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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.