Every hour is happy in Aruba. Whether you have a cocktail in hand, or none at all, you will discover our island’s happiness is infectious and you will have no choice but to let it take you over!
The island is filled with bon (good) vibes, year-round sunshine, smiles… and dushi (sweet/tasty) cocktails! So, with that being said, don’t feel obliged to wait until 5 o’clock to order that tropical cocktail of choice, worry not, there is no judgment in Aruba, only a happy time to be had from sun up till’ sundown!
Whether you are currently on the island or not, we want you to feel “Aruba happy” as much as possible, therefore we decided to start this series! In each article, we will be covering a different tropical cocktail (or mocktail) found on the island with hopes that you will follow our recipe and join our virtual happy hour! No matter where you are in the world, you can instantly teleport yourself to the happiest little island in the Caribbean. So join us, your escape to paradise is just one sip away!
What better cocktail to start with than our island’s signature cocktail…. the Aruba Ariba! Known as one of the island’s most popular concoctions and often served as a welcome drink. It was first created on July 1, 1963 by bartender Juan “Jocky” Tromp during a mixology contest at the Aruba Caribbean Hotel, now known as the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino.
It is a mix of vodka, 151 rum (or your rum of choice), Coecoei liquor (only found in Aruba, so sadly you will need to find a comparable replacement), crème de banana, orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice and a splash of grenadine over ice.
Fun fact: The Coecoei liquor derives from the sap of local agave plants. The sap is mixed with rum and sugar to create this special liquor which is only found in Aruba.
Enjoy this tropical, refreshing delight with us by joining in on our “Virtual Happy Hour”!
Recipe
- 1/2 oz. vodka
- 1/2 oz. 151 proof rum
- 1/8 oz. Coecoei
- 1/8 oz. Creme de Banana
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- Crushed ice
Since you most likely do not have any Coecoei on hand, you can substitute it with several different ingredients for a similar taste. Try Passion Fruit Nectar, Agave Nectar or Cherry Brandy.
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, add the above ingredients and shake vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. Pour into a tall cocktail glass and add a splash of Grenadine and top with Grand Marnier. Garnish with an orange and maraschino cherry… and enjoy!
Warning: Remember underneath the sweet, fruity flavors lies quite the hefty mix of liquors that will get you “Aruba happy” in no time… so beware!
Stay tuned for our next happy hour! Want to get the recipe for a specific cocktail you’ve tried here before? Just send us a message and maybe we will feature it in our next happy hour!
