Pirate-Themed Cocktails for Gasparilla!
Ahoy! It’s finally Gasparilla weekend here in Tampa Bay! The tradition of a fake takeover of Tampa begins with legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, or “the last of the buccaneers”. He made a name for himself in the late 1700s and early 1800s when he terrorized the Gulf Coast of Florida, supposedly leaving behind a pot of treasure somewhere along the way.
In 1904, as a way to promote the city of Tampa, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was born! In 1911, they began the invasion via the Jose Gasparilla II which is the world's only fully-rigged pirate ship. The invasion begins at the south end of Hillsborough Bay led by the famed ship, followed by thousands of other boats. It makes its way to the Tampa Convention center passing by Davis Island and Harbor Island for the annual surrender of the keys from the Mayor of Tampa to the Captain of the Gasparilla Krewe. From there, the Parade of Pirates makes its way down Bayshore Boulevard!
This parade of pirates typically consists of around 300,000 people dressed as pirates. I’m not sure that the ancestors of those terrorized by Jose Gaspar himself would appreciate the celebration of the criminal, but if they liked to have a good time maybe they would!
One thing I know about pirates is that they like to drink… a lot! If you’re hosting a Gasparilla party this weekend, you’re going to want to have a stocked bar along with a themed cocktail or two for the thirsty pirates you’re hosting. We have created a list of some pirate-themed cocktails just for you!
Dark and Stormy (for the serious pirates)
A go-to cocktail for sailors, this refreshing cocktail is easy to make and just as easy to drink! Guests will love it, and so will you!
2 ounces dark rum
½ ounce lime juice
2 ounces ginger beer
Lime garnish
Directions
Fill a rocks, bucket, or lowball glass with ice. Add the rum and lime juice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime and serve.
Classic Daiquiri (for the fancy pirates)
Who doesn’t love a daiquiri? Even the shyest of pirates will love this tasty cocktail.
2 ounces white rum
½ ounce of agave (or simple syrup)
1 ounce lime juice
Directions
Fill a martini shaker with ice and add the rum, agave, and lime juice. Shake well to mix and strain into a chilled martini glass.
Pirate’s Grog (for the cold pirate)
For those typical cold-blooded Floridians, the high 60s weather this weekend matched with cute pirate outfits may call for a warm drink!
2 ounces dark rum
½ ounce lemon juice
Spoonful of honey
Top with hot water
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and cloves if you have them!
Directions
Preheat your coffee or tea mug with hot water. Pour out the water and add the rum, lemon juice, honey, and hot water into the mug. Stir well to help the honey dissolve and serve.
Pirate Punch (for the party pirate)
This is for the host of the party who doesn’t want to sit and make people drinks all day. Kidding! Kind of. It’s also just a great idea to have a pre-made cocktail batched and ready to go. People love a good punch! I think it stems from childhood because what child doesn’t love drinking the sherbet punch at parties and getting way too hyper from all the sugar? PS if you want a prebatched cocktail along with some more options and still want to sit back and enjoy yourself and the pirates around you, you may want to hire a bartender for your Gasparilla party!
Makes about 8 servings
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup of orange juice
1 cup of pineapple juice
1 cup of dark rum
1 cup of white rum
½ cup of coconut rum
¼ cup of amaretto or almond liqueur
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir all to mix. Chill until ready to serve over ice!
Brave Bull (the sleepy pirate)
This one will be sure to wake up a sleepy pirate that started a little too early in the day.
2 ounces tequila
1 ounce coffee liquor
Directions
Add the tequila and coffee liqueur to a rocks glass filled with ice. Stir & serve!
Espresso Martini (the classy pirate)
Is there such a thing as a classy pirate? If there is, that’s who I want to be!
1.5 ounces vodka
1.5 ounces Kahlua
1 shot chilled espresso
Directions
Fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka, Kailua, and chilled espresso. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and top with a dash of cinnamon. Garnish with 3 espresso beans. Fancy pirate life, here I come!
(If you prefer a sweeter drink, add ½ oz of honey, maple syrup, agave, or simple syrup to the shaker)
Hopefully, this list of pirate drinks will help you out this weekend whether your guests are coming from nearby St. Pete, Clearwater Beach, Sarasota, Orlando, Miami, or from afar outside of Florida. These drinks are sure to impress all of the pirates in your life. Let us know what you decided to try, and don’t forget your eye patch!
