The Best Florida Cocktail Recipes

Florida has been in the news lately, so why not stroll over to the sunshine state with some of their signature cocktails?

From Flora-Bama to Key West, Florida has a long history of cozy cocktails. As the spring break capital, home to Miami and its famous nightclubs, the Sunshine State knows how to have a good time. It's 838 miles from the end of the state to the end – plenty of room for a signature bar or 30. Plus signature drinks…and here are Florida's best cocktail recipes so you can bask in your own sunshine.

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The rum runner

In the great tradition of strong drinks, this drink can pack a real punch. The drink was created in the 1950s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada. The bartenders wanted to get rid of the last sips of several liqueurs and this is how this legendary cocktail was born.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of ice cream
• 1 ounce of pineapple juice
• 1 ounce orange juice
• 1 ounce blackberry liqueur
• 1 ounce banana liqueur
• 1 ounce light rum
• 1 ounce dark rum or aged rum

Create

1. Fill glass with ice
2. Add the liquid contents and stir
3. Pour the 151 into the straw or on the top
4. Serve and sip

The hurricane

While the drink was supposedly developed by Pat O'Brians in New Orleans, there have been several hurricanes in the state. Another powerful drink – this one attracts spring breakers, snowbirds and just people looking to have fun on a Thursday night. The spirit mixture can be fatal, so be careful about the amount consumed!

Ingredients

• 1 oz rum
• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz pineapple
• 2 tablespoon Lime juice
• 1 cup Ice

Create

1. Fill the hurricane glass halfway with crushed ice
2. Mix dark rum, light rum, lime juice and pineapple in a cocktail shaker
3. Add ice; cover and shake until outside of shaker is frosted
4. Strain into a glass

Margarita

Jimmy Buffet made this drink incredibly popular. From beach bars to Mexican restaurants, this is a staple of the state with a variety of variations. Here's a simple version to toast the good times and get started on your getaway as soon as possible.

1. Crushed ice
2. 3 lime wedges
3. 2 ounces of gold tequila
4. ½ ounce silver tequila
5. 1 ¼ ounces Rose's lime juice
6. ½ ounce triple sec
7. Salt

Create

1. Place all ingredients except the lime in a shaker
2. Squeeze two of the lime wedges into the shaker and then shake well
3. Serve over a salt-rimmed glass

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Bushwacker

The Bushwacker is similar to the Mudslide but with a twist. You can head to Sandshaker Bar in Pensacola Beach and enjoy this creamy treat. At this important stop you will meet music lovers (live bands), students, locals, tourists and more.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce Coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
• 1 ounce dark Cocoa cream
• 2 ounces Whole milk
• 1 ounce Coconut cream (like Coco Lopez)
• Garnish: nutmegfreshly grated

Create

1. Add the dark rum, coffee liqueur, dark cocoa cream, whole milk, coconut cream and a cup of ice to a blender
2. Mix until well combined and fluffy
3. Pour into a hurricane glass
4. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg

The fluffy navel

The Sunshine State is the land of oranges, so why not a delicious fruit drink that isn't a mimosa or a screwdriver – welcome to Fuzzy Navel.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces of peach schnapps
• 6 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
• Orange slice

Create

1. Add a handful of ice to a highball glass
2. Add the peach schnapps and then the orange juice
3. Stir and garnish with the orange slice.

Hairy navel

Add an ounce of vodka to the above recipes and you will transform the drinks into a “Hairy Navel”.