For some reason when I think of Rum, I think of the Caribbean. Probably because I love Jamacian Rum, but this beverage known as Rum is created the world over. There’s something exotic about drinking cocktails with rum, that I find drinking in warmer climates is essential. With quite a few cocktails to choose from, here’s a list of some of our favorite cocktail recipes with rum for you to try.
Daiquiri
There are many varieties of the Daiquiri, usually by add a fruity flavour to it such as the Mango Daiquiri, Passion Fruit Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri. There’s even a Guinness Daiquiri but today we’re showing you the original classic Daiquiri. It’s simple enough to make and most households (of alcoholic drinkers!) will have the 3 ingredients.
Your ingredients:
60mL Bacardi Carta Blanc White Rum
22½ml Fresh Lime Juice
22½ml Sugar Syrup
Your method:
Pour all your ingredients into your cocktail shaker.
Shake thoroughly until chilled.
Your mixture can now be strained into a cocktail glass.
You can add a slice of lime to the glass rim for garnish. You’re done.
Origins
Originally the drink was not served in a traditional cocktail glass like it is today. You’d find it served in a tall glass with lots of cracked ice.
Invented in Cuba at the time of the Spanish-American Civil War, American mining engineer Jennings Cox would pour a teaspoon of sugar over ice, followed by the squeezed lime juice. Then the Rum would be added and mixed with a long bar spoon to complete the drink. Today’s version is shaken in a cocktail shaker.
The drink became more popular in the 1940’s because whiskey and vodka became hard to purchase due to rationing after World War II. A ‘Good Neighbour’ policy was in place at the time, so Rum was much more easily accessible from Latin America and the Caribbean. The consequence of this was more popular Rum based drinks.
Pina Colada
Now don’t tell me you’ve never heard of a Pina Colada. Not only is it possibly the most famous Rum cocktail, it also features in a few song lyrics. The drink itself is made with Malibu, a coconut flavoured Rum from the Caribbean. If you love Rum & Pineapple, you’re really going to enjoy a Pina Colada.
Your ingredients:
30ml Malibu Rum
30ml Coconut Cream
90ml Pineapple Juice
Pineapple slice
Your method:
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
Add the Malibu Rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice.
Shake well then strain your ingredients into a chilled highball glass.
Top the remainder of the glass (if any) with pineapple juice.
Add sliced pineapple for garnish.
Origins
In 1978, Pueto Rico officially proclaimed the Pina Colada as it’s national drink. But who invented it? In 1954, a bartender at the Caribe Hilton named Ramón “Monchito” Marrero claimed to invent the famous drink. Apparently after experimenting for roughly 3 months, he eventually resolved on a recipe that captured the essence of the Puerto Rican style.
Apparently in the 19th century, a Puerto Rican pirate used to serve his crew with a similar drink and was known as the Pina Colada but when he died in 1825, the recipe was lost. So, good luck to Ramón Marrero for taking all the credit!
Mai Tai
For anyone that loves the tropics and cocktails, you’re going to be in your element with the Mai Tai cocktail. It’s a Rum based cocktail but encompasses tropical juices and flavors that will knock your socks off. It also comprises both dark and light Rum making it quite unusual. Here’s our original version of the Mai Tai cocktail.
Your ingredients:
20mL white rum
20mL dark rum
30mL lime juice
20mL orange curacao
15mL orgeat syrup
Pineapple wedge, to garnish
Maraschino cherries, to garnish
Ice
Your method:
Firstly, get your cocktail shaker out
Now and add all the ingredients.
Give a mild to good shake.
Prepare a tall glass with ice.
Strain your drink into the glass.
With a wedge of pineapple and Maraschino cherry, garnish your cocktail.
Origins
Two different men have claimed the Mai Tai cocktail recipe but only one stands up. Victor Bergeron claimed the drink in 1944 at his restaurant known as ‘Trader Vics’ in Oakland. His rival bar owner ‘Don the Beachcomber’ claims to have created it 11 years earlier in 1933 but it tastes different and seems to be more complicated to make.
As for Victor’s version of events, he had a friend called Carrie Guild visiting from Tahiti who loved the drink and yelled out “Maita’i roa ae!”. Apparently, this means “very good!”, and this is how the name Mai Tai came about.
Planters Punch
With an awesome fire color that makes your cocktail glow, this is the drink to be found with when lazing on the beach. Whilst the main ingredient of this article is Rum which powers up this cocktail, the addition of Angostura bitters on top complement the Rum nicely give that extra punch!
You will find many variations of the Planters punch but this is what we consider the original.
Your ingredients:
45ml dark rum
15ml lime juice
30ml pineapple juice
15ml orange juice
7ml simple syrup
Your method:
Grab you cocktail shaker and add all ingredients.
Throw in a handful of ice.
Shake well until outside of the shaker is chilled.
Strain your drink into a rocks glass over ice.
Use a pineapple wedge or lime wheel for garnish, along with a sprig of mint.
Origins
Like many other cocktails, the origins are hazy and disputed by some whilst agreed by others. The Planters Hotel in St Louis have staked the claim for some time. Apparently, the wife of a Jamaican planter contrived the drink to cool the workers down.
The New York Times displayed the drink in print in 1908 yet the London magazine Fun listed the recipe in 1878. So there is no definitive answer to the origins, just enjoy he drink!
