Spirits & Liqueurs Rum

11 Rum Cocktails to Try Right Now

Tiki drinks are great, but there’s a lot more to the spirit.

By
Olivia French
Olivia French
Olivia French is writer and content creator based in Charlotte, N.C., whose experience spans cocktail trends, travel and lifestyle.
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Updated 08/4/20
Hurricane cocktail

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

If you like Piña Coladas or any other rum-based cocktail, this is the roundup for you. You might associate the versatile spirit with tropical locales and Tiki drinks (and we have plenty of those in here), but it’s also fabulous when showcased in more spirit-forward sips, as well. From fruity favorites like the Hurricane and Banana Daiquiri to elegant drinks like a Rum Old Fashioned and even a rum-based Manhattan twist from star bartender Meaghan Dorman of Dear Irving, you’re sure to find a favorite among these 11 cocktails. 

  • Banana Daiquiri

    Banana Daiquiri

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This twist on the classic is an ode to the topics. The combination of aged rum, crème de banane liqueur and fresh lime juice come together to create a drink that has classic shaken Daiquiri taste with a just-right hint of banana flavor.

    Get the recipe.

  • Mojito

    Mojito

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The Mojito has roots that trace all the way back to 16th-century Cuba, and one sip is enough to prove why it has stayed around for so long. The mix of white rum, lime, fresh mint, simple syrup and club soda is so delicious that you won’t mind the little extra work it takes to get all the ingredients muddled just right.

    Get the recipe.

  • Rum Old Fashioned

    Rum Old Fashioned

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    An Old Fashioned with rum? Don’t knock it ’til you try it. You just might find that the blend of dark rum, demerara syrup, allspice dram, orange bitters and Angostura bitters sometimes suits your mood even better than a tried-and-true Bourbon Old Fashioned. In any case, it’ll be the perfect way to switch up your spirit-forward cocktail repertoire. 

    Get the recipe.

  • One Last Midnight

    One Last Midnight

    Noah Fecks

    Let rum’s true beauty shine in this spirit-forward take on a rum Manhattan from bartender Meaghan Dorman of New York City’s Dear Irving. Two kinds of vermouth—lush Cocchi Torino and bitter Punt y Mes—bring a dynamic richness, while a spritz of Islay scotch adds smoke, and a pinch of coffee salt brings a unique yet subtle savoriness. Enhance the drink’s elegance by serving it over one large ice cube.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 5 of 11 below.

  • Canchánchara

    Cachanchara

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Hailing from Trinidad, Cuba, the Canchánchara is a hidden historical secret that you need to try. The mix of white rum, lime, honey and soda water is meant to be served in traditional clay mugs, but a regular glass mug will do if you can’t make the trip to purchase one from the potter in Cuba.

    Get the recipe.

  • Mai Tai

    Mai Tai cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Perhaps the best-known Tiki drink, this classic is said to have been created by Trader Vic himself. It’s the perfect cocktail for showing off your bartending skills as well as your signature blend of rums, plus curaçao, lime juice and orgeat. Garnish with a lime wheel and mint sprig for a proper flourish.

    Get the recipe.

  • Dark ’n Stormy

    Dark and Stormy

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This two-ingredient cocktail couldn’t be simpler to make or more delightful to drink. Just add ice and dark rum (Gosling’s Black Seal, to make it properly) to a highball glass and top with ginger beer, then garnish with a lime wedge. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Daiquiri

    Daiquiri

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This is the granddaddy of rum cocktails and the pride of Havana. Though it might have a mixed (er, blended?) reputation, this recipe is how the Daiquiri is supposed to be enjoyed. Light rum, fresh lime juice and demerara sugar syrup are all you need to make the bright-flavored drink in the classic way.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 9 of 11 below.

  • Piña Colada

    Pina Colada

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This creamy classic—a blend of light rum, cream of coconut and pineapple and lime juices—dates back more than half a century to its invention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our version eschews the blender in favor of a good shake with pebble ice. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Watermelon Mojito

    Watermelon Mojito cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    If you love a standard Mojito, with its blend of rum, lime juice, mint and soda water, you’ll adore this fruity twist on the Cuban cooler that adds watermelon to the mix. It couldn’t be more refreshing for the hottest of summer days. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Hurricane

    Hurricane cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Invented in New Orleans in the 1940s, this boozy mix of light and dark rums, lime and orange juices, passion fruit puree, simple syrup and grenadine, shaken and served in its signature eponymous glass, is like a trip to the French Quarter without the plane ticket. 

    Get the recipe.