Right after Vodka, rum is one of the most used spirits in modern cocktails. If you learn how to make these 11 classic rum cocktails, you will amaze all your friends at the next house party.
1. Classic Mojito
Mojito is a classic bubbly rum cocktail that tastes minty, citrusy, and a little sweet. Mojitos are an ultra-refreshing option on summer days. I feel like I am on vacation every time I make one or order one at my favorite place.
Prep: 10 mins
Ingredients:
- 10 small fresh mint leaves,
- Half a lime, cut into 4 wedges,
- 2 tablespoons of white sugar, or to taste,
- A handful of ice,
- 4 cl White Rum,
- Club soda, to top
Directions:
- Place mint leaves and a lime wedge into a highball glass.
- Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice.
- Add two more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture!
- Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water.
- Garnish with the remaining lime wedge or lime wheel.
2. Classic Pina Colada
The piña colada is a classic cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with either a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, or both.
Prep: 5 mins
Ingredients:
- 6 cl Light Rum
- 4 cl Cream of Coconut
- 4 cl Pineapple juice
- 2 cl Lime juice, freshly squeezed
Directions:
- Add the rum, cream of coconut, pineapple, and lime juices to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Strain into a Hurricane glass over pebble ice.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
3. Cuba Libre / Rum and Coke
We have already covered the Cuba Libre in a previous article. If you are curious about five alcoholic drinks every man needs to know, you can read our article on the topic: 5 Drinks Every Man Must Know How to Make and Drink.
Prep: 2 mins
Ingredients:
- 4cl White Rum
- Half a lime cut into 2 wedges
- Coca-Cola, to top
- A handful of ice
Directions:
- Put the ice cubes into the glass.
- Pour the rum first, give it a good stir with the ice, then top it with the Coke.
- Cut the lime into two quarters.
- Squeeze the juice into the glass, then put the pieces as well.
4. Classic Daiquiri
The classic daiquiri is an extremely simple recipe that requires just three everyday ingredients. It is also one of the freshest drinks you can make and an essential rum cocktail everyone should know and taste.
Since it only consists of three ingredients, we recommend using quality ingredients – including premium rum, fresh lime juice, and quality or homemade simple syrup.
Prep: 3 mins
Ingredients:
- 6 cl White Rum
- 2 cl Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- 2-4 cl Simple Syrup, to taste
- A handful of ice
Directions:
- Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
- Give it a good shake.
- Strain it into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Serve and enjoy.
5. Queen’s Park Swizzle
At Midway Gentleman Magazine, we’ve covered several white rum-based drinks before, but never a dark rum-based one. Queen’s Park Swizzle is a minty bitter cocktail that has a rather unique character.
Prep: 5 mins
Ingredients:
- 6 cl Dark Rum
- 3 cl Demerara simple syrup
- 2 cl Lime Juice
- 12-14 fresh mint leaves
- 6-8 dashes of bitters
Directions:
- Put the mint leaves in a highball glass, pour the lime juice and simple syrup over them, then muddle firmly.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Pour rum over crushed ice and swizzle well until the glass is ice-cold and frosted.
- Finally, fill the glass with more crushed ice and top it with aromatic bitters.
6. Painkiller
The Painkiller cocktail was invented in the 1970s in the British Virgin Islands at Soggy Dollar Bar. The drink was trademarked in the ’80s – so if it was mentioned on a menu, it should include the traditional Pusser’s Rum.
Of course, if you’re making it at home, you can use any type of aged or dark rum! The Painkiller is similar to the Pina Colada with a slight twist.
Prep: 5 mins
Ingredients:
- 6 cl Pusser’s rum
- 120 ml pineapple juice
- 3 cl orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 cl cream of coconut
- Nutmeg, freshly grated, for garnish
- Pineapple wedge, for garnish
Directions:
- Add the rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut to a shaker with ice and give it a firm shake to briefly combine.
- Strain into a hurricane glass or snifter over crushed ice.
- Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a pineapple wedge.
- Serve with a straw.
7. Mai Tai
Mai Tai is one of the most famous Tiki drinks in the world. Composed of rum, orange curaçao, fresh lime juice, and orgeat (a nuanced almond syrup). The drink bears swayed cocktail enthusiasts and Tiki lovers for decades.
The Mai Tai is such a famous drink that it is mentioned in many movies and books, such as “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike,” written by Phil Knight.
Prep: 5 mins
Ingredients:
- 4 cl White Rum
- 2 cl orange curaçao
- 2 cl lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 cl orgeat
- 1 cl dark rum
- A lime wheel for garnish
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Directions:
- Add the white rum, curaçao, lime juice, and orgeat into a shaker with crushed ice and shake lightly (about 3 seconds).
- Pour into a double rocks glass.
- Float the dark rum over the top.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig.
8. Strawberry Daiquiri
While we discussed the classic Daiquiri in a previous point, let’s shift our attention to its delightful Strawberry variation. This refreshing drink, resembling a smoothie, proves to be the ideal choice on scorching summer days.
Prep: 3 mins
Ingredients:
- 4 cl white rum,
- 2 cl strawberry syrup,
- 1 cl simple syrup,
- 100 grams of frozen strawberry
- Half a lime juice, freshly squeezed
Directions:
- Blend all the ingredients with crushed ice in a blender until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and serve garnished with a fresh or frozen strawberry! You can use any type of glass, from a margarita glass to a simple cocktail glass.
9. Easy Rum Eggnog
Who could imagine festive family gatherings without eggnog? There are many ways to make it, including different types of spirits. However, rum is one of the better options for liquor choice because it adds a sweetness that contrasts with the drink’s eggy flavor.
When making rum eggnog, you can go the traditional route with this recipe or mix up a quicker version that we’ll cover in a future article.
Prep: 10 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg, separated
- 2 teaspoons of superfine sugar, divided
- 2 cl heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cl aged rum
- Grated cinnamon, for garnish
- Grated nutmeg, for garnish
Directions:
- Separate the egg into two bowls.
- With a hand mixer, beat the yolk until stiff.
- Beat the white with 1 teaspoon of sugar until peaks form.
- Slowly fold (mix) the white and yolk together using a spoon.
- In a separate bowl, beat the cream with the almond and vanilla extracts and the remaining teaspoon of sugar until still. Add the rum and stir gently.
- Slowly fold the cream into the egg mixture.
- Serve immediately or let it chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Serve it in a punch or martini glass and garnish it with grated nutmeg and cinnamon.
10. Long Island Ice Tea
The Long Island Iced Tea was popularized in the 1970s and remained a beloved drink. Contrary to its name, Long Island Iced Tea does not include tea, only strong spirits.
As quoted by liquor.com – “the Long Island Iced Tea succeeds where so many of today’s refined cocktails fall short: It’s a strong one – nearly four ounces of alcohol against less than half that amount in mixers.“
It’s a strong drink to look out for when ordering or making it yourself.
Prep: 8 mins
Ingredients:
- Vodka – 2 cl
- White rum – 2 cl
- Silver tequila – 2 cl
- Gin – 2 cl
- Triple sec – 2 cl
- Simple syrup – 2 cl
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed – 2 cl
- Coca-Cola, to top
- Lemon wedge or lemon wheel, for garnish
Directions:
- Add the vodka, rum, tequila, gin, triple sec, simple syrup, and lemon juice to a Collins glass filled with ice.
- Top with a splash of the cola and stir briefly.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge or wheel.
- Serve with a straw.
11. Rum Punch
Prep: 5 mins (65 mins with chilling)
Ingredients:
- 2 cl white rum
- 2 cl dark rum
- 4 cl pineapple juice
- 4 cl orange juice
- 2 cl lime juice
- 4 cl grenadine syrup
- Handful of ice cubes
- Orange slices and maraschino cherries for garnish
Directions:
- Pour the juices, rums, and grenadine syrup, into a mixer and give it a good stir.
- Pop into the fridge to chill for 1 hr.
- Serve over ice cubes, garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry, speared with a cocktail stick.
Keep on reading: How I Learned to Host Amazing Parties, Every Time
