Rum cocktails
Rum ranges from light and grassy to dark and treacly, and the recipes here say which style to use. A white rum and an aged rum will cover nearly everything.
Fresh lime is non-negotiable. Bottled juice flattens these drinks more than any other.
15 recipes
White, aged and dark rum in cocktails
White rum is the lightest and cleanest in flavour, which is why it is used in the Daiquiri, the Mojito and the Piña colada. Aged rum has spent time in barrels and tastes of caramel, vanilla and dried fruit, so it suits drinks such as the Mai Tai and El Presidente.
Dark rum is richer and heavier, with molasses and spice. It suits the Jungle Bird and the hot drinks below. The Dark 'n' Stormy is tied to Gosling's Black Seal, which is the rum its name refers to.
How to make a Daiquiri
The Daiquiri is white rum, lime juice and sugar syrup: 50 ml, 25 ml and 15 ml. With only three ingredients, the balance matters, so measure carefully and use fresh lime.
Shake with plenty of ice for 12 to 15 seconds, until the shaker is frosty and painfully cold to hold. Strain into a chilled coupe. If it tastes too sharp, add a little more syrup; if it is too sweet, add a squeeze more lime.
The Mojito is built rather than shaken. Gently press mint, sugar and lime juice in a tall glass, add 50 ml white rum, fill with crushed ice and top with soda water. Pressing the mint, not shredding it, keeps it fresh instead of bitter.
Long, fruity and tropical rum drinks
Rum is the spirit behind most tropical drinks. The Piña colada blends 50 ml white rum with pineapple juice and cream of coconut. The Painkiller uses dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut over crushed ice, and the name is tied to Pusser's rum.
The Mai Tai is stronger and more sour, with aged rum, lime, orange curaçao and orgeat, while the Zombie is a very strong drink, so enjoy it slowly.
For a crowd, the rum punch combines aged rum, lime, pineapple and orange juice, sugar syrup and Angostura bitters, and is simple to scale up for guests.
Rum drinks for winter
Rum is also a good cold-weather spirit. The hot buttered rum mixes 50 ml dark rum with butter, brown sugar, allspice and just-boiled water. Eggnog combines aged rum with brandy, milk and cream.
You will find more warming drinks in hot drinks.
Questions people ask
What is the best rum for cocktails?
A white rum and an aged rum will cover most cocktails. Use white rum for light, citrusy drinks such as the Daiquiri and Mojito, and aged rum for richer ones such as the Mai Tai. Add a dark rum if you want to make a Dark 'n' Stormy or a Jungle Bird.
What is the difference between white and dark rum?
White rum is light and clean in flavour, while dark rum is richer, sweeter and more full-bodied. White rum suits citrus and mint drinks, and dark rum suits spiced, tropical and warming drinks. Aged rum sits between the two, with caramel and vanilla notes.
What is in a Daiquiri?
A classic Daiquiri contains only white rum, fresh lime juice and sugar syrup. The recipe uses 50 ml of rum, 25 ml of lime juice and 15 ml of syrup, shaken hard with ice and strained into a chilled coupe. Fresh lime juice is essential.
What is in a Mojito?
A Mojito is white rum, lime juice, sugar, mint and soda water over crushed ice. The recipe uses 50 ml of rum, 25 ml of lime juice, 2 teaspoons of caster sugar and 10 mint leaves. Press the mint gently rather than shredding it, or it turns bitter.
What is the easiest rum cocktail to make?
The Dark 'n' Stormy is one of the easiest: 50 ml of dark rum, 10 ml of lime juice and 100 ml of spicy ginger beer, built over ice in a tall glass. A Mojito is also simple, though it takes a little more preparation.
What is in a Painkiller?
A Painkiller is dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and sweetened cream of coconut, served over crushed ice with grated nutmeg. The recipe uses 60 ml of dark rum, 120 ml of pineapple juice, 30 ml of orange juice and 30 ml of cream of coconut.