The Blue Lagoon: Electric Color, Easy Citrus Lift

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The Blue Lagoon is a drink whose appearance explains its popularity before the first sip arrives. The bright blue color is part of the point, but the cocktail survives because the flavor is simple, light, and easy to like.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces blue curaçao
• 1/3 ounce lime juice
• Top off with lemon-lime soda
• Garnish with a mint sprig
• Garnish with an orange wheel

Directions

• Add vodka, blue curaçao, and lime juice to a glass with ice and stir.
• Fill glass with ice and top with the lemon-lime soda.
• Garnish with a mint sprig and an orange wheel.

A Showpiece With a Straightforward Build

The Blue Lagoon is commonly linked to Harry's New York Bar in Paris and is often credited to Andy MacElhone. Like many mid-century and late-20th-century crowd-pleasers, it found durable life through clarity rather than intricacy. It is colorful, legible, and built for broad appeal.

That matters because novelty alone rarely keeps a drink alive for decades. The Blue Lagoon's staying power comes from the fact that it is not difficult to want a second sip.

Color, Citrus, and Approachability

Vodka keeps the frame neutral, while blue curacao brings both the signature hue and a soft orange-citrus sweetness. The classic long-drink idea is bright rather than spirit-heavy, which is why the drink often turns up in vacation bars, hotel lists, and party menus.

Many familiar versions use lemonade as the lengthener. This draft stays within the current ingredient catalog by using lemon juice, a small amount of syrup, and soda water to reach a similar bright, lightly sparkling result without changing the drink's overall character.

Why It Still Shows Up

The Blue Lagoon belongs to a family of cocktails that are sometimes dismissed for being visually obvious, but obvious is not the same thing as ineffective. A drink that looks festive, tastes citrusy, and asks very little of the guest tends to keep its place.

Its strength is accessibility. The drink does not need mystery to do its job.

Enduring Appeal

The Blue Lagoon remains useful because it delivers exactly what it promises: color, chill, and uncomplicated refreshment.

Best for warm-weather service, parties, and relaxed afternoons when brightness matters more than austerity.