Originally Posted On February 3, 2023 and Last Updated On
Disclaimer: We independently review everything we recommend. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. You can learn more here.
Our Barracuda Cocktail Recipe is Truly Upscale!
This is a classic cocktail that has five ingredients and is served in a coupe glass. It has a very close relative, the Yellow Bird Cocktail which is basically the same thing, but with half dark and light rums. This Barracuda drink only uses gold rum, although a mellow white rum will work just as well.
Luckily this is one drink that can be traced all the back to it’s original creator, Benito Cuppari who created the cocktail while working on the Cristoforo Colombo cruise liner sometime in the 1950’s.
In 1965 Benito changed ships and joined the SS Michelangelo cruise liner. There he perfected his cocktail while working at Bar Lido and re-named his drink the Barracuda after his friends Barracuda Beach Club in Portofino. The beach club was one of the hottest night clubs in Europe during the 50’s and 60’s and was managed by one of Benito’s closest friends.
Benito later went on to win the 1966 Italian AIBES Long Drink category with his aptly named drink. This helped make the cocktail more established which in turn grabbed Galliano‘s attention, and the manufacturer started using the drink in its promotions which helped spread the drink to the world.
Barracuda Cocktail
This is the original Barracuda Recipe and is the best tasting version of this drink, bar none! So try it the way I've made it first and then tweak as you feel necessary.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces gold or white rum
- 1/2 ounces Galliano liqueur
- 1 1/2 ounces of pineapple juice
- 1/4 ounces of lime juice
- 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup
- 1 ounce of Brute champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions
- Add the first 5 ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for one minute and pour all of the contents of the shaker into a coupe glass.
- add the champagne to the top of the drink.
- Garnish with a pineapple and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 147Sugar Alcohols 22.5g
| Ounces | Milliliters | Ingredient |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2 ounces | 45 | gold or white rum – preferably Gold! |
| 1/2 ounces | 15 | Galliano liqueur |
| 1 1/2 ounces | 45 | pineapple juice – fresh squeezed! |
| 1 1/4 | 7.5 | lime juice – fresh squeezed! |
| 1 1/2 ounces | 2.5 | simple syrup |
| 1 ounce | 30 | Brute champagne or sparkling wine |
Ingredient Substitutions
Light rum: You can substitute light rum with white tequila or vodka.
Galliano: There is no perfect substitute for Galliano, but you can try using anise liqueur or vanilla liqueur.
Pineapple Juice: You can use any other tropical fruit juice such as mango, passionfruit, or guava juice. You can even try it with orange juice for s switch! Who knows, by mixing this up you may discover a really yummy variation of this drink!
Lime juice: You can substitute lime juice with lemon juice or grapefruit juice. And don’t forget, fresh squeezed juice of any kind is always way better tasting than anything store bought!
What’s in a Barracuda Cocktail?
This cocktail consists of one and a half shots of either white or gold rum, one half shot Galliano, one and a half shots of freshly squeezed if possible pineapple juice, a quarter shot of freshly squeezed lime juice, a dash of simple syrup and a shot of Brute champagne or sparkling wine. Yeah, that’s a bunch of ingredients, but the work is worth it.
Similar Drinks and Cocktails!
Harvey Wallbanger – This cocktail is made with vodka, Galliano, and orange juice. It’s similar to a Barracuda in that it features Galliano as one of the main ingredients.
Yellow Bird – Made with white rum, Galliano, lime juice, and triple sec, this tropical drink shares many of the same ingredients as a Barracuda.
Cable Car – This cocktail is made with spiced rum, triple sec, lemon juice, and cinnamon sugar. Like a Barracuda, it’s a sweet and tangy drink with a tropical vibe.
Chi Chi – A creamy cocktail made with vodka, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, the Chi Chi shares the tropical flavor profile of a Barracuda.
Pineapple Margarita – A variation on the classic Margarita, this cocktail combines tequila, lime juice, and pineapple juice for a tangy and fruity drink that’s similar to a Barracuda. Some versions also include triple sec or Cointreau for added sweetness.