Blue Lagoon: The Vibrant Tropical Summer Cocktail
The Blue Lagoon's color comes from Curaçao, a bitter-orange liqueur from the Caribbean. Vodka, fizz and fresh lemon in a classic summer cocktail.
5 min
Easy
Internacional
1 servings
The story behind
That impossible electric blue comes from no fruit at all: it's Blue Curaçao, a liqueur made from the bitter orange peels of the Caribbean island of Curaçao, dyed blue in a way that leaves the citrus flavor untouched. The Blue Lagoon is a fairly modern cocktail; its invention is usually credited to Andy MacElhone at Harry's New York Bar in Paris around the 1960s, though, as with many classic drinks, exact authorship is hard to pin down. The recipe is deliberately simple: neutral vodka that competes with nothing, the curaçao for color and a whisper of orange, and lemonade or a lime-lemon soda for fizz and freshness. The squeeze of fresh lemon at the end isn't optional: its acidity cuts the liqueur's sweetness and keeps the drink from turning cloying, the balance that separates a real cocktail from a glass of blue sugar. Serve it ice-cold, packed with cubes, because as it slowly dilutes the drink opens up and softens. A wheel of lime on the rim finishes the summer picture.
Instructions
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1Fill a tall highball glass with plenty of ice cubes.
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2Pour the vodka and fresh lime juice over the ice.
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3Top with lemonade or lemon-lime soda, leaving a little room at the top.
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4Gently pour in the Blue Curaçao; it will naturally sink to create a beautiful blue gradient effect.
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5Give it a quick, gentle stir with a bar spoon if a more uniform color is desired.
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6Garnish with a lime slice on the rim and serve with a straw.
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