17 Rum Cocktails to Make When There’s Still Plenty To Go Around
And if it is gone, what are you waiting for? Go buy some
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.
Pineapple Mojito
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 »
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.
The Zombie cocktail
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 »
Hemingway Special
At Havana, Cuba’s El Floridita bar, this daiquiri was a usual order of author Ernest Hemingway. See the recipe for Hemingway Special »
Jamaican Punch
Throughout the Caribbean, rum punches flecked with nutmeg have been served steadily since the colonial era.
Cayo Romano Cocktail
Freshly grated nutmeg rounds out the flavor of this shaken rum-and-citrus juice cocktail. Get the recipe for Cayo Romano Cocktail »
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.
Beach Towel
A fruity frozen daiquiri becomes dessert-like with the addition of heavy cream. Get the recipe for Beach Towel »
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