The Pink Horizon Highball is vodka, prickly pear syrup, lime juice, and coconut water, built right over ice in a tall glass. No shaking. No technique to fuss over. Just sweet sipping in a matter of seconds (or minutes if you have to go find the ingredients).

I love this one on hot afternoons when I want something cold and easy without any real effort. Coconut water keeps it light (and hydrating!), prickly pear adds color and sweetness, and lime brings brightness.

Just remember to always use fresh lime juice. It makes a very noticeable difference.

What Makes This Highball Special

Most highballs are spirit, citrus, and soda or ginger beer. This swaps in coconut water instead, which gives you natural electrolytes and a light coconut flavor.

Prickly pear syrup adds a pink hue (or orange, depending on your prickly pear crop) and earthy sweetness, while the lime keeps everything balanced.

About Coconut Water in Cocktails

Coconut water works in drinks as long as you don’t overdo it. It’s naturally sweet with a mild coconut flavor that pairs well with tropical ingredients, and it adds body without the heaviness of coconut cream.

The fact that it’s hydrating is a bonus, and one I will use as an excuse whenever necessary.

Use plain coconut water, not the flavored kind with added sugar.

Prickly Pear and Coconut Together

Prickly pear’s earthy sweetness doesn’t compete with coconut, the pink color stands out against the pale coconut water, and both flavors are mild enough that neither one takes over.

You can make your own prickly pear syrup or order a good one online. I keep mine in 8 oz glass jars in the fridge and freezer.

The Right Glass Matters

I use a highball glass because I want room for ice and liquid.

These highball glasses are the perfect size. They’re tall enough to fit plenty of ice and coconut water, and they show off that pink color nicely. If you don’t have highballs, any tall glass works.

Collins glasses work too if that’s what you have on hand. Most people can’t tell the difference anyway.

The Toasted Coconut Rim

Want to make this drink more interesting? Add a toasted coconut rim.

Spread the shredded coconut on a baking sheet and toast it in a 350°F oven for about 5 minutes, until golden. Let it cool. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, then dip it in the toasted coconut.

The toasted coconut adds texture and flavor that is just fun to have, especially if you like a little snack with your drink.

Making it a Mocktail

Skip the vodka and keep everything else the same: prickly pear syrup, lime juice, and coconut water. You lose the alcohol, but you don’t lose the flavor or the color.

It also works well as a post-workout drink, since coconut water provides electrolytes.

Best Vodka for This Recipe

Any clean, neutral vodka will work with this recipe.

Brands like Tito’s, Absolut, or Smirnoff are all fine. You don’t need expensive vodka for a highball. The coconut water and prickly pear are the dominant flavors, so using premium vodka would be a waste.

Save your good stuff for martinis.

Cocktail Tips

Use fresh lime juice. Skip the bottled stuff. Fresh lime is cleaner and brighter, and you only need half an ounce, which is about half a lime. The citrus juicer I have in my kitchen speeds this up if you’re making several at once.

Use plain, unflavored coconut water. Avoid anything with added sugar or flavoring, and give the container a shake before pouring since coconut water tends to separate.

Storage and Batching

Prickly pear syrup keeps for about a week in the fridge, or freeze it in silicone ice cube trays for longer storage.

You can batch the vodka, syrup, and lime juice together in a bottle and keep it cold, then add coconut water and ice right before serving.

Don’t add the coconut water ahead of time. It doesn’t hold up once opened.

Variations Worth Trying

Swap vodka for white rum for something more tropical, or gin if you want botanical notes. A splash of pineapple juice adds another layer of tropical flavor. For garnish, a dehydrated pineapple slice or a sprig of mint is easy.

My cocktail garnishes guide has more ideas.

Tools You Need

You need a jigger for measuring and a long stir stick for mixing. And maybe citrus juicer if you’re making a bunch.

Good highball glasses are worth having because you’ll use them for so many different drinks.

Other Cocktails Using Prickly Pear Syrup

Looking for more ways to use that prickly pear syrup? Try these:

• Prickly Pear Margarita – Tequila, prickly pear, lime, and orange liqueur. The pink margarita that’s better than the original.
• Desert Sunset Martini – Vodka, prickly pear, and lemon in a chilled coupe. Clean, bright, and gorgeous.
• Cactus Cooler Collins – Vodka, prickly pear, pineapple, and lime topped with soda. Tropical meets desert.
• Cactus Orchard Fizz – Bourbon, prickly pear, apple juice, and lemon with a cinnamon stick. Perfect for fall.
• Smoked Prickly Pear Sour– Vodka, mezcal, prickly pear, and lime with smoked salt. Sweet, tart, and smoky.
• Prickly Pear Moscow Mule – Swap simple syrups in your regular mule for prickly pear.

My full simple syrups collection and cocktail recipes archive have more where those came from.

How to Make a Pink Horizon Highball

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz prickly pear syrup
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 3 oz coconut water (plain, unflavored)
• Ice
• Lime wheel for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add the vodka, prickly pear syrup, and lime juice directly to the glass. Pour in the coconut water.
3. Give it a gentle stir with a long cocktail stir stick to combine everything. Don’t stir too hard or you’ll water it down.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel if you want.