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 ».
Matt Taylor-Gross
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.
Walking Stick
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 »
The Black and Stormy
This recipe for a modified Dark and Stormy uses fresh ginger juice for a kick of refreshing heat.
Classic Daiquiri
Crisp, clean, and balanced, the daiquiri was a favorite of Hemingway.
No Bananas Today
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.
Cuba Kola
We based this rum cocktail on one from Ray Buhen’s Tiki-Ti, a Los Angeles bar that opened in 1961.
Jasper’s Jamaican
This Jamaican-style daiquiri gets a kick from allspice liqueur and grated nutmeg.
Jamaican Punch
Throughout the Caribbean, rum punches flecked with nutmeg have been served steadily since the colonial era.
Mai Tai
“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.
The Naked Ape
Pot-still Jamaican rum is redolent of ripe banana, so it’s a natural combination with banana liqueur. Cinnamon syrup gives the drink a spicy depth.
Frozen Piña Colada
A poolside classic, this blended coconut cooler is heightened with a splash of aromatic bitters.
Blackberry Blast
Agricole rum, made from fresh sugarcane, adds rich flavor to this frozen drink.