10 Rum Cocktails You Can Make At Home

In every cocktail, success is achieved by respecting the doses and using the right drink. When it comes to making rum cocktails, you might need a variety of rums to achieve the drink of choice. For instance, if you want to make the dark and stormy you need Jamaican dark rum instead of a bottle of white rum. Otherwise, you run the risk of overpowering the rum via other ingredients in the cocktail. On the other hand, to make Caribbean coco, a 3-year-old rum would be more suitable than an aged rum.  

So how do you know which rum to use for which cocktail? In the list below, you will find the simplest yet quick recipes you can use to make rum cocktails, with the particular rums and dosages indicated. Without further ado, let’s begin with the

1. Tortuga

Born in the Caribbean, this is the rum to make you feel like you’re on a vacation. You should know that there are different ways to make the Tortuga cocktail. However, since we are going for the simplest and the one that utilises ingredients in our home, this recipe from Rum House is the best way to achieve the fastest results.

Ingredients

• 60ml El Dorado 8-year rum (preferably)
• A dash of cinnamon powder
• A dash of orange juice
• A dash of lemon juice
• 5oz simple syrup

Preparation

1. Combine the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
2. Put some fresh ice into a rock glass then strain the mixture into the glass.
3. Use candied ginger on a skewer to garnish.

   2. Cuba Libre

Born in Cuba after American captain Russel ordered a Bacardi gold rum with coke and lime to celebrate a free Cuba, the Cuba Libre is a traditional symbol marking the end of the Cuban War of Independence. This cocktail bears a light, crisp and subtle sweetness, which comes from the classic iteration of rum and coke.

To make it you’ll need;

Ingredients

• 60ml Bacardi Gold Rum
• 120ml Coke
• 2 lime wedges

Method

1. In a tall glass filled with ice, squeeze the lime wedges.
2. Add the rum, then coke and serve.

3. Hurricane 

Usually served in a hurricane glass, this drink is a treat to both your eyes and your palate. The original recipe is made using four ingredients – including one part black rum, one part white rum, one part passion syrup and one part lime juice. Nevertheless, you can tweak the recipe according to your preference. To make the best hurricane cocktail you will need;

Ingredients

• 60ml dark rum
• 60ml white rum
• 60ml passion fruit syrup
• 30ml orange juice
• 30ml lime juice
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• Ice cubes
• A slice of pineapple or orange to garnish

Preparation

1. Put in 5-6 ice cubes in a cocktail shaker then add all the other ingredients over the ice.
2. Shake until the shaker feels cold.
3. Add ice cubes in the hurricane glass then strain the mixture into the glass.
4. Garnish with a slice of pineapple or orange fruit then serve.  Don’t forget the straw.

This is an ideal kick to have over a long conversation with friends, and family or during weekend parties.

4. Mojito

Recognised as the most popular cocktail across the world, you wouldn’t be amiss to add a mojito recipe to your list of cocktails. It is a simple yet immortal cocktail that can be taken during the day and alongside pairings such as spicy chicken wings, shrimp, chicken curry and zucchini risotto. For a good glass of mojito, you will need;

Ingredients

• 40ml of white rum
• 30ml of lime juice
• 2 tablespoons of refined white sugar
• 7 leaves of mint (spearmint, Hierba Buena)
• Soda
• Ice

Preparation

1. In a highball glass, add the sugar and lime juice.
2. Stir well then add mint. Pin down with a pestle and add ice, white rum and soda to fill.
3. Slap the mint leaves, and put them in the glass. You can garnish using a sprig of mint or with strawberries for a change.

Making a Cuban mojito is much simpler since you do not need to pound the lime. With plain juice, white rum that doesn’t need to be expensive, and mint – particularly the Hierba Buena, you will be able to achieve a tall glass of mojito with a balance of freshness, alcohol, sweetness and minty suggestions as preferred.

5. High colour buck

This seasonal drink is a play on a ginger-based cocktail also known as a buck and the dark and stormy rum. It is simple yet a classy and tasty drink to serve guests and friends.

Ingredients

• 5oz rum
• 5oz Cruzan blackstrap rum (float)
• 5oz ginger
• 75oz lime juice
• soda
• 1 strawberry

Preparation

1. Muddle the strawberry in a shaker tin
2. Add the rum, lime juice, ginger and shake with ice,
3. Put some ice in a Collins glass, then fine-strain the mixture into the glass and top with soda.
4. Float the remaining Cruzan blackstrap rum on the cocktail and garnish.

   6. Passion fruit Mojito

If you love the sweet, tart and floral flavour of the passion juice this is the recipe to try.

Ingredients

• 60ml white rum
• 30ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1½  teaspoons unrefined sugar
• 4 sprigs of divided fresh mint leaves
• 1 passion fruit or 1 tablespoon of passion fruit puree
• 30-60ml of chilled club soda.

Preparation

1. Start by wrapping a handful of ice cubes in an ice bag or kitchen towel.
2. Using a rolling pin or mallet, tap on it to crush the ice into pieces. The result should be pea-sized to snowflake-sized pieces of ice.
3. Add the rum, lime juice, 3 sprigs of mint and the passion fruit/puree in a cocktail shaker. Muddle the mint and the passion fruit a few times to break them and draw out flavours.
4. Fill a tall glass with ice up to ¾ then pour in the contents from the shaker.
5. Stir and top the rest of the glass with club soda. You may add more ice if necessary.
6. Garnish with the left mint then serve.

You can pair the passion fruit mojito with toasted, salted snacks like peanuts.

7. Daiquiri

This legendary drink is mostly loved for its elegance and simplicity. With just 3 ingredients, you are able to make a splendid aperitif that can stand by itself or be paired with fish dishes and shellfish. To make the Daiquiri you will need.

Ingredients

• 45ml of rum
• 20ml lime juice
• 5ml of sugar syrup

Preparation

1. Chill a martini glass with 3 pieces of ice cubes. You can discard the ice once the glass is chilled.
2. In a shaker that has ice, pour in the rum, lime juice, and sugar syrup
3. Shake for 12 seconds and strain the contents into the Martini cup.
4. Garnish with a slice of lime and serve.

You may like to know that due to its high contents of vitamin C, Daiquiri was the drink used to combat scurvy in the 1700s. It was not until later after the Cuban revolution was this cocktail served in the bars of New York and across the world.

A cup of Daiquiri pairs well with spicy foods like chicken curry, fish, chips, seafood and every food with shrimp.

8. Black Russian

This is a legendary drink for a legendary night.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. ground coffee,
• 250ml dark rum,
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup (optional),
• 150ml vodka,
• 150 ml, ice

Preparation:

1. Take 4 tumblers and pour 25 ml of the coffee rum mixture.
2. Mix double cream and vodka in a jug.
3. Take a spoon over the ice and pour the boozy cream so it overflows into the glass. This will help the cream to float over the coffee liqueur.
4. Serve with something to stir.

   9. Pina Colada

Whether you’re in a tropical mood, or just craving a refreshing drink to quench your thirst, you can never go wrong with a glass of Pina colada. As the name suggests, Pina- pineapple, Colada – strained, you need to crush the pineapples, the to get some juice.

To make this cocktail you will need;

Ingredients

• 30ml of white rum
• 90ml of pineapple juice
• 30ml of coconut milk
• Ice
• A slice of pineapple

Preparation

1. After getting the juice from fresh ripe pineapples, pour it into a blender and add rum, coconut milk and ice.
2. Blend for 15 seconds till you attain a fluffy or creamy texture.
3. Pour the contents into a large glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple
4. Serve with a straw.

   10. Dark and stormy

Yet another titillating long drink that will excite you for its finesse and elegance. It is very simple to make and you only need 3 ingredients to achieve this rich drink. Unlike the light aperitif dark and stormy has a high alcohol content so you might want to consider that as you entertain your guests.

Ingredients

• 60ml of dark rum
• 10ml of ginger beer
• Lime wedge

Preparation

1. Combine all the ingredients in a high-ball glass filled with ice.
2. Garnish with a slice of lime.

A dark and stormy pairs well with barbecue, fish, pasta salad and spicy dishes. Did you know that if you added 20ml of lime juice to this cocktail you get a Moscow mule but made with rum? Try it. Speaking of Moscow mule check out other vodka cocktails that you can make at home.

Check out easy cocktails to make in your next house party.

Here are a few cocktails you can make with other alcoholic drinks – vodka, whiskey, gin, cognac, and Martini Cocktails.  If you are a Famous Grouse fan here are additional recipes you can check out – Famous Grouse cocktails you can make at home. If you are a liqueur fan then you can check out these Magnum Cream Liqueur cocktails you should try

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