Coconut Willy
My husband and I were in Kauai this past February on Valentine’s Day. At the poolside bar, our waitress informed us of a Valentine’s special drink, called a Coconut Willy.
Being ever so daring, I ordered one. Turns out it was the most delicious pool drink we’ve ever had. (Pool drinks typically translate to overpriced, overly sweet cocktails lacking in alcohol.)
It was so good, I asked the bartender about the drink, and he generously showed me how to make it.
I took a mental video of the process, and duplicated it once back at home when the weather warmed. We couldn’t wait to have them again!
The drink is creamy with coconut and lime flavors. It’s so good it will transport you to a tropical state of mind! I used these products:
Coconut Willy
For one drink, or double for two
2 ounces gin (I chose Rangpur gin for more lime flavor)
3 ounces Coco Lopez
Sweet and sour mix, approximately 2 ounces (whiskey sour mix seems less sweet to me)
Place ice cubes in your glass.
Add the gin and Coco Lopez. The Coco Lopez is more tan than white in color.
Stir really well, and then top off with the sweet and sour.
I garnished with a slice of lime.
Alternatively, place the gin and Coco Lopez in a shaker with ice, shake well, and then pour into the glasses. Top with sweet and sour and stir.
I wanted to see if the coconut “blobs,” which show up in the most right photo above, would dissolve better using the shaker method, but they didn’t.
Alternatively, place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend for a frozen variation.
I prefer drinks on the rocks because I can drink them faster. Sadly, that’s the truth.
Here’s the recipe for making a pitcher of coconut willies, based on a 750 ml bottle of gin:
1 – 750 ml bottle Rangpur gin
38 ounces Coconut Lopez
25 ounces sweet and sour mix
note: Two things about this drink. One, we were both surprised that it contained gin – we would have guessed vodka. Secondly, we were both sure that there was lime juice in the drink, and there is no lime at all. If you use regular gin, it will still taste limey! A mystery!
About the Author: Chef Mimi
Well, that is on my summer ‘to do list!!
Oh, it should be. I already have friends hooked on them!!!
I guess when you think tropical, you think rum, but the gin is just perfect in this drink. Our waitress was actually new, and the bartender yelled at her, inappropriately, because she wasn’t supposed to have asked if I wanted the drink frozen or on the rocks. He was still grumbling about it when he showed me how to make it. It’s supposed to be a frozen drink, but oh well!!!
Now, I just need some sun and some sand.
It is grey and drizzly here in Dordogne. Where is Spring?
I’ve heard about your spring! Then summer will come and it will be too hot! That’s what’s happening here. The transition is never long enough…
The good thing is, you don’t have to be in a tropical country to drink these! Try it with gin!!!
Looks wonderful! I need to try this!
if you love coconut and lime flavors, you’ll love this!
This sounds so delicious! I love coconut and I love gin but I’ve never thought to combine the two. This will definitely make an appearance in my life this summer :).
I know! We were really surprised about the recipe! And I seriously love Rangpur, but we tried the drink with Tanqueray and it still tasted delicious and Limey!
I was intrigued by the title- Coconut Willy. the drink looks so tasty and I wish it was summer here! I have a ice bottle of Bombay Blue so I’ll wait for a sunny winter day and make one.
It’s definitely a hot weather drink! I actually googled coconut Willy and got nothing!
Ok, now don’t think me strange after my strange cough post the other day, but here in Australia, a Willy is a Penis! Well, it is a name too…a boys name. But with coconut and on St Valentine’s day…. hmmmm.
hahahahahahaha! I think some people say willy here, too. I googled coconut willy and got nothing! sTrangely enough. How funny!
just google one word. willy.
What a great cocktail , now all I need is a sunset over Hanalei , Prost!
Absolutely! Or, try it without a Hawaiian sunset…
Okay, I will.
Well, I do like gin, but we never guessed that it was gin in the drinks by the pool! Mine are probably a little stronger…
Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
thank you!
Well that looks absolutely delicious! So making this and THANK YOU!
You are so welcome! You’ll be so happy!
This one’s perfect for me! Gin is (with vodka) the only alcohol I like and I LOVE coconut! I think I’ll try it this summer with a bit of coconut icecream on top :0)
Oh my! That would be incredible!!!
I can deal with coconut “blobs” when they end up tasting like that, Mimi! (Sometimes “shaken, not stirred” is over-rated.) :)
yes!!! you’re so funny!
What a fun cocktail! Kind of like a grown up piña colada!
Indeed – plus these aren’t as sweet. But it’s challenging to find a decent sweet and sour mix!
I’ll be making these absolutely for sure Mimi. I have a beautiful bottle of Hendrick’s hanging about. Not lime but that’s okay. Just added Coco Lopez and Whisky Sour mix to my shopping list!
do you know that I didn’t realize I’d purchased whiskey sour mix! I thought it was sweet and sour! I wonder what the difference is…
Aha -probably very little difference – just the label! So looking forward to this. I do love a cocktail now and then – and how can you go wrong with gin and coco lopez and a little touch of sour?!
They’re addictive – watch out!!!
I absolutely love the name of this drink Mimi! Since I also love coconut I’m going to have to give this a try…maybe I’ll wait for my daughter to visit since this is right up her alley too.
if you love coconut,you will definitely love this drink!
Thanks for posting this! I’m added it into our summer drink rotation here at the Misty Meadows Country Club. The pool is open and I’m sure my wife and her friends will love it. Even if they don’t, I’ll be drinking them as I clean the pool. Glad you also had a fun trip to Kauai. (And I didn’t know about the willy reference either). Thanks for a clever post.
EVeryone I’ve made this drink for is totally addicted to them now!!! HOpe you all like it too!!!
Sounds so simple and delicious. How nice that the bartender shared the recipe. Nice cooling summer treat!
He was very nice about it!
Hahaha! It was after a few of them, so I was a little braver!
Amazing photographs and recipes!!
Thank you so much!
What an easy drink to make! I’m glad you mentioned this one, Mimi, as I had to come over to see what was behind a Coconut Willy. I normally go to ‘simple’ drinks like a beer, whiskey or wine…but every once in a while I look to play bartender and have fun. And this Willy is definitely a fun one. Makes me wonder where the name came from…was your bartender’s name Willy? Haha!
I typically only drink wine, but I try to make something fun occasionally for friends. Sometimes I fail big time. A mixologist I’m not! But seriously, my friends are so addicted to the willys. And that’s just what the bartender said the drink special was – I remember looking it up to see if it was a thing, but it doesn’t appear to be. But it’s good!!!