Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail

If you’re looking for the ultimate vacation in a glass, you’ve just found it. There is a reason the Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail is a legend in coastal bars from South Beach to the Keys. It’s not just a cocktail; we’re talking about the heavy hitters of the tropical world—a Frozen Piña Colada and a Strawberry Daiquiri—colliding in one glass.

Looking for more frozen cocktails, you can also check out my Frozen Wine Slushies, Piña Colada Cocktail, Frozen Blood Orange Margarita, Biscoff & Cream Boozy Milkshake, and Frozen Pear Margarita Cocktail

As someone who spends a lot of time perfecting the balance of flavors in the kitchen, I can tell you that most people mess this up by making it too syrupy. My version is all about the integrity of the ingredients—and allowing them to shine. We’re using crisp white rum, real cream of coconut for that velvety mouthfeel, and frozen fruit to keep the texture thick and frosty without watering it down with minimal ice.

The magic happens in the contrast. You get the creamy, nutty sweetness of the pineapple and coconut on one side, and the sharp, bright, citrusy punch of the strawberry and fresh lime on the other. Let’s dive into this iconic tropical “mashup.”

Ingredients you’ll need to make a Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail:

To execute a perfect Miami Vice, you have to treat it like two separate recipes that need to coexist in one glass. Each ingredient is selected to ensure the layers stay frozen and the flavors stay balanced.

For the Piña Colada layer:

• You’ll need white rum, which provides a slightly sweet, alcoholic base that lets the coconut and pineapple remain the stars of the show.
• The “glue” of the recipe is the cream of coconut. Unlike coconut milk, cream of coconut is thick and sweetened. It provides that velvety mouthfeel.
• Pineapple juice adds the necessary liquid to help the blender (paid link) move, while doubling down on the tropical acidity needed to cut through the heavy cream of coconut.
• Frozen pineapple chunks are my secret for texture. By using frozen fruit instead of just ice, you get a much more intense flavor and a “soft-serve” consistency that won’t melt instantly.
• And you’ll need ice to provide the cocktails’ necessary structure.

For the Strawberry Daiquiri layer:

• You’ll need a slightly higher pour of white rum for this layer to help balance the intense tartness of the berries and lime.
• The acidity of fresh lime juice “wakes up” the strawberries and provides a sharp contrast to the rich Piña Colada layer.
• Since frozen strawberries can vary in sweetness, simple syrup ensures the daiquiri has a consistent, balanced flavor that isn’t overly tart.
• Just like the pineapple chunks, using frozen strawberries provides the deep red color and the thick, frozen “slump” required to create those iconic layers without the drink becoming runny.
• Note: You’ll only use frozen strawberries, not ice, for this layer. Frozen strawberries provide the necessary cold, icy texture without dilution.

How to make a Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail:

Blend the strawberry daiquiri layer: Add the frozen strawberries, white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice into a blender (paid link) and blend until smooth. Transfer the frozen cocktail to a freezer-safe cocktail shaker or pitcher (paid link) (with a spout) and place it in the freezer while you prepare the Piña Colada layer.

Blend the Piña Colada layer: Add the frozen pineapple chunks, white rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and crushed ice to a blender (paid link), and blend until smooth. Place the frozen cocktail in a cocktail shaker or pitcher (paid link) with a spout.

Create “the swirl effect” and serve: Pour the strawberry daiquiri and pina colada boxes into serving glasses at the same time, or pour the strawberry layer into the glass first, then slowly layer the piña colada over the back of a spoon.

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Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail

Recipe by Eric Jones

The Miami Vice—a Frozen Piña Colada and a Strawberry Daiquiri—colliding in one glass.

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Ingredients

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Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Layer:

• 2 oz white rum
• .5 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 1 cup frozen strawberries

Frozen Piña Colada Layer:

• 1.5 oz white rum
• 2 oz cream of coconut
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 cup crushed ice

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Instructions

1. For the strawberry daiquiri, place the frozen strawberries, simple syrup, lime juice, and white rum into a blender (paid link) and blend until smooth. Pour the cocktail into a freezer-safe cocktail shaker or pitcher (paid link), then place it in the freezer while you prepare the pina colada layer.
2. For the piña colada, add the frozen pineapple chunks, white rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and crushed ice to a blender (paid link), then blend until smooth. Transfer the frozen cocktail to a cocktail shaker or pitcher (paid link) with a spout.
3. Pour the strawberry daiquiri and piña colada cocktails into serving glasses simultaneously, then serve.

Notes

If you don’t have two blenders, blend the Strawberry Daiquiri first. Transfer it to a chilled pitcher (paid link) and pop it in the freezer while you whip up the Piña Colada. The strawberry layer is more acidic and tends to hold its frozen structure slightly longer than the dairy-heavy coconut layer.