Tequila Pina Colada

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Our tequila pina colada is a bright and refreshing take on the classic rum cocktail that you’ll want to be sipping on all summer long.

A pina colada.

If you’re wondering, can you make a pina colada with tequila? The answer is yes!

We love taking classic cocktail recipes and swapping out the liquor for a less traditional choice, like our pineapple mezcal old fashioned. It’s a fun way to experiment with flavors and enjoy a unique spin on our favorite drinks.

This pina colada recipe with tequila is another twist on a classic cocktail that really hits the spot on a hot summer day. Whether you’re not a fan of rum or you’re just looking for a different take on a pina colada, you’re going to love our tequila pina colada recipe!

What This Recipe Entails

Our tequila pina colada is a simple shaken cocktail that only takes a few minutes to prepare.

  • Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes

If you want to garnish your drink with pineapple wedges and leaves, plan on spending a few extra minutes preparing these ingredients. Otherwise, you can be sipping on a tropical cocktail in just about 5 minutes!

A pina colada.

Tequila Pina Colada Ingredients

A classic pina colada is made with rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, and cream of coconut. We modified this recipe to make a delicious tequila pina colada using the ingredients below:

  • Tequila
  • Pineapple juice
  • Cream of coconut
  • Lime juice
  • Agave nectar
  • Crushed ice
  • Pineapple wedge and leaves (optional garnish)

A silver tequila (also known as “blanco” or “plata” tequila) works best for a pina colada. It’s unaged, so it has a more agave-forward flavor with bright notes of citrus. Our favorite brand to use for cocktails is Hornitos tequila.

Pina coladas typically use equal parts pineapple juice and cream of coconut. However, we replaced a small amount of the cream of coconut with agave nectar to tie in the flavor of the tequila. This creates a more cohesive flavor profile than if you were to simply swap rum for tequila in a typical pina colada recipe.

Agave nectar is a natural sweetener. You can usually find it near the maple syrup in the grocery store, or with baking supplies. Make sure to buy 100% pure blue agave for the best flavor.

A tequila pina colada with a pineapple garnish.

How To Make a Pina Colada With Tequila

Our tequila pina colada recipe is easy to make in just a few minutes!

Equipment: You’ll need a jigger or shot glass, a shaker, a strainer, and a bar spoon to make this tropical cocktail, plus a large rocks glass for serving. This set of bar tools has everything you need to make cocktails at home.

Here’s how to make a tequila pina colada:

  1. First, add a few large ice cubes to a shaker and fill a large rocks glass about three-quarters of the way with crushed ice.
  2. Next, add the tequila, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice, and agave nectar to the shaker. You may need to use the end of a bar spoon to help scrape the cream of coconut out of the jigger when measuring.
  3. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously, about 15 to 20 seconds. Once the ice inside the shaker sounds like it’s sloshing around, the cocktail should be mixed thoroughly.
  4. Strain into the prepared glass and optionally garnish with a pineapple wedge and 2 pineapple leaves. Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

You don’t need to be on a tropical vacation to enjoy a pina colada! Indulge in this creamy cocktail on a hot summer day for a refreshing treat. We love sipping on these after a long day in the sun.

You can also pair a tequila pina colada with Mexican food. This drink goes especially well with summer meals like fish tacos or tostadas.

Try our tequila pina colada recipe and let us know what you think by rating and commenting below. Cheers!


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A pina colada.

Tequila Pina Colada

Nicole
Our tequila pina colada is a bright and refreshing take on the classic rum cocktail that you’ll want to be sipping on all summer long.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine Fusion
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 347 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 fluid ounces tequila silver
  • fluid ounces pineapple juice
  • fluid ounces cream of coconut
  • ½ fluid ounce lime juice
  • ¼ fluid ounce agave nectar
  • 1 pineapple wedge optional garnish
  • 2 pineapple leaves optional garnish

Instructions
 

  • Add a few large ice cubes to a shaker and fill a large rocks glass about three-quarters of the way with crushed ice.
  • Add the tequila, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice, and agave nectar to the shaker. Seal the shaker and shake vigorously, about 15 to 20 seconds, until well mixed.
  • Strain into the prepared glass and optionally garnish with a pineapple wedge and leaves. Serve immediately.

Notes

Tequila: A silver tequila (also known as “blanco” or “plata” tequila) works best for a pina colada. It’s unaged, so it has a more agave-forward flavor with bright notes of citrus. Our favorite brand to use for cocktails is Hornitos tequila.
Agave nectar: Agave nectar is a natural sweetener. We replaced some of the coconut cream in a traditional pina colada recipe with agave nectar to tie in the flavor of the tequila. It gives the cocktail a more cohesive flavor profile, so definitely don’t skip this ingredient! You can usually find it near the maple syrup in the grocery store, or with baking supplies. Make sure to buy 100% pure blue agave for the best flavor.
Measuring cream of coconut: Cream of coconut is thick and sticky, so it can be difficult to measure. It’ll be easier to work with at room temperature. You can also use the end of a bar spoon to help scrape it out of the jigger and into the shaker.
Shaken cocktails: Shaking a cocktail helps to mix the drink while chilling it. Generally, you want to shake until the ice sounds like it’s sloshing around – this means enough ice has broken down that the drink should be properly chilled. If you shake for too long, you risk diluting the drink too much as the ice continues to melt.
For a well-mixed pina colada, make sure to shake vigorously! This will help the cream of coconut become frothy.
Serving suggestions: You can sip on this cocktail by itself for a happy hour treat or a sweet after-dinner drink. It also pairs well with summer meals and Mexican food, like fish tacos!

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 0.2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 21mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.2mg
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Keyword agave nectar, cream of coconut, lime juice, pineapple juice, tequila
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