Bahama Mama Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe

 The Spruce Eats
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
172 Calories
0g Fat
23g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 172
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 65mg 324%
Calcium 19mg 1%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 192mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The Bahama mama is a fruity rum drink that's perfect for any summer occasion. A delicious mix of tropical flavors likely first created in the 1950s or '60s, this very popular cocktail has been remade numerous times over the years. It's easy to make at home and one taste will instantly transport you to a faraway beach.

Like other tropical cocktails, there are many Bahama mama recipes. It's likely that the drink you order at a local bar will be completely different than the one you'd get on a Caribbean vacation. Despite the variations, you should expect two types of rum and a good dose of pineapple; most also include a little coconut and coffee. While those are the keys to the Bahama mama, various ingredients, including orange juice and grenadine, are often added.

This recipe is among the most original versions. It combines aged and high-proof rums with coffee and coconut liqueurs. Not too sweet, it is a well-balanced mix and a wonderful fruity cocktail.

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Click Play to See This Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 1/2 ounce dark rum

  • 1/4 ounce 151-proof rum

  • 1/2 ounce coconut liqueur​

  • 1/4 ounce coffee liqueur

  • 4 ounces pineapple juice

  • 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • Strawberry, or cherry, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

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  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the rums, coconut and coffee liqueurs, and pineapple and lemon juices. Fill with ice.

    Bahama Mama: A Fun Tiki Cocktail Recipe

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  3. Shake well.

    Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe

     The Spruce Eats

  4. Strain into a collins or hurricane glass filled with cracked ice.

    Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe

     The Spruce Eats

  5. Garnish with a strawberry or cherry. Serve and enjoy.

    Bahama Mama Cocktail Recipe
     The Spruce

Who Invented the Bahama Mama?

The one accepted truth is that the Bahama mama was created in the Bahamas. Exactly when and by whom is not entirely clear. Some accounts claim that it was popularized in the 1950s. In his book, "One More Cocktail," Oswald "Slade" Greenslade claims to have created the coffee-coconut version in 1961 while bartending at the Nassau Beach Hotel. He named it after a local Calypso dancer. It's most likely that a few drinks that took the name were developed on the islands almost simultaneously. As the drink gained fame, it spread beyond the Caribbean beaches and became a staple on the cocktail menus of American restaurant chains. In these venues, it was often mixed much sweeter than the original recipes intended.

Recipe Variations

  • Rather than a coconut liqueur, you can use a coconut-flavored rum. Some rums, including Malibu, are actually both: coconut rum liqueurs.
  • Grenadine can be added to any Bahama mama to create a sweeter, red cocktail.
  • One popular variation adds orange juice: Shake 1 ounce coconut rum, 1/2 ounce each dark rum, coffee liqueur, and grenadine, and 2 ounces each pineapple and orange juice with ice. Strain into a hurricane glass filled with cracked ice and garnish with an orange wedge and strawberries.
  • A banana liqueur is a common ingredient, particularly in Bahama mama recipes that skip the coffee.
  • The Bahama mama also makes a great frozen cocktail. Simply add all of the ingredients to a blender with 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth.

How Strong Is the Bahama Mama?

There are many options when it comes to the spirits you pour into the Bahama mama, so it's hard to give a precise estimate of the drink's strength. Taking the average for the liquors, the Bahama mama typically falls into the 11 percent ABV (22 proof) range. It's similar to drinking a glass of wine though it can be easy to have one too many, especially if you enjoy a few rounds in the hot summer sun. Remember that heat and the sun can exacerbate drunkenness, so drink plenty of water, too.