Blue Hawaiian

There are many theories on how this drink came to be, they are all untrue. But amazingly this drinks date is very accurate, which is confusing seeing as many stories surrounding it are not. Here is an early printing of this drink:

The Rotarian - Apr 1962 - Page 67 Vol. 100, No. 4 - 92 pages

"The island of Hawaii is lush with tropical foliage in its rain forests and it's blisteringly dry in its lava fields. We have found at Los Olivos everything the best downtown hotels offer, including restaurant and cocktail lounges offering Blue Hawaii."

The most popular story behind this drink involves a Bartender by the name of Harry Yee invented this drink in 1957 in Hawaii. It doesn't matter if he was a bartender at the location at the time, because it is extremely unlikely he invented the drink in 1957.

Drinks are never the start to something in popular culture, it is always the other way around.

There appears there was a popular theater by the name of Blue Hawaiian and several other hotels has named suites after this historic theater by the same name. Here are a few publications backing this claim:

Billboard - Nov 28, 1942 Vol. 54, No. 48 - 104 pages

"(4), who started at Al Martin's Hawaiian Room Monday"

All the best in Hawaii in 1967

"white and blue decor, even to the pillow slips; Blue Hawaiian Rooms (coffee-makers), with blue decor"

There are also claims that this drink was named after the 1963 Elvis Musical "Blue Hawaii" again this is not true. The drink was around before the movie. There was a 1958 song called Blue Hawaii that reached billboard list in early that year and remained until 1959 as seen here:

Billboard - Jan 20, 1958 - Page 52

"Blue Hawaii"

Billboard - Dec 28, 1959 - Page 21 Vol. 71, No. 52

"Blue Hawaii"

There is also some confusion over the drinks name, some claim that Blue Hawaii and Blue Hawaiian are two different drinks.

They are the same drink, however, it is easy to see why this confusion happened. Some believed it was named after the popular Blue Hawaiian suites and theater while others believed it was named after the popular song Blue Hawaii. It is very likely both Blue Hawaiia(n) had it's own part in the naming of this drink.

This drink dates between 1958 - 1959 and contained at least as of then:

Roll these ingredients:

Rum

Creme of coconut

Pineapple Juice

Blue Curacao

Strain into parfait glass over crushed ice

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