Key Lime Colada Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Key Lime Colada is a cocktail inspired by the classic Piña Colada.

Our recipe combines Lime-Flavored Vodka with Coconut Milk, topped off with Biscuit Crumbs. You’ve got the zesty, tart lime mingling with rich, dessert-like creaminess, plus a crunchy, malty biscuit finish. Mmm, mmm!

Just one sip of a Key Lime Colada and you’ll find yourself daydreaming about the white sand beaches of Key West.

Despite its decadence, the Key Lime Colada is an easy cocktail that’s almost equal parts and you can make in just minutes. So, hey, if you’re looking to impress your friends at your next gathering and make them believe you’ve been crafting cocktails for hours, this is the drink to serve.

How To Make a Key Lime Colada

What You’ll Need

• Jigger or Measuring Instrument
• Paring Knife
• Citrus Elbow
• Blender
• Highball Glass
• Mortar and Pestle
  

How to Mix

1. Measure and pour Simple Syrup into a Blender using a Jigger.
2. Cut a Lime in half, juice it with a Citrus Elbow into the Jigger, then pour into the Blender.
3. Measure and pour Coconut Milk into the Blender.
4. Add Absolut Lime to the Blender and blend on high.
5. Fill a Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
6. Pour the cocktail from the Blender directly into your Highball Glass.
7. Cut another Lime in half, slice a Lime Wheel, and place it on the rim of your Glass.
8. Grind Digestive Biscuits in a Mortar and Pestle, then sprinkle the Biscuit Crumbs on top of your Glass.
9. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Key Lime Colada

The Key Lime Colada takes inspiration from the classic Piña Colada cocktail. For our recipe, we use Lime-Flavored Vodka where people commonly use Rum.

The Piña Colada is said to have been invented at a seaside bar in Puerto Rico during the 1950s. However, the date and birthplace of the Key Lime Colada is unknown. 

Key Limes are popular throughout the U.S., especially in Florida, where the iconic Key Lime Pie was not only invented but is “the official Florida state pie.”

As a contemporary variation on the classic Piña Colada, the Key Lime Colada was likely devised by bartenders looking to add a Floridian twist to the popular tropical cocktail.

Tips for Making the Perfect Key Lime Colada

Use Fresh Lime Juice
Ever wonder why your homemade drinks don’t quite match up to those bar favorites? The secret is fresh ingredients. It makes all the difference, especially when it comes to juicing your fruits.

Hot tip! Grab a Citrus Press and squeeze your own Lime Juice—it’ll give your Key Lime Colada that tart edge to cut through the thick creaminess of the Coconut Cream and perfectly complement the Lime-Flavored Vodka.

 Variations of a Key Lime Colada

• Rum and Cream of Coconut
  Although we use Lime-Flavored Vodka for our Key Lime Colada recipe, you’ll find most recipes use Rum and Cream of Coconut (instead of Coconut Milk and Simple Syrup like we use here).

  Many recipes use Dark Rum, while other recipes use Coconut-Flavored Rum such as Malibu. Try this: Mix 2.5 parts Dark Rum, 1 part Lime Juice and 3 parts Cream of Coconut. Mix in a Blender with Ice Cubes. Garnish with Biscuit Crumbs and a Lime Wheel.

• Use Key Lime Juice
  If you want to capture those Florida vibes and the flavors of Key Lime Pie, try using Key Limes instead of regular limes—if they’re available where you are.

  Key limes offer a more intense, tangy taste with a sharp, zesty, and slightly bitter profile. So, adjust the recipe to your taste.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Key Lime Colada

A Highball Glass is the perfect glassware type for this cocktail.

To garnish, pop a Lime Wheel on the side of your glass to highlight the Lime Juice and Lime-Flavored Vodka. And for a delicious finishing touch, sprinkle some crushed biscuits on top.