I feel the same way. Of all the liquors out there, rum is one of my favorites because it’s so smooth and blends so well with most ingredients. As such, it’s hard for me to pick my favorite rum cocktails, whether dark, white, spiced, or something else. I decided to make it easier on myself by limiting these recipes to dark rum cocktails only. If you’re looking for other rum cocktails, check out this list instead. Now, let’s get to it.
1. Caribbean Rum Punch
Caribbean rum punch is ideal for anyone who loves Hawaiian Punch or drinks with lots of fruity flavors. It has a fun, festive summer color, and the taste is even better. You’ll make it with orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, rum, dark rum, and grenadine. It’ll give you a nice alcohol punch, but you won’t notice the bitter liquor flavor. Both rums blend seamlessly with the fruit juices, and the grenadine brings the whole thing together and gives it that bright color. It’s mostly sweet, a little tangy, and 100% yummy.
2. Rum Sour Cocktail
If you’re looking for something that’s just as delicious but much tarter, try this recipe for the rum sour instead. It features a golden yellow color and a biting, slightly acidic taste. To make it, you’ll only need three ingredients: dark rum, lemon juice (preferably freshly squeezed), and simple syrup. You can also add lemon slices, maraschino cherries, and mint for garnishes if you like. The simple syrup tones down the sourest edges of the drink. However, it’s still brilliantly tart, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you’re in luck. Feel free to play with the lemon juice to simple syrup ratio to find that perfect balance that suits your tastes.
3. Dark and Stormy
So far, we’ve had sweet, and we’ve had sour. Now let’s talk about the dark and stormy, the perfect drink for those looking for something a bit spicier. You’ll mix up your dark rum, lime juice, and ginger beer over ice, stirring to make sure everything is blended well. Top it off with a lime wedge, and you’re good to go. It’s a bright, lovely golden drink with a rich, spiced flavor, thanks to the five ounces of ginger beer. The ginger also really brings out the darkest, earthiest notes in the rum, making this one complex and unique drink you won’t want to miss.
4. Mojito With Dark Rum
Traditionally, you’ll make the crisp and minty mojito with white rum. This recipe uses dark rum instead. You’ll still use mint leaves, raw sugar, lime, and seltzer water. But the substitution of dark rum changes the mojito in some subtle – and not so subtle – ways. The first difference you’ll notice is the drink’s color, which looks like watered-down Coca-Cola. The taste is distinctly different, as well. It’s bolder, spicier, and has a more alcohol-heavy flavor, though that isn’t bad in this drink. If you’re looking for an excellent cocktail to sip along with your lunch, this is the one you’ll want.
5. Hot Buttered Rum
It takes about 10 minutes to whip up this sweet, buttery, and spiced cocktail, but it’s the perfect drink for enjoying the snow on a cold winter’s night. It’s so rich and creamy, and the whipped cream and extra spices on top give it the most heartwarming, charming holiday flair. Pro Tip: The batter is pretty thick when you make it, but the ⅔ cups of hot water and the two ounces of dark rum should be enough to thin it down to the perfect sipping consistency. If not, add more hot water one teaspoon at a time until it gets to where you want it.
6. Mai Tai
Now let’s switch gears and move away from winter drinks and back into summertime cocktails. The Mai Tai is a hugely popular drink that’s sweet, fruity, nutty, and tangy all at once. To make it, you’ll combine aged rum, dark rum, orgeat syrup, lime juice, and orange liqueur. Then, add your garnishes as you like. There’s a lot of complexity under that bright yellow surface, and I tend to believe what a bartender once told me, which was that “No two Mai Tais will ever taste the same.” They’re all pretty delectable, though!
7. Bahama Mama
If you’re looking for a fruity mixed drink that’ll help transport you to a tropical paradise with just one sip, stop looking: The Bahama Mama is the drink for you. With both dark and coconut rum, grenadine, pineapple juice, and orange juice, this drink is about as tropical as it gets. Hence, the Bahama Mama name!
8. Painkiller Cocktail
I don’t know if this lovely, light yellow drink will kill your pain, but it’ll certainly help you forget about it for a while. It, too, is a tropical delight, and you can have it ready in just 5 minutes. It’s pretty similar to the Bahama Mama. It features dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, cream of coconut, a dash of nutmeg, and whatever fruity garnishes you want to add. It’s light and tartly sweet on the surface, but underneath, a rich, spiced flavor adds depth and complexity.
9. New Orleans Hurricane
If there’s a cocktail on this list that people know even better than the Mai Tai, it’s probably the Hurricane, a New Orleans classic. You’ll make it with both light and dark rum, juice from oranges, passion fruit, and limes, simple syrup, grenadine, and your preferred garnishes. It has such a bright, sweet flavor, and it looks gorgeous, too. It takes only 5 minutes to make two of them, and even though you’ll use four ounces of rum, you can barely taste the alcohol. That’s my kind of drink!
10. Pina Colada
And of course, I didn’t forget about the pina colada. This well-loved but simple drink is sweet, slushy, coconut-flavored, and yummy to the max. The cream of coconut and pineapple juice give it a delightfully tropical base. The white and dark rum bring notes of vanilla, caramel, spice, and oak. Finally, the lime juice, ice, and pineapple chunks add zestiness and texture. This is one cold, refreshing drink that just about everyone loves. Click on a star to rate it!
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