenadine syrup layer.

I like to use a large spoon to place the first few cubes then you can add the rest of the ice.

Depending on the size of your champagne flute, you may not be able to fit an entire cup of ice in it.

ice cubs added to the tall glass one by one

STEP THREE: For your yellow layer, combine pineapple juice and coconut rum in a small measuring cup with a pour spout.

Very slowly, pour the rum mixture over the ice in the glass, being very careful not to disturb the red layer too much.

PRO TIP:

Be sure to mix the pineapple juice and coconut rum well before adding them to your glass. Because you are trying to make nice layers for this cocktail, it is important that your individual layers are combined well so that you do not need to stir your drink, thus ruining your pretty rainbow effect upon serving.

pineapple and rum mix poured carefully into the tall glass

STEP FOUR: Combine the blue curaçao and clear rum in a second small measuring cup with a pour spout to create the blue layer.

Very slowly, pour this last layer into the glass.

PRO TIP:

It is important to mix the blue curaçao with the clear rum. Doing this helps keep the blue layer from mixing with the pineapple juice.

STEP FIVE: Garnish with the skewer of rainbow ribbon candy and a fun twisty straw.

Be careful when adding your garnish so you do not stir up your rainbow cocktail layers.

PRO TIP:

Be careful that you do not disturb the layers when presenting this cocktail, as it will create a very purple cocktail. It will still taste delicious, though.

Rainbow Cocktail garnished with twisty straw and rainbow candy

How To Serve

Make this rainbow paradise cocktail anytime you want to add a vibrant and fun drink to your special gatherings.

Add even more color with our fruit salsa and cinnamon chips, and cucumber bites for your guests to snack on.

Bowls of homemade guacamole and salsa, along with chips, crackers, or crisp raw veggies, would also make the ideal accompaniment.

Taste the rainbow with our tipsy mermaid and gummy bear drink too. They are two more whimsical alcoholic drinks with plenty of colors to charm your guests.

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Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: We don’t recommend trying to keep leftovers of this colorful drink as the ice will melt and water down your drink.

Serve your tropical cocktail immediately.

IN THE FREEZER: This grown-up drink must be served fresh.

Why We Love This Recipe

VISUAL APPEAL: The colorful layers of this cocktail create a stunning visual display that’s perfect for parties and celebrations. It’s a feast for the eyes before you even take a sip.

REFRESHING AND FRUITY: The combination of fruit juices in this cocktail provides a refreshing and fruity flavor profile that’s both sweet and tangy, making it a crowd-pleaser.

EASY TO PREPARE: This recipe’s step-by-step instructions and simple ingredients make it accessible to even novice bartenders, ensuring a delicious result every time.

This fruity drink looks fantastic and is the perfect grown-up beverage to add to your next celebration. The delicious tropical rainbow drink has three different layers that will delight your guests when you serve it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the best glass to use for this tasty drink?

We used a stemless champagne wine glass for this tropical cocktail, but any fun cocktail glass, such as a hurricane glass or a highball glass, would also work fine.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

This drink is best made when you are ready to enjoy it, as the ice will melt if it sits too long and will dilute and alter the lovely layered effect.

Does it matter what brand of liquor I use for this cocktail?

Any brand you would enjoy sipping on its own would be the perfect choice for this rainbow drink recipe.

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Rainbow Drink

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Add a splash of color to your next party with this rainbow drink that boasts three beautifully displayed layers of tropical and fruity flavors.

Prep Time 2

Total Time 2

Servings

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Ingredients

Red Layer

½ ounce grenadine syrup
¾ to 1 cup ice cubes

Yellow Layer

⅓ cup pineapple juice, not from concentrate
1 ounce coconut rum, I used the Malibu brand

Blue Layer

½ ounce blue curaçao liqueur
½ ounce clear rum, also known as silver rum – I used the Bacardi brand

Optional Garnish

AirHeads Xtremes Rainbow Berry Ribbon Candy threaded onto a long Skewer
A colorful twisty straw

Instructions

In a stemless champagne glass (your glass needs to hold 8 to 10 ounces of liquid), add your red layer by carefully pouring the grenadine syrup into the bottom of the glass. Be very careful not to get any of the grenadine on the sides of the glass.
Add your ice cubes to the glass, one by one, so you do not disturb the grenadine syrup layer. I like to use a large spoon to place the first few cubes then you can add the rest of the ice. Depending on the size of your champagne flute, you may not be able to fit an entire cup of ice in it.
For your yellow layer, stir together the pineapple juice and coconut rum in a small measuring cup with a pour spout. Very slowly pour it over the ice in the glass, being very careful not to disturb the red layer too much.
For the blue layer, you will combine together, in a second small measuring cup with a pour spout, the blue curaçao, and clear rum. Very slowly, pour this last layer into the glass.
Garnish with the skewer of rainbow ribbon candy and a fun twisty straw. Be careful when adding your garnish, so you do not stir up your rainbow cocktail layers.

Notes

Blue curaçao liqueur tastes exactly the same as orange-colored curaçao. They are both orange-flavored liqueurs. I used blue for the look of a rainbow.
It is very important that you add the grenadine syrup before adding the ice to your glass. Grenadine is a thick, sweet, pomegranate-flavored non-alcoholic syrup commonly used to flavor cocktails. It will hold its layer if you place it in the bottom of the glass first.
Be sure to mix the pineapple juice and coconut rum well before adding them to your glass. Because you are trying to make nice layers for this cocktail, it is important that your individual layers are combined well so that you do not need to stir your drink, thus ruining your pretty rainbow effect upon serving.
It is important to mix the blue curaçao with the clear rum. Doing this helps keep the blue layer from mixing with the pineapple juice.
Be careful that you do not disturb the layers when presenting this cocktail, as it will create a very purple cocktail. It will still taste delicious, though.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant
Angela Sessions Recipe Developer

Rainbow Drink

Rainbow Cocktail Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

How To Make This Rainbow Cocktail Recipe

How To Serve

Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail

Jolly Rancher Drink

Storage

Why We Love This Recipe

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