The Best Rum Cocktail Recipes

Rum cocktail recipes

This spirit, derived from fermented and distilled sugarcane juice mixed with molasses, offers a variety of flavors from light and dry to full-bodied, making it a flexible choice for cocktails. Sourced mainly in the Caribbean, nearly every island produces its own version of rum from the Pyrat Cask 1623 in Anguillato Appleton Estate in Jamaica and each one has its own version of the famous rum punch cocktail.

GAYOT’s list of the Best Rum Cocktail Recipes features the other famous rum-based drinks, the mojito and the daiquiri, which allegedly originated in Cuba and also include sugar, the nation’s famous export. Whether you’re looking to impress your friends at a cocktail party or trying to discover new ways to mix up your favorite spirit, this list includes something for everyone.

Photo © Lee Corbett (@TheRogueBrusselSprout)

INGREDIENTS:
– Honey and shredded coconut for preparing the glass (optional)
– 1.5 oz Koloa Kaua’i Coconut Rum
– 0.75 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
– 0.5 oz Green Chartreuse
– 0.25 oz simple syrup

METHOD:
•
Brush a coupe or martini glass with honey and then roll it in shredded coconut (optional).
• In a cocktail shaker, combine the rum, lime juice, Green Chartreuse, and simple syrup.
• Shake well with ice, then strain into the prepared glass.

> .Cocktail created by Lee Corbett (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) and courtesy of Koloa Rum Company.

Abuelo Sparkler Cocktail

INGREDIENTS:
– 2 oz. Ron Abuelo Añejo
– 4 oz. sparkling wine
– Ginger ale

METHOD:
• In a champagne flute pour Ron Abuelo Añejo and sparkling wine.
• Top with ginger ale and garnish with a swirl of lime.

> Recipe courtesy of Ron Abuelo Rum

BACARDÍ Mojito

INGREDIENTS:
– 2 parts BACARDÍ Superior Rum
– 4 lime wedges
– 12 fresh mint leaves
– 2 heaped tsp Caster sugar
– 1 part soda water/club soda
– Sprig of fresh mint

METHOD:
• Take the lime wedges and squeeze them in the glass.
• Gently press together the limes and sugar.
• Bruise the mint leaves by clapping them between your palms, rub them on the rim of the glass and drop them in.
• Next, half fill the glass with crushed ice, add the BACARDÍ Superior rum and stir.
• Top with crushed ice, a splash of soda and a sprig of mint.

> Recipe courtesy of BACARDÍ FACUNDO Rum Collection

Dark'n Stormy Cocktail

INGREDIENTS:
– 2 oz. Gosling’s Black Seal Rum BUY NOW!
– 8 oz. Ginger Beer
– Ice

METHOD:
• In a highball glass, pour rum over ice, add ginger beer and stir.
• Ginger ale can substitute for ginger beer.

> Recipe courtesy of Goslings‘ Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum

Estate Daiquiri

INGREDIENTS:
– 1 1/2 parts Appleton Estate Reserve BUY NOW!
– 1 part lime juice
– 1/6 part simple syrup
– Orange peel

METHOD:
• Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a chilled Coupette glass.
• Garnish with orange peel.

> Recipe courtesy of Appleton Estate Reserve Blend Rum

Improved Wisecracker Cocktail

INGREDIENTS:
– 1 oz. Zacapa Rum 23 BUY NOW!
– 1/2 oz. lemon juice
– 1/3 oz. Amaro
– 1/3 oz. Demerara sugar
– Dusting Harissa powder for garnish
– Mint sprig for garnish

METOD:
• Combine Zacapa Rum 23, lemon juice, Averna Amaro and demerara sugar into a mixing glass.
• Shake well, and pour into a rocks glass.
• Garnish with mint sprig and Harissa powder.

> Recipe courtesy of Ron Zacapa Centenario Rum

Maui Mojito

INGREDIENTS:
– 3 to 4 fresh mint leaves
– 1 shot of Maui Platinum Rum
– 1 fresh lime
– 2 teaspoons of sugar in the raw
– 2 oz. of club soda

METHOD:
• In a tall glass, muddle the mint leaves and then add one shot of Maui Platinum Rum.
• Add juice from a fresh lime and sugar in the raw (more or less, according to taste).
• Stir vigorously for several minutes until the sugar dissolves.
• Add ice cubes and club soda, and stir gently.
• Garnish with a sprig of mint. Aloha!

> Recipe courtesy of Maui Rum

Rum cocktail Papa Viejo

INGREDIENTS:
– 1.5 oz. rum
– 1 oz. lime juice
– 0.75 oz. agave syrup
– 0.5 oz. Prosecco
– 10 mint leaves
– 5 dashes of Peychaud bitters

METHOD:
• Shaken
• Served in coupe glass
• Garnished with 1 mint leaf

> Recipe courtesy of The h.wood Group

Rum Punch

INGREDIENTS:
– 19 oz. Mount Gay Eclipse Rum BUY NOW!
– 18 oz. water
– 12 oz. grenadine syrup
– 13 oz. sugar syrup
– 4 oz. lime juice
– 1 oz. Angostura bitters
– 1 tsp. nutmeg

METHOD:
• In a punch bowl, mix all ingredients together.
• Allow to rest for two hours, serve over ice and garnish with a cherry.

> Recipe courtesy of Mount Gay Rum

INGREDIENTS:
– 1 oz.  Ron del Barrilito Two Stars BUY NOW! or Three Stars BUY NOW!
– ¾ oz. passion fruit juice or passion fruit syrup
– ¾ oz. cherry liqueur (such as Luxardo Morlacco)
– ¾ oz. Aperol BUY NOW!
– ¾ oz. fresh lime juice

Garnish: Lime wheel or brandied cherry (optional)

METHOD:
•
Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until well chilled.
• Double-strain over fresh ice into the serving glass.
• Garnish and serve.

Ron del Barrilito’s Tip: Using passion fruit syrup creates a richer, sweeter cocktail, while fresh passion fruit juice produces a brighter, more tart profile. Ron del Barrilito Three Stars adds extra oak, dried fruit, and spice for a richer variation. READ GAYOT’s REVIEW.