Cocktail Recipes

The Best Rum Cocktails for Summer

the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

When it comes to kicking back, shutting your eyes and feeling the bliss of the sun on your skin, the cocktail most people want plonked in front of them involves rum. Nothing quite captures the essence of tropical paradise like it, and with a variety of styles, it’s easy to bring your own twist.

Pool lounging, garden parties, outdoor bars, picnics or simply sat by a sunny window, these rum cocktails get you in that easy-going sun-kissed mood. We’ve included some classic favourites that are tailor made for this time of year, as well as some playful twists.

Mojito

Mojito the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

Sometimes the obvious choice is obvious for a reason. Cuba’s favourite serve might not be quite as simple as lumping ingredients together, but with only a touch of muddling required and simple ingredients, it’s well worth it. Rum, mint and lime create the ultimate refresher; a breezy, fresh timeless favourite to cool you down and unwind.

Ingredients
50ml white rum
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp sugar/ 15ml sugar syrup
A handful of mint leaves
Soda water
Garnish: mint

 Method
Crush mint leaves with lime juice and sugar syrup. Add ice and rum, then top with soda water. Stir gently, garnish with mint, and enjoy the essence of summer relaxation.

Top Tip: Never slice or dice the mint, always crush the leaves gently to unlock all those flavoursome oils.

Strawberry & Basil Mojito

Strawberry & Basil Mojito the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

This variation screams summer. We’re swapping the mint for basil and of course if we’re doing that, strawberry is getting involved. The best method for including strawberries is via a simple syrup – see the method. The lime remains to bring that vivid tang and the basil brings that fragrant herbal sweetness. If a cocktail is ever to put a smile on your face, it’s this one.

Ingredients
50ml white rum
5 basil leaves
15ml lime juice
20ml strawberry syrup
Soda water
Garnish: basil sprig and strawberry slices

 Method
It’s very easy to make the strawberry syrup by adding water, sugar and strawberries to a pan in the ratio 1:1:1/2. 12 or so minutes of medium cooking will dissolve and infuse everything, before straining into a jar. Use once cool or refrigerate for up to a month. Other than that, it’s a classic mojito method – muddle the basil gently with the syrup and lime juice, pour in your rum whilst adding ice and top up with soda water. Delish.

Piña Colada

Piña Colada the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

Another icon that we just can’t leave out. This sunny serve also involves three bold flavours working together –coconut, pineapple and rum. The Piña Colada is a perfect summer companion, blending the rich flavours of aromatic coconut cream with the tangy sweetness of pineapple juice. It’s a drink that transports you straight to a sunny beach with every sip, making it a favourite for poolside lounging or any summer gathering. Use fresh juice if possible! A proper taste of tropical paradise in a glass.

Ingredients
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple wedge

Method
Blend all ingredients with ice until smooth. Pour into a chilled glass, garnish with a pineapple wedge, and serve. Just be aware that if your blender isn’t the best, you may need to use crushed ice.

Bushwacker

Bushwacker the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

In a similar vein to the Colada is the Bushwacker. With its sweetness, the Piña Colada feels indulgent sure, but if you want even more of a dessert-style indulgent sipper, we’re gonna need chocolate. Crème de cacao, coconut cream and milk bring that boozy milkshake feel, and swapping out white for dark rum layers it up with those richer, caramelly notes. What a treat.

 Ingredients
30ml dark rum
30ml creme de cacao
60ml milk
60ml coconut cream
Garnish: chocolate shavings

Method
As long as you have a blender, this couldn’t be simpler. Blend everything with a small amount of ice and bring these out instead of (or alongside) dessert to delight guests.

Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiri the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

The original is a classic, but with strawberries being such a symbol of the British Summer, we’re going for this much-loved berry riff. The key here is to avoid the cursed super sweet slush puppies some bars serve. If you use delicious, ripe strawberries then they bring natural sugars, so we can go easy on the syrup.

Ingredients
60ml light rum
50g strawberries
20ml lime juice
10ml syrup
Strawberry or lime (optional garnish)

Method
Add everything to a blender with ice but make sure to double strain over your glass when serving. Witness that enchanting red hue and dive in.

Dark ’n Stormy

Dark ’n Stormy the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

This spicy and refreshing mix of dark rum and ginger beer is perfect for a summer evening as the sun sets. A splash of lime juice adds the perfect zing, and the background ginger tingles your tastebuds. The Dark ’n Stormy is known for its distinctive layering, where the dark rum floats atop the ginger beer, creating a dramatic appearance that’s as striking as its flavour. It’s a simple yet sophisticated cocktail that’s both bold and refreshing... and it cure seasickness... possibly.

 Ingredients
50ml dark rum (Goslings Black Seal for traditionalists)
80ml ginger beer
20ml lime juice (optional)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Probably the easiest cocktail to make – add your ginger beer over ice and top up with dark rum! 

Zombie

Zombie the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

Legend goes that one hungover man at a bar in 1934 ordered this and became zombified for the rest of the day – take a look at the ingredients and you’ll see why. It might be a tiki classic but it isn’t for the faint-hearted or for light summer sipping – though it certainly has its place. A trio of rums each bring a layer of complexity which is given an intense punch of complex spice from the falernum liqueur. Tropical juices and brandy complete a punch style cocktail with powerful flavours everywhere you look.

Ingredients
30ml dark rum
30ml light rum
20ml overproof rum
10ml falernum liqueur
30ml lime juice
20ml pink grapefruit juice
15ml apricot brandy
30ml pineapple juice
10ml grenadine
Pinch of salt (optional)
Garnish: orange slice/maraschino cherry/sprig of mint/pineapple wedge

Method
Shake all ingredients except the overproof rum with ice, strain over fresh ice, and float the overproof rum on top. Garnish as desired. Enjoy… with caution.

Mai Tai

Mai Tai the best rum cocktails for summer the three drinkers

Sticking with the tiki theme as it’s perfect for summer, this treasure traditionally involves tonnes of homemade creations but nowadays, you can make things easier for yourself. The warmth of the rum is perfectly complemented by the almond sweetness of orgeat syrup and the bright citrus notes of lime and orange liqueur, making it a sophisticated yet fun drink.

 Ingredients
60ml blended rum (like Appleton)
20ml lime juice
20ml orgeat syrup
15ml orange liqueur
Garnish: mint sprig

Method
Shake all ingredients with crushed ice until the shaker frosts. Strain over fresh crushed ice, garnish with a mint sprig, and serve. All tiki decorations welcome.

These are some summer specific rum serves, but if you’re after more and you don’t care what season they’re suited to, take a look at 7 Delicious Rum Cocktails.

5 of The Best Scotch Whisky Cocktails to drink right now

As we raise a toast to Robert Burns this January 25th, our friends at drinks retailer Bottle Club have compiled their most popular Scotch whisky cocktail recipes to celebrate Burns Night in style. Here’s what they picked out...

Whisky is often enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but cocktails aren’t just for Gin, Rum or Vodka. With a breadth of flavour combinations, and with Burns Night just around the corner, it’s time to make whisky the star of your cocktail bar. There are plenty of flavours to explore that will tickle your taste buds, even if whisky is not yet your go-to tipple.

Popular Scotch Whisky Cocktails

The Robert Burns Cocktail

Robert Burns Cocktail Burns night thethreedrinkers .com the three drinkers

It is a Scottish tradition to celebrate the poet Robert Burns' birthday on January 25th every year, and whether this drink was named for him or not, it is a fantastic choice for the evening's libation.

The Robert Burns is a classic cocktail that pays tribute to two of Scotland’s finest exports. The drink itself is a delightful, sophisticated mix that builds on the scotch-vermouth combination of a Rob Roy, but the addition of absinthe brings in an intriguing contrasting flavour. Be sure to keep the absinthe to a dash however as it can easily overpower the drink. 

If Absinthe is a bit too much for your taste, there is a variation called the Bobby Burns which swaps the Absinthe for Bénédictine

Ingredients:

Method:
Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, then stir well and strain into a tumbler. Ice and orange twist optional. 

Rusty Nail Cocktail

Rusty Nail Cocktail Burns night thethreedrinkers .com the three drinkers

The Rusty Nail is the ultimate Scotch whisky cocktail. It's a very simple mix of Scotch and Drambuie served on the rocks. This is designed to be a sophisticated, slow-sipping drink, and it's excellent after dinner.

Feel free to choose either blended or single malts, exploring various brands and going as top-shelf as you wish. You may also want to adjust the ratio of the two spirits to fit your taste. 

Ingredients:

  • 45ml Scotch Whisky (Team 3D recommens this GoT Clynelish)

  • 25ml Drambuie

Method:
Simply combine the liquids into a mixing glass and stir well before pouring over ice into a tumbler. 

The Rob Roy 

Rob Roy Cocktail Burns night thethreedrinkers .com the three drinkers

The Rob Roy cocktail was named after an operetta that narrated the story of a great Scottish folk hero who supported the poor. It’s a Scotch version of the classic Manhattan cocktail as the Rob Roy replaces bourbon or rye whisky with Scotch. The Rob Roy ingredients are also similar to that of a classic Old Fashioned, but the Rob Roy recipe uses sweet vermouth instead of sugar syrup for a richer flavour. It is best served by putting the cocktail glass in the freezer to ensure the Rob Roy stays cold as the drink is served without ice. Stirring a Rob Roy cocktail rather than shaking is critical in delicate cocktails with few ingredients, so not to over dilute the drink.

Ingredients:

Method:
Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice (minus the garnish) and stir well before straining into a cold Nick and Nora or Martini glass. Garnish with a cherry. 


Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy Cocktail Burns night thethreedrinkers .com the three drinkers

A good Hot Toddy has been said to jump-start mornings, cure colds and play furnace on a cold evening. Many people believe that its first use was as a medicinal aid, as alcohol was known to numb pain, while citrus and sugar (or honey) could soothe a sore throat.

This recipe comes from San Francisco bartender Jacques Bezuidenhout and features your choice of whisky, hot water, demerara sugar and a clove-studded lemon peel. Fortunately, the Hot Toddy is very easy to make. 

Ingredients:

Method:
Grab your favourite mug and heat it with some boiling water. After a minute or two, throw away the water and build your drink in the same mug by combining your spirit with sugar, lemon juice and peel, cloves and more hot water.


Ruby Queen Cocktail

Ruby Queen Cocktail Burns night thethreedrinkers .com the three drinkers

The Ruby Queen recipe was developed by Rob Krueger of Extra Fancy in New York City and although it includes a couple of unusual ingredients, it is quite easy to mix up. You will need to prepare or acquire fresh beetroot juice and take a few minutes to make a fresh honey syrup.

It’s a pleasant surprise when you taste just how well Scotch works against this sweetened vegetable juice. The whisky adds a depth that vodka and gin cannot. It will rival any Bloody Mary you have ever had. 

Ingredients:

  • 45ml Scotch Whisky (Team 3D recommend The Dalmore 12 Year old)

  • 30ml Fresh Red Beetroot Juice

  • 25ml  Honey Syrup 

  • 25ml Fresh Lemon Juice

  • Fresh Dill or Tarragon (Garnish) 

  • Lemon Twist (Garnish) 

Method:
Combine everything except the garnish into a shaker with ice, shake for 30 seconds, then strain and pour into all tall, high-ball style glass. pour and shake like any other drink and you will have a savoury drink that will rival any Bloody Mary.

Fancy checking out some other cocktail recipes? Here are our One Drink, Three Ways Gin and Rum recipes!