19 Rum Drinks to Sip Whether You’re on a Beach or Not
There’s a special place in our hearts for kitschy glasses with paper umbrella garnishes, but rum drinks go far beyond piña coladas and frozen daiquiris. A popular choice for tropical mixed drinks, rum has a warm, grassy flavor that pairs well with bright, bold flavors, such as citrus, ginger, or fruit juices like passion fruit (as in the Hurricane, considered by many the signature drink of New Orleans; though that distinction actually belongs to the Sazerac). But some of the most classic rum-based cocktails lean into elegance and simplicity: A mojito stirred with a piece of sugarcane or a sleek Cuban sour (a.k.a. the OG daiquiri).
Rum ranges in color from clear to deep amber. Unaged white rum is clear with a mild flavor, while aged white rums offer more complexity. Gold rum has a light amber hue and a warm, grassy flavor with vanilla, caramel, and citrus notes. Dark rum offers a deeper color and more intense flavor with strong notes of caramel and butterscotch. Darkest of all, black rum is a complex, full-bodied spirit (particularly good in hot buttered rum). Variations include spiced rum, coconut rum, rhum agricole (which you can think of as the rum family’s equivalent to moonshine), and more. So pick the type of rum you like best, break out the shaker, and get ready to mix a rum drink even Jack Sparrow would envy.
Photo by Alex Lau1/19BA’s Best Piña Colada
One of the most iconic rum drinks, this classic piña colada is made with fresh pineapple, cream of coconut, and coconut milk, plus a powerful blend of white and dark rum. The real trick to this frozen drink is to blend it, freeze it, and then blend it again. And don’t even think about skipping the maraschino cherry on top.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, prop styling by Allie Wist2/19Mai Tai
Next to the Painkiller, this rum drink might be the most recognizable tiki cocktail around. The blend of white and dark rums get a hefty dose of lime juice, orange curaçao, and simple syrup. Orgeat, an almond syrup, lends delicate nuttiness.
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano. Prop Styling by Maeve Sheridan and Molly Longwell3/19Mojito
Alex Lau4/19Dark and Stormy Slushy
This frosty riff on the classic Dark and Stormy is best sipped poolside—ideally without a cloud in the sky.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Mieko Takahashi, prop styling by Tim Ferro6/19Banana-Infused Rum Old-Fashioned
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio7/19Spicy Citrus Refresher
Jalapeño simple syrup heats up this big-batch cocktail recipe’s tart-sweet combo of lime and orange juices. It works well with a splash of rum, but it's just as fun to drink when you’d rather skip the booze.
Photo by Laura Murray8/19Homemade Eggnog
Dark rum adds toasty depth to this classic holiday cocktail. Want to change it up? Try a coquito, Puerto Rico’s creamy, coconutty version of the festive punch; or this dairy-free eggnog is made from a combination of cashew, hazelnut, and coconut milks.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime10/19Salted Strawberry Daiquiri
A pinch of salt balances the juicy strawberry syrup and white rum in this fruity daiquiri. Serve this supremely refreshing drink alongside your favorite strawberry dessert.
Alex Lau11/19Rhubarb Daiquiri
A homemade rhubarb syrup adds spring flair (and the requisite tang, along with fresh lime juice) to this pretty pink rum drink.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriot14/19Evening in Kingston
Topped with sparkling wine, this bubbly riff on a negroni pairs amber rum with Campari and sweet vermouth.
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano. Prop Styling by Maeve Sheridan and Molly Longwell15/19Daiquiri
Kristen Kilpatrick16/19Bird of Paradise
Inspired by the Jungle Bird—a tiki drink made with Campari, pineapple juice, and blackstrap rum—this recipe swaps bittersweet Aperol for Campari but keeps the pineapple leaf garnish.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris17/19Summery Sour
Let your guests choose their own adventure with this summery sour cocktail: The fruit syrup pairs well with dark or light rum, gin, tequila, or mezcal.
