We like piña coladas and gettin' caught in the rain. But sometimes, rum is a no-go. No worries... you can switch up your spirit and still enjoy the breezy tropical notes of coconut and pineapple with a vodka piña colada, also known as a chi chi. If you're not a rum fan (or you're just sadly out of rum) but still want the tasty pineapple and creamy coconut goodness, plan your escape with this tasty tropical drink.
How to Make a Vodka Piña Colada
Whether you don't have rum on hand or prefer the cleaner taste of vodka so the tropical fruits stand out more, it's easy to make the chi chi vodka variation of the classic PC.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounce cream of coconut
- 1½ ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces pineapple-flavored vodka
- Ice
- Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, pineapple vodka, and ice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a poco grande glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
Related: Simple Piña Colada Recipes With Vacation-Worthy Taste
Variations and Substitutions
The chi chi is a variation on the piña colada; it replaces the standard rum with vodka. However, the recipe is otherwise pretty similar. Vodka has a more neutral flavor than rum, so the resulting drink has a slightly different taste.
- Make a vodka painkiller cocktail (usually made with Prusser's rum) by replacing the lime juice with 1 ounce of freshly squeezed orange juice. Garnish with a grating of fresh nutmeg.
- Toss all the ingredients in a blender with 1 cup of frozen pineapple chunks and ½ cup of crushed ice and blend until smooth for a frozen chi chi.
- Replace ½ ounce of the coconut cream with ½ ounce of strawberry or banana liqueur for a fruity twist on the original.
- Use unflavored vodka in place of the pineapple vodka.
Garnish
The classic garnish for the chi chi is called a flag; it's an orange slice and a cherry either on a cocktail pick or placed on the rim of the glass. Step away from the classic with the following garnish ideas.
- Use a sliced strawberry.
- Top with freshly grated nutmeg for an aromatic treat.
- Garnish with a small fresh pineapple wedge or a pineapple leaf.
A Chi Chi Will Make You Cha-Cha-Cha
Even if rum isn't your thing, you can still take part in tiki cocktail culture. Simply add some vodka in place of rum, and you'll be dancing all night to the beat of your own drum.
