For some reason, some drinkers pigeonhole rum cocktails as a vacation-only choice, but rum is much more than poolside Pina Coladas…as good as they are.
The tropical rum cocktails are some of the world’s favourites, and deservedly so, but it’s a versatile spirit so here is the best of everything rum from legendary recipes to delicious twists.
Rum Sour
More known for whisky, the Sour style cocktail works really well with rum. You could use a golden rum to pair the tropical brûléed feel with sunny citrus, but we prefer the warming of a spiced rum. The silky egg white adds some decadence and texture, there’s a wonderful tang and sweetness from the lime, orange and syrup, and the toasty spiced rum adds a punchy hit of rich flavour. It’s a lot going on but it really works.
Ingredients
50ml Rum (Bacardi Spiced works well)
25ml Orange Juice
25ml Lime Juice
12.5ml Syrup (Monin works well)
15ml Egg white
Method
Mix all ingredients together without ice and shake, add ice and shake once more. Fine strain into a cocktail glass.
Rum Old Fashioned
The rum Old Fashioned is such an underrated twist. The oaky spice of the dark rum, the zesty structure of the bitters, the bright citrus…this will definitely win the traditionalists over.
Ingredients
50ml Dark Rum (Mount Gay XO works well)
1 tsp sugar syrup
Few dashes of orange bitters
Orange Peel to garnish
Method
Add ice 3/4 of the way up a mixing glass or cocktail shaker and add all ingredients. Stir for 30 seconds until nicely chilled. Fine strain into a cocktail glass.
PIñA COLADA
This is probably the definitive tropical cocktail, right? Sweet and creamy, it’s the ultimate smoothie (okay it’s not officially a smoothie but if you label it as that you can have another one). Unfortunately, no one knows exactly who invented it but whoever you are, we thank you!
Ingredients:
60ml white rum ((Havana Club 3-year-old works well)
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple Wedge
Method:
Blenders at the ready. Combine white rum with the same amount of coconut cream. Add 120ml of pineapple juice or crushed pineapple, a handful of ice, and blend. Garnish with pineapple and an umbrella for the complete holiday vibe.
CINNAMON TWIST
Another creamy rum concoction here with the Cinnamon Twist. Swapping out the fruit for cinnamon creates a wonderfully indulgent milky, spiced rum punch, a recipe that has been around in different forms since medieval times! Spices in the rum will pair perfectly with the cinnamon which brings us to the syrup. You can do this individually (simple syrup plus cinnamon powder) but by adding cinnamon sticks to water and sugar, the syrup is easy to make and gorgeous in all kinds of other cocktails.
Ingredients:
60ml Golden Rum (Mount Gay Black Barrel works well)
44ml Milk
22ml Cinnamon Syrup
Method:
Shake with ice, then strain over a singular hefty ice cube in a chilled rock glass!
DAIQUIRI
We often hear that people dismiss a Daiquri as a childish option, with sickly sweet slush puppy vibes. Maybe that’s you? Well, we’re here to say give it another chance. When fresh lime juice is used, the right amount of syrup and it isn’t blended, it can be simple and so refreshing. Rum and lime are a match made in heaven and the syrup counteracts the tang perfectly - just get the ratios right!
Ingredients:
60ml Light or White Rum (Havana Club 3-year-old works well)
20ml lime juice
20ml simple syrup
Garnish: lime
Top Tip: Fruity-flavoured syrups add a lovely twist to the original recipe - try banana and strawberry instead of simple syrup!
Method:
Pour all the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes. Do not blend! Shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add the garnish.
MOJITO
One of the world’s favourite cocktails, is the Cuban-born Mojito the single most refreshing cocktail on the planet? Rum, mint and lime - it’s aromatic, zesty, reinvigorating and punchy. Ernest Hemingway loved it, and so do we.
Ingredients:
50ml White Rum (Havana Club 3-year-old works well)
20ml lime juice
15ml simple syrup
Soda water
Garnish: mint
Method:
We want to get all that flavour from the mint so it’s vital to crush it with the lime juice and sugar. Add ice and a white rum that you love. Top up with soda water, give it a gentle stir to combine and sip the evening away! Top
HURRICANE
One of the many cocktails born out of Prohibition, this New Orleans icon is perfect for when you’re wanting a potent flavour bomb. It has a few more ingredients than most cocktails, but it’s worth it in the end trust us. The trio of fruit juices are key here, so try and make sure you freshly squeezed for as many as possible. It’s zippy, tropical, and sweet and with the double punch of light and dark rum, there are layers of notes to explore until the very last sip. You won’t feel neutral about it that’s for sure!
Ingredients:
40ml light rum (Havana Club 3-year-old works well)
40ml dark rum (Mount Gay XO works well)
15ml lime juice
15ml passion fruit juice
15ml orange juice
15ml simple syrup
10ml Grenadine
Garnish: orange wheel
Method:
All the hard work is done fetching the ingredients here, so just add them to a shaker with ice and shake until cold. Strain into a hurricane glass with more ice and voila! An orange garnish works a treat for good measure.
Chances are if you’ve made it to the end of these tasty rum cocktails, you love your rum. So, if you’re drinking it regularly you may as well go the whole hog and make yourself a little home bar! After all, you’ve probably got most of the ingredients already.