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The Blue Lagoon cocktail is an easy and refreshing blue drink! Blue curacao, vodka and lemon make the bright color and citrusy flavor.
Want an easy drink with an electric blue color? Meet the Blue Lagoon cocktail! This brilliantly colored drink is crisp, clear and straightforward, featuring vodka and lemon. As two cocktail experts, it’s hard to admit but: we’re kind of suckers for blue drinks.
The most common version of a Blue Lagoon uses lemonade, but we prefer it with fresh citrus. We’ve made what we think is an even better version of this tasty drink with lemon juice and simple syrup! It’s easy to mix up and makes a stunning sweet tart drink.
What’s in a Blue Lagoon cocktail?
The Blue Lagoon cocktail has many variations, but the most common version mixes vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade. Like many cocktails, the origin of the drink is cloudy. Some say it was invented in 1972 by bartender Andy MacElhone at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. But others say this was a blended version of the drink, and the origin of the shaken version of this drink is unknown.
Some versions of the drink use lime or lemon lime soda and some are blended with ice. This version sticks to what’s become the classic definition: but we like to substitute fresh citrus for purchased lemonade. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Vodka
- Blue curacao
- Lemon juice
- Simple syrup
More about blue curacao
Blue curacao is key to the beautiful pool-tinted hue of the Blue Lagoon cocktail. What is it, exactly?
- Blue curacao is an artificially-colored orange liqueur invented by Dutch settlers on the island of Curaçao. There are several colors of Curaçao: the most popular today are clear and blue. Blue curacao has been sold since 1912. It’s flavored with the Laraha orange peel, a type of orange that grows on the island.
- How to pronounce Curaçao? Say it Cure-ah-souw.
- What does blue curacao taste like? It has a sweet orange peel flavor, with subtle bitter finish.
- How much does it cost? Blue curacao is inexpensive; a 750 ml bottle costs about $10. Try to buy a mid-range bottle; we like Drillaud brand (avoid DeKuyper).
- What else can you use it for? Mix up with tequila for a Blue Margarita, with rum for the Blue Hawaii, or gin and vodka for the Aqua Velva or Blue Long Island. In fact, we think these drinks are more interesting than the Blue Lagoon!
How to make a Blue Lagoon cocktail (basic method)
The Blue Lagoon cocktail is a shaken cocktail: meaning you shake it up in a cocktail shaker. This both cools the drink and dilutes it a bit. It’s easy for this drink to taste a little watered down since it’s served with crushed ice. We’ve taken care to develop this recipe so that it tastes refreshing and sweet tart, not watery. Here’s what to do (or jump right to the recipe):
- Crush some ice: head to How to Crush Ice for our best method.
- Shake together the vodka, blue curacao, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with a few handfuls ice.
- Strain it into a hurricane glass or a highball glass. The drink umbrella is optional, but fun!
Variations on the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a pretty straightforward drink: it tastes sweet tart and refreshing, barely boozy at all. In fact, once you’ve made the basic version you may want to change up some ingredients to make it more interesting. Here are a few ideas:
- Use lime instead of lemon
- Use purchased lemonade instead of lemon juice
- Add a few dashes of bitters
- Add a bit of pineapple juice for a hint of tropical (it will alter the color to be a little more like the Blue Hawaii)
Frequently asked questions
The strength of a Blue Lagoon can vary depending on the ratio of ingredients used. However, it is generally considered a moderately strong cocktail due to the vodka content.
A highball glass or hurricane glass are traditionally used for serving a Blue Lagoon. These tall glasses showcase the drink’s beautiful color and allows for plenty of ice.
There are many variations of the Blue Lagoon. Some popular options include the Electric Blue Lagoon (with vodka, blue curaçao, lemonade, and a splash of Sprite), the Blue Hawaiian (with rum, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, and coconut cream), and the Blue Margarita (with tequila, blue curaçao, lime juice, and agave nectar).
Blue Lagoon Cocktail
The Blue Lagoon cocktail is an easy and refreshing blue drink! Blue curacao, vodka and lemon make the bright color and citrusy flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* vodka
- 1 ounce blue curacao
- 1 ounce simple syrup (or substitute lemonade; see below)
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- Crushed ice, for serving
Instructions
- Crush the ice.
- Place the vodka, blue curacao, simple syrup and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold. Add crushed ice to a hurricane glass and strain in the drink.
- Lemonade variation: Add 2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce blue curacao and 4 ounces lemonade to a glass. Add crushed ice and serve.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons: 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
**Variation: Substitute 4 ounces (½ cup) lemonade
Can this be made in bulk ahead of time? How would you store it please?
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi! You could do a few hours ahead in a pitcher with a few handfuls of ice rather than shaking. Just multiply x8 for easiest measurements.
can you give me the measurements for a gallon. trying to make this for a wedding. It’s their signature drink. Thank you Dawn
Hi! a simple 25x the recipe would be just shy of a gallon:
2 (750ml) bottles vodka
1 (750ml) bottle blue curacao
3 cups simple syrup
3 cups fresh lemon juice
What is simple syrup?
Simple syrup is basically sugar water.