Fresh and clear or dark brown and aged, bright and floral or smoky and rich, rum is one of the most versatile mixing spirits out there. Here are all the ways we like to drink our rum cocktails, from easy-to-batch punches to irresistible frozen concoctions.
Smoky mezcal and sweet dark rum combine to form a unified spirit in this Cuban-inspired cocktail from Jason Asher of Counter Intuitive. Bittersweet Campari and fruity Cherry Heering add balance while cinnamon syrup adds a spicy, warming bite. Get the recipe for Walking Stick »
This twist on a mojito combines pineapple- and coconut-infused rum with fresh pineapple and mint for a fruity, vacation-inspired drink. Get the recipe for Pineapple Mojito »
Xavier Herit, co-owner and head bartender at Wallflower in New York City, breaks banana daiquiris free from their spring-break stigma with this surprisingly sophisticated cocktail. Giffard Crème de Banane du Brezil, a banana liqueur made from macerated bananas, combines with two types of rum and a homemade banana syrup to make a deeply flavored drink that’s not too sweet.
Donn Beach, the founding father of tiki bars and restaurants, set a limit of two per customer for this potent drink made with three kinds of rum, citrus, and spice. Get the recipe for The Zombie cocktail »
“Trader Vic” Bergeron came up with this floral drink to showcase a 17-year-old gold Jamaican rum. Once all his bottles were gone, he re-created the drink’s complex flavor by layering two very different rums in the same drink.
