Recipe Roundup

23 Rum Drinks to Get You in a Summer Mood

These recipes will help your favorite bottle shine.

April 27, 2023

Two mojitos in a highball glass with mint and limes.

You probably know that rum loves bright lime and aromatic mint, rich coconut and spicy ginger beer. But chances are you haven't tried all the rum drinks below, and you just might find a new favorite flavor combination when you branch out. Rum can heighten bitter drinks made with Campari and Cynar and hold its own in cocktails both stirred and shaken (and frozen). Scroll down for 23 ways to make the most of that bottle on your bar cart—and reasons to grab a few different types of rum the next time you hit the liquor store.

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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
1/23
Jungle Bird
When people ask us to recommend rum drinks, this one is first to come to mind. It's refreshing and juicy, thanks to a pour of bitter Campari and fresh pineapple juice in the mix. Do not let another week go by without trying one.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
2/23
Classic Daiquiri
The best daiquiris aren't found from a slushie machine on spring break. Using just three ingredients (and some upper arm strength), you can make your own—and make them amazing.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
3/23
Piña Colada
This classic summer cocktail can be made with a variety of rums—or try layering in a combination of the bottles you have for more complex flavor. Whether you make a standard piña colada with rum and cream of coconut or a riff with sherry, this rich poolside drink will be a hit.
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Photo by Noah Fecks
4/23
Ti' Punch
If you're getting into rhum agricole, which is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, start with this classic way to drink it. As bartender and author Shannon Mustipher explains, serving it with ice “is considered sacrilege."
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano
5/23
Mojito
You might think of mojitos as a muddled rum-based drink, but bruising the mint can lead to acrid flavors. Just tearing and stirring the leaves into the drink will give you plenty of fresh flavor. You'll stir just a moment more after adding the club soda, so you don't lose the fizz.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
6/23
Dark and Stormy
Dark rum and spicy ginger beer are perfect partners in this easy sipper. Goslings has since trademarked the name Dark ’n Stormy; use their Black Seal rum if you want to keep things official. Before serving, squeeze in a lime wedge for a bit of brightness.
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Photo by Zachary James Johnston
7/23
Attitude Adjustment
A touch of beer can cut down the sweetness of a cocktail. This drink adds in lime juice, herbal green Chartreuse, and a touch of simple syrup, plus Matusalem Clasico Rum from the Dominican Republic.
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Photo by Andy Sewell
8/23
Queens Park Swizzle
If you don’t have a swizzle stick to make this cocktail, you can use a bar spoon to churn the drink, rotating the handle by rubbing your hands back and forth again. Don't skip the spicy Angostura bitters on top.
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Photo by Jordan Hughes
9/23
Rum Club Daiquiri
Our digital director adores this fragrant take on the daiquiri, which pairs aged rum with fresh lime juice, rich demerara syrup, maraschino liqueur, and a touch of absinthe.
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Photo by Lizzie Munro
10/23
Rosemary Mojito
You'll swap out the herbs in this rosemary-laced take on the classic minty rum cocktail, and use rich blackstrap rum instead of the lighter white rum usually called for in a mojito. The result is rich and flavorful, and while it's named for cooler weather, we also like this version with grilled food in the summer.
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Photo by Noah Fecks
11/23
Royal Dock Cooler
This easy rum punch from bartender Shannon Mustipher's book Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails gets its layers of flavor from pot still rum, Earl Grey tea (which has hints of bergamot), plus fresh grapefruit and a quick pineapple syrup.
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Photo by Noah Fecks
12/23
New Age Church Punch
This hibiscus rum punch with ground ginger, roasted pineapple, and lime comes from Nicole A. Taylor's The Up South Cookbook. Scoops of lime sorbet make it extra-festive.
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Photograph by Kelly Puleio
13/23
Tingly Pomegranate Rum Punch
The tingles in this rum punch come from an easy infusion: Just slip two tablespoons of Sichuan peppercorns in your bottle of rum, and you'll have a fabulous drink ingredient to combine with fresh lime and pomegranate juice.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
14/23
Mai Tai
This classic drink is best with a mix of rums, paired with fresh lime juice, nutty orgeat, and orange curaçao. (Like you need an excuse to buy more rum!)
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Photo by Paul H. Christian, Food Styling by Michele Figliuolo
15/23
Pineapple Mint Frozen Daiquiri
Did someone order frozen drinks? In this cooling variation on a classic frozen daiquiri, rum meets fresh pineapple, tart lime, and fragrant mint.
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Photo by Lizzie Munro
16/23
Art of Choke
If you like amaro, you'll adore this stirred combination of rum, Cynar, green Chartreuse, and lime. The mint garnish adds a bit of freshness.
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Photo by Dylan + Jeni
17/23
Three Dots and a Dash
This tiki drink gets its name from the Morse code for "victory"; it gets its kick from a potent blend of spiced liqueurs, with rum providing the boozy foundation. Lime juice and orange juice keep it fresh.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo
18/23
Long Island Iced Tea
Don't roll your eyes—this drink, when made right, can actually be quite balanced and tasty.
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Photo by Andy Sewell
19/23
Old Cuban
Part French 75, part mojito, all delicious.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
20/23
Coquito
This creamy Puerto Rican classic is worth saving in the Epi iOS app for winter.
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21/23
East India Negroni
This riff on the classic bittersweet negroni cocktail is made with rum instead of gin—plus a rich, nutty blend of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherries.
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Tara Striano
22/23
Rompope
Rompope is served chilled, often over ice, but it can be served warm when cold weather sets in. Either way, it's rich, velvety, and full of cheer.
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Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
23/23
Salted Strawberry Daiquiri
Adding a little salt can improve many cocktails, and this beautifully balanced recipe proves that rum drinks are no exception. Still not sure which mixed drinks to make for your next gathering? Maybe it's time to consider tequila cocktails. Everyone loves a margarita…
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