How to Make a Layered Malibu Sunset Cocktail

What’s In a Malibu Sunset?

The Malibu Sunset is a layered cocktail with coconut rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine. The layers of the drink form a gradient that’s the colors of sunset, similar to a Tequila Sunrise or a Vodka Sunrise. It’s commonly made with Malibu coconut rum, which is actually closer to a coconut liqueur than a rum.

The history of the Malibu Sunset drink is unclear. Malibu coconut rum launched in 1982, so it was probably invented in the 1980s as a spinoff of the Tequila Sunrise, which was born in the 1970s in California. To make the drink, you’ll need:

• Coconut rum (like Malibu Coconut Rum)
• Pineapple juice
• Orange juice
• Grenadine

How To Make The Sunset Effect

The best part of a Malibu Sunset drink is that lovely gradient of color from deep red to orange to yellow. It’s visually stunning and very easy to make at home, with a simple lesson in density. Here’s what to do:

• Pour the rum and juices into an ice-filled glass. They’ll mix together because they’re all the same density.
• Slowly pour the grenadine into the middle of the drink. It sinks to the bottom because it’s denser than the other liquids.
• Stir gently once to get the gradient effect. This helps the colors to blend a bit, but don’t do it too much, or the drink will become all one color!

Making a Party Pitcher

Planning a party? This recipe scales up well. To make a pitcher that serves 8, simply swap ounces for cups:

• 2 cups coconut rum
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• ½ cup grenadine

Combine the rum and juices in a large pitcher over ice. When serving, pour the 6 oz of the rum mixture into each glass, then add the ½ oz grenadine as noted in the recipe below.