Barracuda
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 15.5% ABV ∙
The Barracuda is a shaken tiki-style cocktail of gold rum, Galliano, pineapple and lime juice, topped with dry sparkling wine. Tropical and lightly herbal, with sweet pineapple leading, a warm anise-vanilla note from the Galliano underneath, and a dry, bubbly lift at the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake the first 5 ingredients with ice: Light gold rum 45 mlGalliano L’Autentico liqueur 15 mlPineapple juice 45 mlLime juice 10 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Top with Dry sparkling wine
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge on the rim
Tips
- Shake hard for 12-15 seconds with full ice to fully integrate the juices and chill before adding fizz.
- Fine-strain into a chilled coupe to remove pulp and ice shards, then top with sparkling wine after straining — not into the shaker — so its carbonation survives.
- Squeeze lime juice fresh just before shaking — with only a small pour used, its acidity needs to be precise to balance the sweeter ingredients.
History
The Barracuda is credited to Benito Cuppari, an Italian bartender who first developed the drink in the late 1950s while working aboard the Cristoforo Colombo cruise liner. He is said to have refined the recipe in 1965 after moving to Bar Lido, one of seven bars aboard the newly launched SS Michelangelo. The cocktail later gained wider recognition as tropical and tiki-style drinks saw renewed popularity, and it was an official IBA cocktail from 2011 until its removal from the list in a 2024 update.
FAQ
What is in a Barracuda cocktail?
A Barracuda is made of gold rum, Galliano L'Autentico liqueur, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and sugar syrup, shaken and topped with dry sparkling wine. It is garnished with a pineapple wedge and served in a coupe glass; the recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, at roughly 217 calories per serving.
How do you make a Barracuda?
Shake the rum, Galliano, pineapple juice, lime juice, and sugar syrup with ice, strain into a coupe glass, then top with dry sparkling wine and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Shaking first aerates and chills the juices properly before the wine is added, so the fizz isn't lost to over-agitation.
Is a Barracuda shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The pineapple and lime juice need the aeration and quick chill of a shake, while the sparkling wine is added afterward so it keeps its bubbles.
What glass is a Barracuda served in?
A coupe glass, finished with a pineapple wedge garnish.
