You know what? I didn’t plan to love a bright blue bottle. But blue curaçao won me over. It looks like pool water, sure. It smells like oranges. And it can taste like a summer day—if you treat it right. If you’d like to see how the pros turn that sunny flavor into artful pours, check out the menu at Roosterfish Bar next time you’re near Venice Beach.
If you want all the gritty details, my full test-kitchen notes live in this separate rundown of blue curaçao cocktail recipes.
For a curated set of classic-and-modern pours, I also skimmed through this roundup of five delicious Blue Curaçao cocktails to see how my own experiments stacked up.
I’ve mixed a lot of blue drinks at home and for friends. I’ve used DeKuyper Blue, Bols Blue, and Giffard Curaçao Bleu. I’ve made wins, fails, and sticky messes. Here’s my honest take and the exact recipes I keep coming back to.
Please drink only if you’re of legal age. And sip slow.
Grown-up cocktails sometimes spark a whole night of adventure, and if you’re curious about extending the fun beyond the bar without spending a dime, swing by Fuck Free to see how you can connect with like-minded locals completely free of charge.
On the flip side, if you don’t mind a little indulgence and you’re sipping in Mississippi’s capital, you might want to explore what the Sugar Daddy scene in Jackson looks like—it’s a practical guide to meeting generous partners, understanding expectations, and keeping outings safe and drama-free.
Why I Even Keep a Blue Bottle
I like fun, and this bottle is fun. But it’s tricky. Blue curaçao is an orange liqueur. It’s sweet. Some brands feel like candy. Some taste like real peel and a little bitter. That balance matters. If your drink tastes flat or syrupy, it’s not you—it’s the bottle, the citrus, or the ice.
Quick note on the brands I actually used:
- DeKuyper Blue: Very sweet. Easy to find. Great color. Needs more fresh lime to balance.
- Bols Blue: Less sweet than DeKuyper. Cleaner orange taste. My party pick.
- Giffard Curaçao Bleu: My favorite. More peel, a touch bitter, not cloying. Costs more, but I use less.
Tiny gripe: one spill stained my cutting board. That blue dye is no joke. I learned fast.
Totally different bottle but same experimental spirit—I spent an entire week mixing drinks with Korea's favorite clear spirit, and you can see which soju cocktails actually worked if you want more ideas.
Little Rules That Helped Me
- Fresh citrus beats bottled. Every time.
- Chill the glass if you can. Cold makes the color pop.
- Add the blue last if you want a pretty layer.
- If it’s too sweet, add more lime or a pinch of salt. Works like magic.
- Crushed ice gives island vibes. Cubes keep things tidy.
Alright—let me show you the keepers.
The Blue Lagoon I Actually Make
It shines when it’s cold and tart. I use Bols or Giffard here.
Before I landed on this spec, I poked around the drink’s origin story—it’s wild how many versions came up, but the standard specs on the Blue Lagoon were a helpful baseline.
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1 oz blue curaçao
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 2–3 oz chilled lemon-lime soda (or club soda if you want it less sweet)
Shake vodka, curaçao, and lemon with ice. Strain into ice. Top with soda. Quick stir. Lemon wheel if you want. If it tastes candy-sweet, add a squeeze more lemon.
My Pool-Party Blue Margarita
Salt rim? Yes. I like a half rim so I can choose each sip.
- 2 oz blanco tequila
- 0.5 oz blue curaçao
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz agave syrup (or simple syrup)
Shake with ice. Strain into a salt-rim glass with ice. Lime wedge. If you use DeKuyper, cut the syrup to 0.25 oz. Trust me on that.
Blue Hawaii That Doesn’t Turn Slushy
I’ve had watery versions. This one holds up.
- 1.5 oz white rum
- 0.5 oz vodka
- 0.75 oz blue curaçao
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.25 oz simple syrup (skip if your curaçao is sweet)
Shake hard with ice. Strain over crushed ice. Pineapple leaf if you’re feeling cute. If the color looks dull, your pineapple juice might be cloudy. Not a big deal—still tastes good.
Fast “Electric” Lemonade For Game Night
Bright, fizzy, and loud. It’s a crowd drink.
When I'm craving bubbles with a bit more elegance, I fall back on my dossier of Prosecco cocktail trials—plenty of hits and a few misses there, too.
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz blue curaçao
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Top with cold club soda
Build over ice. Stir. Lemon wheel. If you want a lighter drink, add more soda and less syrup.
The Creamy One: Blue “Swimming Pool”
I was sure I wouldn’t like it. Then I did. It’s like a beach shake.
- 1.5 oz white rum
- 0.5 oz blue curaçao
- 1 oz cream of coconut (I use Coco López)
- 1.5 oz pineapple juice
Shake with ice. Strain over crushed ice. Grate a little nutmeg if you have it. It’s rich, so I serve it in a small glass. Dessert vibes.
Simple Blue Gin Collins (My Weeknight Pick)
Clean and crisp. It lets the orange note show.
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz blue curaçao
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Top with cold club soda
Shake gin, curaçao, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into ice. Top with soda. Quick stir. If it tastes thin, add a tiny pinch of salt. Sounds odd. Works.
Tiny Fixes I Use All The Time
- Too sweet? More lime or lemon. Or a splash of soda.
- Too flat? Add a tiny pinch of salt or an extra shake to aerate.
- Color looks muddy? Use clear soda, not juice.
- Booze too strong? Add 1 oz pineapple juice. It blends with orange well.
- No shaker? Use a jar with a lid. I do this on trips.
What Didn’t Work For Me
- Bottled lemon juice: tasted dull and a little bitter. My friends noticed.
- Cheap lemonade: turned the drink cloudy and weird. The blue went gray.
- Melty crushed ice in big glasses: watered down fast. Use more ice or smaller glasses.
- Heavy hand with curaçao: the drink gets sticky. I cap it at 1 oz for most builds.
- Blue curaçao shots: pretty, yes; pleasant, not for me. It needs acid.
Flavor Notes, Plain And Simple
- DeKuyper Blue: Bubblegum edge. Great for Blue Hawaii or Electric Lemonade. Needs more citrus.
- Bols Blue: Good orange, less sugar. Nice in a Blue Lagoon.
- Giffard Curaçao Bleu: Best balance. A little peel, a touch bitter. Sips cleaner. Worth the upgrade if you care about taste more than price.
If you only get one, I’d pick Bols for value or Giffard for flavor. I still keep DeKuyper for batches. It colors punch fast.
When I Make Which One
- Summer pool day: Blue Hawaii or Swimming Pool. Crushed ice. Music on.
- Weeknight treat: Blue Gin Collins. Fast and crisp.
- Party pitcher: Electric Lemonade. People like the fizz.
- Taco night: Blue Margarita. Salt rim and lime wedges ready.
- “I need sunshine” in winter: Blue Lagoon with an extra lemon squeeze. Works on my mood.
A Few Nerdy Bits (But Keep It Simple)
- Build vs. shake: If a drink has juice or cream, I shake. If it’s mostly booze and soda, I build right in the glass.
- Single strain vs. double strain: I usually single strain. If pulp bugs you, double strain through a fine sieve.
- ABV stuff: Blue curaçao is lower proof than vodka or rum. It adds color and sweet, not a huge punch