Nothing feels better on a cold winter night than a warming rum cocktail to transport you to an island paradise, sipping your drink out of a coconut in your swimsuit on a sunny beach. Bliss. There’s also the option of heating up your rum and creating a truly decadent hot beverage to enjoy on cold nights, either by the fire or out watching the fireworks or Christmas lights turn on. And if you’re looking for a perfect brand of rum to enjoy in any of these classic rum recipes, then check out our friends at Sly Dog – you can order a bottle of their brilliant Sly Dog spiced rum with a card for your rum-loving mates.
We’ve got some easy rum cocktail recipes for you to try at home or in preparation for your next party, including some hot rum drinks, coconut rum cocktails and dark rum cocktails. And hey, while you’re here – if your bestie loves a rum cocktail more than a parrot loves a pirate, make sure you make their next birthday extra special with a rum birthday card. But now it’s time to grab your hula skirt and party hats, and let’s dive right into our best rum cocktail recipes!
Classic rum cocktail recipe
You can’t go wrong with a classic cocktail recipe, especially when it comes to rum cocktails. The sweet coloured nectar can go so easily with different ingredients to create deliciously smooth drinks, and it pairs perfectly with decadent fruits to create the perfect tropical treat. Our favourite classic rum cocktail is a classic mojito made with white rum – this old-fashioned cocktail has gained a new lease of life recently, and you can bring it back in style by using this timeless recipe at your next big do!
Classic mojito
Ingredients
- 60ml white rum
- soda water, to taste
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- small handful of mint leaves
Method
- Juice the lime, and add the sugar and mint leaves to a small glass or jug, crushing the mint leaves as you go – you can use the handle of a rolling pin to do this or a long-handled spoon.
- Stir the mixture together and strain into a tall glass.
- Using a long-handled spoon, pour over the rum while stirring.
- Pour over the soda water, garnish with mint, and serve.
Dark rum cocktail recipe
Dark rum may once have been the drink of choice for pirates, but it’s been reclaimed by us land-lubbers as the drink of choice for a classy cocktail. We love this twist on a classic cocktail, replacing the whiskey in an old-fashioned with dark rum to add a layer of sweetness to an already seductively smooth drink.
Rum old-fashioned
Ingredients
- 50ml dark rum
- 1 tsp sugar syrup
- a couple of dashes of orange bitters
- ice cubes
- a strip of orange peel, to garnish
Method
- In a mixing glass or jug, combine half the rum, the sugar syrup, and the bitters.
- Stir slowly with a mixing spoon as you add three ice cubes until the outside of the glass feels cold.
- Mix together the remainder of the rum with some ice cubes, and then add to the rest of the mixture.
- Pour the drink into a rocks glass or tumbler filled with ice and garnish with a piece of orange peel.
Coconut rum cocktail
Bring a taste of the tropics into your home with a coconut rum cocktail. The overly sweet coconut flavour is balanced beautifully by the more bitter rum alcohol, creating a concoction that is worth indulging in! Try our classic pina colada recipe for the ultimate Caribbean cruise for your tastebuds.
Pina colada
Ingredients
- caster sugar 100g
- white rum 60ml
- pineapple juice 75ml
- coconut cream 50ml
- pineapple wedge to garnish
Method
- Cook the sugar with 100ml water slowly in a saucepan, stirring occasionally, until it dissolves, then allow it to cool.
- Blitz the remaining ingredients, 2 tablespoons of sugar syrup and a few handfuls of ice in a blender.
- Place in a pina colada cocktail glass, with more ice if desired, and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Hot rum drink recipe
Whilst ice cold rum cocktails are delicious and are at the top of every cocktail lovers list, we bet you might not have thought of flipping a classic cocktail and turning it into a cosy hot beverage to enjoy on a winter’s night!
This salted caramel rum hot chocolate combines the richly sweet flavours of salted caramel and hot chocolate with the more mellow rum taste and creates a truly tasty toasty treat! This cocktail with spiced rum is also another great way to enjoy festive flavours.
Salted caramel rum hot chocolate
Ingredients
- 25ml dark rum
- 2 tsp dulce de leche or thick caramel
- 150ml whole milk
- 50g finely chopped milk chocolate
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- Optional: Squirty cream and caramel syrup
Method
- Mix the caramel/dulce de leche and rum together in a small bowl until the mixture is well-combined and smooth, and set it aside.
- Heat the milk in a saucepan over a medium heat until it simmers.
- When it reaches a simmer, remove it from the heat and slowly stir in the chocolate until it melts.
- Return the pan to the heat and warm it briefly, then add the rum mixture and flaky sea salt.
- Pour into a mug – if you’re really wanting a festive treat, then top with squirty cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup, then sit back and enjoy!
And there you have it! Hopefully amongst our favourite rum recipes you’ve found one that has either piqued your interest or you’re already writing your shopping list for the ingredients to get them right now.
Want to really impress your fellow cocktail lovers at your next party? Why not take a look at our top Christmas cocktails you can make yourself, or even our guide on how to plan the best office Christmas party ever. You can also find the perfect Christmas card for the cocktail lover in your life with our cocktail and alcohol related Christmas cards.
