Do you find yourself wishing you could figure out how to better enjoy rum? Or have you never branched out into rum drinks or tried anything beyond a simple beach cocktail? No matter what brings you here, if you’re looking for some great rum cocktails to sample at home or make for your friends, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ve put together a list of ten delicious and refreshing cocktails featuring rum in a starring role. By making or more of these drinks, you’ll be ready to kick back and relax in no time.
Classic Daiquiri
When learning how to make a rum cocktail, the classic daiquiri is a great starting point. Get this basic but important beverage under your belt and you can easily tweak it to your preferences.
¾ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 oz white rum
¾ oz simple syrup
Thinly sliced lime
Ice
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add lime juice and simple syrup, then pour in rum. Seal the shaker and shake very well for 30 seconds to chill the drink and combine well. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with the thinly sliced lime as desired.
Pina Colada
Get ready for the quintessential beach drink when you learn how to make the perfect pina colada. This drink isn’t nearly as complicated as it may seem!
½ cup frozen diced pineapple chunks
1-1/2 cup ice
2 oz coconut cream
2 oz fresh pineapple juice
1 oz dark rum
1.5 oz light rum
Pineapple slice or rings
Add ice to a blender. Pour in coconut cream, pineapple juice, dark rum, and light rum. Add frozen pineapple. Close the blender and blend on high until the drink is very smooth and well combined. Pour into a glass of your choice and garnish with the fresh pineapple rings or slices.
Hurricane
The hurricane is another important beach classic, and it’s also great for brunches and get-togethers too. It’s a very sweet treat, so it may not be for everyone.
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
2 oz dark rum
2 oz light rum
½ lime
1 tbsp grenadine
1 tbsp simple syrup
Orange slices
Maraschino cherries
Ice
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Squeeze the half a lime into the shaker and then discard the peel. Add the passion fruit juice and orange juice, then pour in the dark rum and light rum. Add the simple syrup and grenadine. Seal the shaker and shake well until the outside turns frosty and very cold. Strain the drink into a hurricane glass and garnish with the orange slices and cherries as desired.
Mojito
The basic mojito can be dressed up any way you like it. Adding blackberries is a nice touch once you’ve mastered the classic.
½ lime sliced into wedges
2 tbsp white sugar
10 mint leaves, fresh
½ cup club soda
1.5 oz white rum
1 cup ice
In a Collins glass, add mint leaves and one of the lime wedges and muddle together with a muddler or pestle. Add two of the remaining lime wedges along with the sugar and continue muddling. Leave the lime in the glass and fill with ice. Pour in rum and then top with the club soda. Stir lightly, just enough to combine the flavors. Garnish with the last lime wedge and serve.
Dark & Stormy
The dark & stormy is easy to make, but it may not always be easy to find the ginger beer required for it. Try looking during autumn when this drink is more prevalent.
½ oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 oz dark rum
3 oz cold ginger beer
1 candied ginger slice
Ice
Lime wheel
Add ice to a cocktail shaker to fill. Pour in rum and lime juice, then seal and shake very well to combine for about 30 seconds. Fill a Collins glass with ice and strain the drink over the ice. Pour in ginger beer and stir gently to combine. Garnish with the lime wheel and ginger slice.
Hot Buttered Rum
Get ready for the winter months with a hot buttered rum to help you out. This drink is a cozy and comforting way to warm up when it’s chilly outside.
1 stick butter at room temperature, unsalted
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
¼ cup honey
¾ cup spiced dark rum
Pinch of salt
2 cups boiling water
4 cinnamon sticks
Beat the butter together with the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and honey with an electric mixer until very smooth. Add mixture to a 4-cup bowl or other container. Pour in rum and then add boiling water. Stir to dissolve all ingredients and create a smooth drink. Serve between four mugs and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
Mai Tai
Nothing says vacation like a mai tai! Make these drinks for your next party and your friends are sure to come back for seconds.
1.5 oz coconut rum
1.5 oz spiced dark rum
2 oz orange juice
3 oz pineapple juice
1 tsp grenadine
1 cup ice
Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour in coconut rum, dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine. Shake very well until cold and combined. Fill a hurricane glass with ice and strain the drink over it. Serve immediately.
Rum & Coke
There are only a few ingredients in a rum & Coke, so it’s a great go-to when you don’t want to spend a lot of time or energy on a more complicated cocktail.
1 lime
2 oz rum, dark is best
Coca Cola
Ice
Slice the lime in half and then squeeze the whole lime into a Collins glass. Add two ice cubes. Add rum by pouring over the ice cubes. Add one of the used lime shells and top everything with the Coca Cola. Stir very gently to combine.
With so many great rum cocktails to pick from, you may have trouble deciding which one is right for you! Remember to choose based on the preferences you have with other cocktails. If you like sweet, stick to sweet; if you prefer something with many types of alcohol in one cocktail, go that route with your rum drink too. Trying rum cocktails doesn’t have to be a complicated experience, but you should approach it the same way you’d try any new drinks you’ve never had before. Whether you’re a beginner to rum or just looking for a great way to enjoy some new flavors, pick from the list above and get started right away!