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Rum is a drink that lends itself to a great many cocktails and mixed drink options. When it comes to how to make a cocktail with rum, the options are vast and varied. This is, in part, due to how many types of rum there are-there are enough to fill any liquor bottle display. There are so many options, that even if one fits the 86 meaning there's guaranteed to be another at the bar business you're enjoying some great customer service at. A cocktail bar in particular will always have some great rum options.
There are some rum cocktails that require just a few cocktail ingredients. On the other hand, there are some that require tools of the trade and some specialty items and bartender tools, like a cocktail muddler, jiggers, a cocktail shaker, or a full mixology set. For some, you might even need a mixology certification (see also: what is a mixologist) or a bartending license. The best cocktails for you will depend on a lot of personal factors, including:
- Who you’re making drinks for-or the occasion, like Valentine’s day promotion ideas for restaurants
- If you’re a professional bartender or an at-home connoisseur with all the home bar essentials
- The types of rum you have on hand
- The flavors you like to mix in (passion fruit is a fan favorite)
When it comes to how to make a cocktail with rum, there are two ways you can go about it. One option is to mix the rum you like with flavors that sound good and see how it turns out. This is definitely very experimental and could turn out great or not so great.
The other option is to stick with tried and true recipes for some of the best rum cocktails. People have been experimenting with rum and mixes for years, and a lot of great drinks have come from those years. While there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, if you want a great cocktail sticking to some classics is a great choice. You can even lean on the best cocktail recipe books for advice and inspiration, or you can look into the menu of a great speakeasy.
Cocktails with Pineapple Juice and Rum
A lot of the best rum drinks are cocktail drinks with pineapple juice and rum. From a classic Piña colada to rum punch, this delectable duo is responsible for many of the greatest rum cocktails. If you want to learn how to make a cocktail with pineapple juice and rum, any of these are a great option.
Piña Colada
One of the all-time greatest cocktails with pineapple juice and rum is the fan favorite Piña colada. This drink will never go out of style. The classic Piña colada is a mix of rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. There are other variations of this drink, but the classic will always be one of the best rum cocktails.
Rum and Pineapple Juice
Of course, you can always go really simple with your cocktails with pineapple juice and rum, and just mix those two ingredients together. This will be a very simple drink, and you can add garnishes, syrups, or anything else you may want.
Pineapple Mojitos
A great pineapple twist on a classic mojito makes for a great rum cocktail. This cocktail recipe requires:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Simple syrup
- Lime juice
- White rum
- Pineapple juice
- Club soda-not to be confused with tonic water
- Pineapple wedges or lime wedges for a garnish
All of this together makes for a very refreshing twist on a classic mojito.
Rum Punch
If you want to take it back to one of the earlier rum cocktails, rum punch is the way to go. This old school classic combines light rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange and lime juice, grenadine, and maraschino cherries for a garnish. You can also add orange liqueur if it's something you enjoy. We must admit, this has remained a classic for reason, it’s absolutely delicious.
Bahama Mama
To truly visit the tropics, you can’t go wrong with the Bahama Mama. This paradise in a glass brings together rum, coconut rum, grenadine, orange juice, pineapple juice, and ice. One sip will have you feeling the sand in between your toes.
Peach Cocktails with Rum
Another sweet flavor to mix with rum is peach. Rum cocktails with all manner of peach additions are often some of the sweetest concoctions. That said, the peach flavor lends itself to many flavor combinations. In addition to being sweet, it can also be rich and smokey at times.
Peach Daiquiris
When you think of peach and rum cocktails, one of the first that often comes to mind is a classic daiquiri, or a peach daiquiri. This sweet summer cocktails favorite combines peaches, a light rum, lime juice, and a bit of sugar. With all those flavors brought together, this is a great drink to enjoy on a hot summer evening.
Cuban Rum and Peach Cocktail
For a simple mix of peach and rum, you can’t go wrong with this Cuban rum and peach cocktail. This drink is a shaken up wonder of peaches and limes, white rum, peach schnapps, simple syrup, and maraschino cherries (learn more: what are maraschino cherries). Shake it all together and enjoy this simple, delicious cocktail.
Peach Mojito
If you’re a lover of mojitos in any form, this peach option will tickle your taste buds. The main recipe remains the same, you can even reference the pineapple mojito from earlier on this list. The only difference is the use of peaches or peach juice as your flavoring as opposed to pineapple juice.
Grilled Peach and Lemon Rum Cocktail
If you want a change of flavor with your peach rum cocktails, a grilled peach and lemon rum cocktail is a great option. This cocktail will take more work than the others on this list, but trust me, it is so worth it. To make it, you’ll need four peaches, basil leaves, honey, lemon, lemon rum, ice, and lemon lime soda. While the rest of the cocktails on this list are easy enough to figure out, for this one you should follow the directions.
Sweet Cocktails with Rum
While everything on this list is pretty sweet and delicious, there are some cocktails that are known even more for their sweet nature. If you’ve got an insatiable sweet tooth, learning how to make a cocktail with rum and some sweet treats is the best option for you. If none of these are quite your style, a Mai Tai also satisfies a sweet tooth. If you want something with a little more kick, a Dark 'n Stormy with dark rum and ginger beer will also satisfy.
Bushwacker Cocktail
A classic Bushwacker cocktail is often described as a mix between a chocolate milkshake and a Piña colada. This oh so sweet rum cocktail is a frozen milkshake mix of aged rum, Kahlua, crème de cacao, cream of coconut, milk, and ice. If you want to enjoy your rum as a delicious dessert, it's hard to beat a Bushwacker.
The Bee’s Kiss
If you want rum cocktail that’s as sweet as the bee’s knees, the bee’s kiss is the drink for you. This delectable treat is a mix of aged rum, cream, and honey simple syrup. You can make your own honey simple syrup by combining honey and water. You’ll be all a’buzz with this sweet rum treat.
Strawberry Daiquiris
If you want to make a great drink even better, take a daiquiri and make it even sweeter with strawberries. While a peach daiquiri is super sweet, something about the sweet tang of a strawberry makes this combo the best. You can disagree if you want, but be sure to try it first.
Holiday Cocktails with Rum
Of course, we can’t go through this list without including some of the best rum cocktails out there: the holiday cocktails with rum and winter cocktail recipes to warm your wintertime soul. During the holiday season we get some of the best rum cocktails. We even get to enjoy hot buttered rum in these warming drinks. There’s no reason you can’t make these at home and enjoy them whenever you need some of the holiday spirit.
Pumpkin Spiced Rum Cocktail
With pumpkin spice drinks being the talk of the world, this holiday rum cocktail list wouldn’t be complete without the pumpkin spiced rum cocktail. This festive treat combines pumpkin spiced sparkling cider, spiced rum, ice, and bitters. While the drink itself may be iced, the warm feelings it conjures up will last all winter long.
Cherry Eggnog
It wouldn’t be the holidays without eggnog, and this cherry eggnog is an extra special treat when the weather gets chilly. The full ingredients list is:
- A jar of maraschino cherries-or learn how to make maraschino cherries
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Half-and-half
- Rum
- Ground nutmeg
Of course, if you’d prefer to go the store bought route, you can always pick up some cherry rum to go with with your eggnog.
Hot Toddy
And the classic of a hot toddy is a classic for a reason. This steaming cup of holiday cheer can be mixed together with:
- Dark rum
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- Hot water or tea
- A lemon slice
- Apple cider vinegar if you’d like
There’s nothing quite like this simple rum drink on a cold winter’s night.
How to Make a Cocktail with Rum: All Year Long
Many of the cocktails on this list are best suited to different times of the year. You can, however, enjoy any of these classic rum cocktails any time of year. You can also mix up a rum and coke if none of these quite fit the bill. Keeping this list on hand will be a great way to enjoy rum throughout all sorts of weather, even on National Cocktail Day.