Tropical Bliss: Copycat Olive Garden Mango Martini

Last summer, my husband surprised me with dinner at Olive Garden. While their pasta is always delightful, what truly captured my attention that evening was their Mango Martini. One sip of this sun-kissed cocktail, and I was instantly transported to a tropical beach, with warm sand between my toes and gentle waves lapping at the shore. The perfect balance of sweet mango, coconut rum, and citrus notes created a vacation in a glass that was too good not to recreate at home. After some experimentation, I’ve crafted a version that captures that same magical escape, ready to bring paradise to your living room.

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What Makes a Mango Martini From Olive Garden So Good? 

Martinis have had somewhat of a renaissance over the last few years, and while you can get just about any flavored martini you can think of these days, fruit-based cocktails continue to be popular. While less trendy than an Apple Martini, Mango Martinis are a great option for those looking for a refreshingly tropical spin on the classic cocktail. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

While classic martinis have their place in cocktail culture, this Olive Garden-inspired Mango Martini offers a refreshing tropical twist that’s perfect for those seeking something more adventurous. Unlike the traditional gin or vodka-based martinis, this version embraces the casual elegance of island-inspired flavors. The coconut-infused rum provides a smooth, vacation-worthy base, while the bitter orange notes from triple sec create depth. When combined with the luscious sweetness of mango nectar, these elements create a sophisticated yet approachable cocktail that feels more at home on a beachfront terrace than in a formal cocktail lounge.

Mango Martini With Rum Ingredients

For this drink, you’ll need:

• Malibu Original Caribbean Rum – Contributes coconut sweetness and tropical foundation
• Triple Sec – Adds bitter-sweet orange complexity and balances sweetness
• Kern’s Mango Nectar – Provides rich, authentic mango flavor and smooth texture

Ingredient Notes

Malibu Original Caribbean Rum starts with quality rum and then takes tropical flavors to the extreme by adding a good amount of sweetened coconut liqueur. Most people refer to this rum simply as Malibu, and it is known to be easy to sip, maybe even a little too easy. At 21 percent ABV, this liqueur isn’t high-proof, but it will get the job done. Malibu is a premium liqueur at a premium price, and more budget-friendly coconut-flavored rums include Cruzan Coconut Rum and Whaler’s Killer Coconut Rum. 

Triple Sec is a type of liqueur with a bitter-sweet orange flavor added to a neutral spirit. The orange flavor comes from the citrus peels added to the distilled spirits before being removed and then redistilling the alcohol. There are many different brands, with most ranging from about 20 percent ABV to 40 percent ABV. A high-quality Triple Sec is Cointreau, but more affordable Triple Secs are DeKuyper Triple Sec and Llord’s Triple Sec. 

Don’t be confused; mango nectar is different from mango juice. While you may want to start your day with a tall glass of mango juice, you probably would like to avoid sipping on mango nectar so early in the morning. To make mango nectar, liquid sugar is blended with mango puree until it becomes a thick and sweet concoction ideal for mixing with other ingredients.

Kern’s Mango Nectar is 100 percent natural and contains no high fructose corn syrup. If you can’t find Kern’s Mango Nectar, Iberia and Goya make good alternatives. 

How to Make an Olive Garden Mango Martini With Rum

To prepare a Mango Martini from the Olive Garden:

1. Add ice to a martini glass to chill while making the drink.
2. Pour the Malibu, Triple Sec, and mango nectar into a cocktail shaker. 
3. Add ice cubes to the shaker.
4. Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker is ice-cold, about 15 seconds.
5. Dump the ice from the martini glass and strain the cocktail into the chilled martini glass.

Martini Garnish

You can serve the martini without a garnish or garnished with a mango slice, lime slice, lemon slice, or maraschino cherry on a skewer.

You can garnish the glass with a sugar rim. Rub the rim of the glass with a mango slice or dip it in mango nectar and then dip it into sugar. For a salt rim, dip it into coarse salt.

Make Ahead Pitcher

You can make a pitcher of martinis in advance. Multiply the ingredient quantities by the number of servings (up to 10 servings since a standard pitcher holds 50-60 ounces). Combine the rum, and mango nectar in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator. When ready, pour 5 ounces of the mixture into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake it, and serve.

What to Serve a Mango Martini From Olive Garden With

Mango Martinis are casual, so any food you serve with them should be as well. Here are three light dishes that are perfect for sharing with friends over a few drinks:

• Air Fryer Shrimp Tempura. This version of classic tempura cooked in the air fryer is even lighter and healthier than the original recipe. 
• Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos. Light and crispy, these mini wonton chicken tacos will satisfy your hunger without filling you up. 
• Jason’s Deli Fruit Dip. This refreshing fruit dip is perfect for dunking berries, melons, and pineapple chunks. Don’t forget to cut up a few mangos as well. 

Favorite Olive Garden Drinks

• Berry Sangria
• Blue Amalfi
• Green Apple Sangria
• Italian Margarita
• Italian Rum Punch
• Venetian Sunset
• Watermelon Sangria
• Watermelon Margarita

Popular Martini Recipes

• Caramel Apple Martini
• Coconut Martini
• Key Lime Pie Martini
• Lemon Drop Martini
• Washington Apple Martini

Check out more of my easy cocktail recipes and the best copycat Olive Garden recipes on CopyKat!