Since bars opened back up again a couple of years ago, rum-based cocktails have been one of the favourite cocktail groups amongst drinkers. From herby refreshers to exotic blends, these tropical elixirs are unique in their ability to transport us to a tropical paradise, but they’re also very easy to get wrong. So, these are the most popular rum cocktails in the world, and how you can make them at home!
Mojito
Rum, mint, and lime – the ultimate refresher is the world’s favourite rum concoction, and very nearly the world’s favourite cocktail if it wasn’t for that pesky Margarita. It may not be quite as trendy as during its 2000s surge, but the Mojito’s popularity is undeniable, loved for it’s natural, breezy, and fresh feel.
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 a handful of mint leaves with the lime juice and sugar (syrup is easier, but if you use sugar make sure it’s dissolved). Add ice and your favourite white rum. Top up with soda water, gently stir to combine, garnish with mint, and enjoy. Mojit-oh yes!
Top Tip: Always crush the mint leaves as opposed to dicing to unlock all those flavoursome oils.
Piña Colada
Another simple recipe that involves three bold flavours working together – the tropical paradise that is the Piña Colada. Definitely more of a summer serve, this may be the second most popular rum cocktail (battling with the one below). Sweet and creamy, it’s fragrant and fresh with coconut cream and pineapple intertwining with the hearty kick from the rum. Use fresh juice!
Ingredients
60ml white rum
60ml coconut cream
120ml crushed pineapple/pineapple juice
Garnish: pineapple wedge
Method
The most popular is to blend everything with ice to create a thick boozy smoothie – you may need to crush the ice if your blender has seen better days! Tropical decorations are a must.
Is this your favourite rum cocktail? Check out our innovative twists on the recipe here!
Daiquiri
The Daiquiri may be slightly better known for super sweet slush puppies these days, but when done right it’s absolutely delicious and that’s why it’s competing with the Piña Colada to be the second most popular rum cocktail. Pure and simple, it’s just fresh lime juice and a little syrup supporting but not overshadowing quality rum. Easy on the sugar until you find the ratio you enjoy most!
Ingredients
60ml rum (Light or White, like Havana Club 3-year-old rum)
20ml lime juice
20ml sugar syrup
Garnish: lime twist
Method
Shake everything with ice – do not blend please. Then strain into a chilled cocktail glass, add the lime twist and enjoy!
Top Tip: A blend of two different rums is often used by bartenders, so half white and half Demerara or Jamaican for example.
Is the Daiquiri your favourite rum cocktail? We’ve been experimenting with various twists on the original here!
Zombie
The Zombie has been around since 1934, and the name supposedly comes from the hungover customer who requested the drink and reportedly turned into a zombie for the rest of his trip! There are a few different ways to make it, but really you want three different types of rum, Caribbean falernum liqueur and fresh lime, pineapple, and grapefruit juices. It takes more time than the other rum cocktails, but there’s a reason it’s ordered so much and that’s for the layers of boozy, tropical flavour.
Ingredients
30ml dark rum
30ml light rum
20ml overproof rum
10ml falernum liqueur
30ml lime juice
10ml pink grapefruit juice
20ml apricot brandy
30ml pineapple juice
10ml grenadine
Pinch of salt (optional)
Garnish: orange slice/maraschino cherry/sprig of mint/pineapple wedge
Method
Shake everything except the overproof rum with ice, strain over fresh and ice and float the overproof rum on top!
Mai Tai
Tiki mainstay the Mai Tai is popular wherever you go, and although the history of the drink involves homemade rum and homemade orgeat, things are going to be a little easier today. The warmth of the rum anchors this tropical delight as boozy citrus and nuttiness play off deliciously. Mai Tai derives from the Tahitian word maita’I which means ‘good’ but trust us when we say that’s an understatement.
Ingredients
60ml blended rum (like Appleton)
20ml lime juice
20ml orgeat syrup
15ml orange liqueur
Garnish: mint sprig
Method
Take everything aside from the mint and shake with crushed ice until you feel and see that the shaker is frosted. Strain over fresh crushed ice and delicately poise the mint spring – voila, one Mai Tai!
Cuba Libre
Whether it’s true or not we don’t know, but the story goes that a U.S army captain was toasting to Cuba’s freedom during the Spanish-American war using this drink. Interestingly, Coca-Cola hasn’t always been available on the island and it’s a key part of this cocktail. This is as easy as cocktails get, so if you mess this up then maybe reconsider mixology as a hobby! Lime juice tames the sweet cola a little which works wonders with the caramelly, vanilla goodness of the rum.
Ingredients
60ml rum
120ml cola
2 lime wedges
Method
Fill a highball with ice, add the rum and then top up with cola. Squeeze one lime wedge and throw it in, and garnish with the other! A nice little upgrade on a classic rum and coke.
These are the most popular rum cocktails, but perhaps your favourite isn’t in here? Not to worry, because here are 7 Delicious Rum Cocktails, some of which aren’t as popular but who knows, they might be on this list one day.