Beachy Pineapple Vodka Cocktail

Need a cocktail that feels like something special without being too fussy? This beachy pineapple vodka cocktail has you covered. It’s basically a vodka soda, but with a bit of extra pizzaz from pineapple juice and fresh lime juice. Enjoy one on the beach (if you’re allowed), at the pool, or at your next get-together. (Shhh… we won’t tell your party guests how easy it is to make.)

In the foreground, a rocks glass filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sits on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is a large pineapple and sliced limes

Reasons to Love This Pineapple Vodka Cocktail

This isn’t your regular vodka soda, it’s a *cool* vodka soda.


Yep, the base for this drink is a vodka soda, but adding pineapple and lime juices takes it up a notch. This became my official “beach drink” when I was on a cruise several years ago. I wanted to order a cocktail that was fun, but also hydrating, simple to make, and not too sweet.

This drink is low in sugar, naturally sweet, refreshing, and has a hint of tropical flavor. Plus, it’s not too boozy or strong, so you can sip casually without getting too buzzed. (Still drink in moderation, please and thanks!)

In the foreground, two rocks glasses filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sit on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is a large pineapple and sliced limes

Nutrition Tips for Lighter Cocktails

Imagine how your stomach feels after one too many strong and/or sweet adult beverages… (Bubbly and slightly queasy feelings come to mind for me. Ick.) I’m not trying to fool anyone into thinking cocktails are nutritious, but these are a few tricks you can use to lighten up the sugar and alcohol in your drink recipes.

  • Use sparkling water – Unsweetened sparkling water can be a fun (and less bitter) alternative to tonic water or a swap for sweetened carbonated soda.
  • Lighten up on the alcohol – Try cutting the listed amount of alcohol in half (in this recipe, 1 oz instead of 2 oz). You may find that you don’t even miss it! If you want to take it a step further, try alcohol-free spirits.
  • Use 100% juice as a sweetener – This recipe is sweetened with pineapple juice instead of simple syrup or sugar. This gives you the benefit of added flavor and natural sweetness. You can try this in just about any drink recipe with fruit flavors.
In the foreground, a rocks glass filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sits on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is a large pineapple and sliced limes

Tips for making an excellent pineapple vodka cocktail

  1. Add your ingredients to the shaker. Start with the cheap ingredients first (like lime juice) in case you make any mistakes, then add pineapple juice and vodka. Add ice right before shaking so you don’t over-dilute your drink.
  2. Shake or stir? This drink will taste great shaken or stirred! It’s totally up to you. I like to shake this cocktail before adding sparkling water. Shaking cools, dilutes, and aerates your cocktail. You can also make this drink right in the glass. (Just add ice to your glass, pour in lime juice, pineapple juice, and vodka, then stir before adding sparkling water.)
  3. Dress it up with garnishes. Everyone feels fancier with a little garnish on the rim of their glass. In this recipe, lime and pineapple wedges give you a hint of the flavors in the drink. They also lend a lovely aroma, which is a huge part of our tasting experience!
In the foreground, a rocks glass filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sits on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is another matching glass, a large pineapple, and sliced limes

Recipe Modifications

  • Use a different type of juice – Cranberry, mango, papaya, guava, peach, and grapefruit juices could all be swapped in instead of pineapple juice.
  • Try it with rum – This would be tasty with spiced rum or coconut rum.
  • Coconut version – Speaking of coconut… coconut rum, a splash of coconut milk, and coconut-flavored sparkling water would be like a lightlened-up pina colada. YUM.
  • Mocktail version – Omit the vodka entirely or try alcohol-free spirits.
  • Make a large batch – Multiply all of the ingredients by 6 and add to a pitcher. Serve over ice.
In the foreground, a rocks glass filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sits on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is a large pineapple and sliced limes
rocks glass filled with ice and a pale yellow drink garnished with lime and pineapple wedges
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Beachy Pineapple Vodka Cocktail

Meet your new favorite beach drink. This pineapple vodka cocktail feels special without being fussy. You'll love it because it's refreshing, low-sugar, and SO simple to make.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beach drink, light cocktail, low-calorie cocktail, low-carb cocktail, summer, vodka soda
Servings: 1
Calories: 157kcal
Author: Chelsea Jackle, RDN

Equipment

  • cocktail jigger
  • cocktail shaker (optional)
  • cocktail strainer (optional)
  • rocks glass (although any short glass will work)

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ oz pineapple juice
  • ½ oz lime juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3 oz sparkling water I recommend pineapple or lime-flavored

Garnishes

  • 1 fresh pineapple wedge optional
  • 1 lime wedge optional

Instructions

  • Prepare your garnishes if you're using them. (Optional – put your glass in the freezer for an extra cold drink!)
  • Add pineapple juice, lime juice, and vodka to a shaker cup. Add ice. Seal the shaker cup and shake until the cup feels very cold (about 30 seconds).
  • Fill a rocks glass with ice. Place a cocktail strainer on top of the cocktail shaker and strain the mixture into the glass.
  • Top with sparkling water and garnish with a pineapple wedge and a lime wedge. Cheers!

Notes

  • Please note that nutrition facts are an estimate and can vary widely based on amounts and specific types used. 
  • No cocktail shaker or strainer? You can also build this drink right in the glass. (It will be less diluted but it will still taste good.) Start by adding ice, followed by vodka, then juices, then top with sparkling water and give it a gentle stir before garnishing.

Nutrition

Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.2mg
In the foreground, two rocks glasses filled with ice and a light yellow drink, garnished with lime and pineapple wedges sit on a cutting board. Blurred in the background is a large pineapple and sliced limes

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