Impressive Coconut Martini

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.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/30/23
Coconut Martini

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The coconut martini is one of the most popular martinis and there are a number of recipes available. Many take the casual approach of adding vodka or rum to a creamy coconut ingredient. While it's an okay drink, there's often something missing. To create a truly memorable coconut martini, we need to add a little depth to the flavor.

The typical coconut martini mix is one of vanilla vodka, coconut rum, and cream of coconut in some form or fashion. To give that trio a spark of flavor, a splash of pineapple juice is added to this recipe. It adds a little contrast to the sweet vanilla and coconut taste and brings the drink back from the edge of being too sweet. It's a bit like an inverted piña colada but with a focus on the coconut.

Absolutely delicious, you're sure to enjoy this frothy tropical cocktail. It's a fun martini to shake up on hot days and makes a luscious dessert cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka

  • 1 ounce coconut rum

  • 1/2 ounce cream of coconut

  • 1 splash pineapple juice

  • Coconut flakes, for garnish

  • Pineapple wedge, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Coconut Martini Recipe ingredients
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  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice.

    Coconut Martini Recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Coconut Martini Recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and/or coconut flakes. Serve and enjoy.

    Coconut Martini Recipe
     The Spruce

Tips

  • If you're cutting pineapple garnishes, you already have fresh pineapple juice available. You'll need just a splash, so muddle a few chunks of pineapple in your cocktail shaker to release all of the juice, then strain it as if you just made a cocktail.
  • Cream of coconut is the most popular coconut mixer available. It's easy to find at the liquor store because it's essential for a piña colada. It will produce the creamiest coconut martini and, unlike coconut cream, it is sweetened.
  • Keep your pineapple wedge garnishes petite so they don't overtake the cocktail glass or make it top-heavy. Cut a slit in the wedge so it can easily rest on the rim. If you like, skewer a cherry to the pineapple for a splash of color.
  • You may also want to rim the glass with coconut sugar, toasted coconut, or coconut flakes. Just remember to do so before straining the drink.

Recipe Variations

  • If you want a thinner coconut drink, use canned coconut milk (the carton variety might be a little too lightly flavored). Since it tends to separate in the can, you can use either the thick top portion or the thinner milk underneath. For balance, mix the two layers back together.
  • If either your coconut milk or cream is unsweetened, consider stirring in a little sugar or adding 1/2 ounce or so of simple syrup to the martini.
  • Skip the pineapple juice but get the same effect by switching the two liquor flavors. For instance, you can use pineapple vodka and vanilla rum or vanilla vodka and pineapple rum, then let the cream take care of the coconut flavor.

Can You Make Coconut Rum From Scratch?

Coconut rum is very common and there are many brands to choose from at the liquor store. They almost always lean toward the liqueur side of distilled spirits, meaning they're low-proof and often very sweet or made with artificial coconut flavoring. If you want a fresh-tasting coconut rum, it's easy to make yourself and as simple as any other liquor infusion:

  1. Remove the white meat from a fresh coconut and chop it up so it can fit inside your infusion jar or bottle.
  2. Add the light rum of your choice and seal the bottle.
  3. Shake it vigorously and store the infusion in a dark, cool place for about 2 weeks. Shake it regularly to keep the flavors alive.
  4. Taste your rum and, if you'd like the flavor to be a bit more intense, continue infusing until it's to your liking.
  5. Strain out the coconut and bottle your homemade coconut rum.

How Strong Is the Coconut Martini?

Compared to many other martini recipes, the coconut martini is relatively light because the two liquors tend to be lower than their standard 80-proof, unflavored counterparts. With a 70-proof vanilla vodka and 42-proof coconut rum, this martini's alcohol content falls around 21 percent ABV (42 proof). That's equal to a straight shot of the rum, though yours may be stronger depending on your spirits of choice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
642 Calories
30g Fat
66g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 642
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 26g 132%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 253mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 66g 24%
Dietary Fiber 10g 35%
Total Sugars 49g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 46mg 232%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 438mg 9%
*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.)