Rum, the alcoholic beverage distilled chiefly from the juice obtained by pressing sugarcane or from its byproducts like molasses, is surely amongst the most popular of alcoholic drinks. Rum is enjoyed by drinking connoisseurs all over the world as much as whiskey, tequila, brandy, vodka, liqueur, and other globally popular spirits. One good reason for rum’s enduring popularity is that it serves as an ideal base drink when it comes to preparing cocktails.
Rum is preferred as a base for concocting a classic array of heady cocktails including but not limited to Daiquiris, Pina Coladas, Mojito, Zombies, and Hurricanes. Rum has a mild flavor, is appetizingly sweet, and the fact that it is eminently affordable is what makes it a hit with its admirers. You’ve an astonishing range of sweet spirits, juices, and fruits to choose from when cocktailing rum.
Following are some classic cocktails that you can consider preparing, using rum as a base drink, for spicing up your poolside party on weekends.
The Zombie Cocktail
Recipe type-cocktail; prep time-3 minutes; serving-1 drink
Ingredients
- Light rum, 1 ounce
- Dark rum, 1 ounce
- Lemon juice,1/2 ounce
- Orange Curacao liqueur, 1 ounce
- Lime juice, ½ ounce
- Passion fruit syrup (or puree), 1-1/2 ounce
- Orange juice, 1-1/2 ounce
- Angostura bitters, 2 dashes
- Grenadine, ¼ ounce
- Julep strainer
- Seasonal fruits (for garnishing)
Preparing the cocktail
- Take a highball glass and fill it up with ice
- Transfer the dark rum, light rum, lemon juice, orange Curacao liqueur, lime juice, orange juice, fruit syrup, Angostura bitters, and grenadine into a cocktail shaker
- Shake the ingredients thoroughly so they blend smoothly
- Slide the Julep strainer into the highball glass before pouring the cocktail shaker’s contents into it
- Flavor the mix with the diced fruits
Tips you can follow for blending a perfect Zombie
- There are many variations of the Zombie cocktail and the ingredients you use underlines the specific type or kind of zombie mixer
- You can glance through the different Zombie recipes simply by googling the keywords ‘zombie cocktails’ on your web browser
- Always fill the glass with ice-either crushed or cubes
- Use a large Collins glass or highball glass, preferably a 12-ounce one or better still go for a ‘zombie glass’
Mojito
Recipe type-cocktail, prep time-5 minutes, serving-1 drink
Ingredients
- Light rum, 2 ounces
- One lime, sliced into two equal portions
- A dash of club soda
- Sugar, 2 teaspoons
- Mint or basil leaves, 6-8 units
- Mint or basil sprigs for garnishing
Preparation of the cocktail
- Take a Collins glass or highball glass and transfer the leaves of mint, dash of club soda, and sugar to it
- Use a muddler for mixing the ingredients in the glass as well as to make the mint leaves to exude their characteristic aroma
- Make sure the muddling softens the sugar as well
- Press the juice thoroughly from both the lime halves
- Add one of the squeezed halves of lime to the glass
- Now pour the rum and whisk
- Fill up the glass with crushed ice or ice cubes (according to your preference)
- Top off with club soda
- Throw in the basil or mint sprig for flavoring
Piña Colada
Recipe type-cocktail, prep time-3 minutes, serving-1 drink
Ingredients
- Light rum, 2 ounces
- Pineapple juice, 2 ounces
- Coconut, 1-1/2 ounces
- Maraschino cherry and pineapple rings for garnishing
Preparing the cocktail
- Place a Collins glass, cocktail glass or highball glass in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes for chilling it
- Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice
- Pour the light rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut in the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for thorough blending
- Wedge the maraschino cherry cuttings and pineapple rings onto the glass rim
Planter’s Punch
Recipe type-cocktail, prep time-3 minutes, serving-1 drink
Ingredients
- Dark rum, 1-1/2 ounces
- Grenadine, 1/4th ounce or a combination of lime juice (1/2 ounce) and syrup (1/4th ounce)
- Juice of pineapple, passion fruit or orange (2 ounces)
- Fruit slices (for flavoring)
- Club soda (optional)
Preparing the mix
- Fill up a large highball or Collins glass with whole or crushed ice cubes
- Take a mixing glass and transfer the light rum, grenadine, and pineapple juice
- Mix the contents in the mixing glass in a manner that they blend well
- Now place a cocktail strainer atop the highball glass
- Filter the mixing glass’s contents through the strainer into the highball glass
- Top up with club soda
- Add slices of fruits
Bahama Mama
Recipe type-cocktail, prep time-3 minutes, serving-1 drink
Ingredients
- Coffee liqueur, 1/4th ounce
- Coconut liqueur, ½ ounce
- Dark rum, ½ ounce
- High-proof (151-proof) rum, 1/4th ounce
- Lemon juice, ½ ounce
- Pineapple juice, 4 ounces
- Maraschino cherry or strawberry for the garnish
Preparing the cocktail
- Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice
- Keep a highball glass or hurricane glass filled up with ice cubes
- Now, transfer the coconut liqueur, coffee liqueur, dark rum, high-proof rum, lemon juice, and pineapple juice into the cocktail shaker
- Shake forcefully so that the ingredients mix up perfectly
- Filter the blend through a cocktail strainer into the highball glass
- Add the strawberry or cherry slices for imparting flavor
The quintessential Daiquiri
Recipe type-cocktail, prep time-3 minutes, serving- 1 drink
Ingredients
- Light rum, 1-1/2 ounces
- Fresh lime juice, 3/4th ounce
- Syrup, 1/4th ounce
Preparation instructions
- Pour the light rum, syrup, and fresh lime juice into a cocktail shaker prefilled with cubes of ice
- Shake well for thorough mixing of the contents
- Pour the mix into a cocktail or martini glass via a Julep strainer that has been chilled beforehand