Ingredients
- .5 oz Coconut Rum
- .5 oz Vodka
- .5 oz Almond Liqueur
- .5 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur
- .5 oz Grape Schnapps
- 2 oz Pineapple Juice
- 1 splash Sweet and Sour
Instructions
- Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
- Shake well and pour into a hurricane glass and serve.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Like many modern, dessert-style cocktails, the precise origin of the Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail is murky. It likely emerged from American bars in the late 20th or early 21st century, a product of bartenders experimenting with brightly colored liqueurs and sweet profiles. It’s a party drink, not a classic, designed for easy enjoyment rather than complex sipping.
This cocktail belongs firmly in the ‘candy cocktail’ or ‘dessert drink’ family, sitting alongside other sweet, liqueur-heavy concoctions like the Blue Hawaiian or a Midori Sour. What sets the Blue Pixie Stick apart is its specific combination of coconut, almond, and especially grape flavors, aiming squarely for that childhood candy nostalgia.
You’d typically find this drink served at a resort bar, a casual neighborhood pub, or a lively club where the focus is on fun and approachable drinks. It’s also a common request for home parties or gatherings where guests prefer something sweet and visually appealing over a spirit-forward classic.
What it tastes like
The Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail hits you with a blast of sweet fruit. Pineapple leads the charge, quickly followed by the distinct candy-like grape flavor from the schnapps. Coconut and almond notes provide a subtle creamy backdrop, while the blue curacao adds a hint of orange citrus on the finish, keeping it from being a one-note sugar bomb.
With about 0.585 ounces of pure alcohol in roughly 4.75 ounces of liquid, this drink clocks in at around 12.3% ABV. That’s comparable to a strong glass of wine or a double shot of a standard beer. It tastes far less potent than it is, making it easy to sip quickly without realizing its strength.
The technique
Building this drink is straightforward. Combine all your liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker about halfway with fresh ice cubes. Give it a vigorous shake for about 15-20 seconds to ensure proper chilling and dilution. Strain the well-chilled mixture into a hurricane glass, and it’s ready to serve.
The most important technique here is a proper, hard shake. With so many sweet and relatively low ABV liqueurs, you need to ensure maximum chill and dilution. A weak shake leaves the drink warm and cloying, failing to integrate the flavors and making it taste syrupy rather than refreshing.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Grape Schnapps
- Use
- Brands like Dekuyper Grape Pucker or Hiram Walker Grape Schnapps work well. Look for something around 15-20% ABV to contribute sweetness and that signature candy grape flavor.
- Skip
- Don’t swap this for straight grape juice or grape soda. While it provides grape flavor, it lacks the alcoholic kick and the concentrated, syrupy sweetness that defines the ‘Pixie Stick’ profile.
- Why
- This is the core ingredient for the ‘Pixie Stick’ flavor. Without it, the drink is just a generic fruity blue cocktail. It’s essential for that specific candy taste the name promises.
Blue Curacao Liqueur
- Use
- Any standard blue curacao will do the job. Bols, Senior & Co, or Torani are common choices. They typically sit around 20-25% ABV and bring a bright orange citrus note.
- Skip
- Avoid using food coloring and an orange liqueur like Triple Sec instead. While you’d get the color and orange flavor, blue curacao has a distinct, slightly less aggressive orange profile that integrates differently.
- Why
- Blue Curacao is load-bearing for two reasons: its vibrant blue color, which is critical for the ‘Blue Pixie Stick’ visual, and its bitter orange notes that cut through some of the other sweetness.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Red Pixie Stick
- Swap grape for cherry or strawberry.
- Substitute the Grape Schnapps with Cherry or Strawberry Schnapps, and replace the Blue Curacao with a dash of grenadine for a vibrant red hue and a different candy flavor profile.
Green Pixie Stick
- Melon and apple twist.
- Replace the Grape Schnapps with Melon Liqueur (like Midori) and a splash of Apple Pucker for a tart, green, and equally sweet candy-inspired drink.
Sparkling Pixie Stick
- Add some fizz.
- After straining the cocktail into your glass, top it off with a splash of lemon-lime soda or club soda. This adds effervescence and lightens the sweetness, making it a bit more refreshing.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use standard white rum and add a small dash of coconut syrup or a splash of Coco Lopez cream of coconut for a similar flavor profile.
Amaretto is the closest substitute, offering a similar sweet, nutty profile. The overall sweetness might increase slightly.
A grape-flavored vodka will work, though you might need to add a touch more simple syrup to maintain the sweetness level.
A tall Collins glass or even a standard pint glass will serve just fine. The hurricane glass is mostly for aesthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail?
A Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail contains 0.5 oz Coconut Rum, 0.5 oz Vodka, 0.5 oz Almond Liqueur, 0.5 oz Blue Curacao Liqueur, 0.5 oz Grape Schnapps, 2 oz Pineapple Juice, and 1 splash Sweet and Sour.
What does a Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail taste like?
It tastes like a very sweet, fruity candy. Expect prominent flavors of grape and pineapple, with background notes of coconut, almond, and a hint of orange citrus.
Is the Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail strong?
It’s moderately strong, around 12.3% ABV, which is similar to a strong wine. However, its sweetness makes it taste much less potent, so it’s easy to drink quickly.
Why is it called a Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail?
It’s named for its vibrant blue color and its sweet, candy-like flavor, which is reminiscent of a Pixie Stick candy.
Can I make a less sweet version of the Blue Pixie Stick?
To make it less sweet, reduce the amount of Grape Schnapps and the Sweet and Sour. You could also increase the pineapple juice slightly or add a splash of club soda.
What kind of rum should I use for a Blue Pixie Stick?
A standard coconut-flavored rum like Malibu is typically used. If you don’t have coconut rum, a white rum with a dash of coconut syrup works as an alternative.
Can this cocktail be made as a shot?
Yes, you can scale down the recipe to make a potent shot. Reduce all spirit and liqueur measures to 0.25 oz and the pineapple juice to 0.5 oz, omitting the sweet and sour.
Is it possible to make a pitcher of Blue Pixie Stick Cocktail?
Absolutely. Multiply all ingredient quantities by the number of servings you need. Mix in a pitcher, chill well, and serve over ice in individual glasses. Just be mindful of dilution if making it far in advance.
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