23 Essential Rum Cocktails You Have to Taste

They're popular, they're delicious, and they're filled with rum

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 07/12/24
Fact checked by
Elizabeth Brownfield
Elizabeth Brownfield
Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield
Elizabeth Brownfield is a writer, editor, and researcher who specializes in food, travel, home, and lifestyle content. She's worked on the staffs of Domino, Martha Stewart, Metropolitan Home, and Every Day with Rachael Ray magazines, and was Senior Digital Editor at Food Network.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process

Have you enjoyed a made-from-scratch daiquiri lately? What about a real mojito? If not, you're missing out on some of the best rum cocktails ever created. While rum is a popular base and featured in countless cocktail recipes, a few stand out.

These are the rum recipes that you need to taste, and the collection shows off rum's full potential. From the brilliantly simple dark and stormy to the warm and inviting hot buttered rum, there is a drink on this list for every occasion, season, and taste. Drinkers have enjoyed them for decades, and many also inspired other cocktails. By learning the essential recipes, you will soon be on your way to rum bar bliss.

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  • 01 of 23

    Daiquiri

    A Classic Daiquiri with a lime slice on the rim

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    The daiquiri is the first rum drink everyone should learn how to make. This is a fresh daiquiri mixed up with just three ingredients: rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. It's simple and once you learn how to make the basic daiquiri, the flavor possibilities are endless.

  • 02 of 23

    Strawberry Daiquiri

    A Strawberry Daiquiri with sliced strawberries on top

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    Typically, cocktail variations don't outshine the original, though this may be an exception. The strawberry daiquiri is arguably just as famous as the lime daiquiri, particularly the blended version of the two drinks. It's sweet, fruity, and boozy, so there's nothing you won't love about this iconic summer cocktail.

  • 03 of 23

    Mojito

    Two Mojitos in mason jars and topped with mint

    The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen

    The mojito is one of the most refreshing cocktails you'll have the pleasure of drinking. It's another easy drink with only a few ingredients: rum, mint, lime, sugar, and soda. After one sip, you'll discover why it's one of the best cocktails of all time, and soon, you'll be tossing all sorts of fruit into your mojitos.

  • 04 of 23

    Hurricane

    A Classic Hurricane drink with a cherry and orange slice on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    The hurricane is both tasty and potent because it has an abundance of rum. It is also a perfect introduction to tropical cocktails, known for complex flavors. The recipe includes light and dark rums, passion fruit, orange, lime juices, simple syrup, and grenadine. Not only is this an iconic rum cocktail, but it's also a signature drink of New Orleans, created at the famous Pat O'Brien's bar in the 1940s. It remains the drink to order anytime you visit.

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  • 05 of 23

    Piña Colada

    A Pina colada with a pineapple slice and a cherry on top

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Whether you blend it or shake it, few drinks say "summer" like a piña colada. This tropical dream in a glass includes light rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. While you can cheat and buy a pre-made piña colada, it is much more delicious when made fresh. Every sip takes you on a mental journey to the islands, so relax and enjoy!

  • 06 of 23

    Scorpion Bowl With Fresh Fruit

    A Scorpion Bowl Tiki Cocktail

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    This scorpion bowl with fresh fruit is a rum-based tropical cocktail with brandy, orange, lemon juices, and orgeat syrup. Pineapple and mango cubes are blended with the other ingredients to make a delicious punch that serves four.

  • 07 of 23

    Rum Swizzle

    A Rum Swizzle Cocktail

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    Expand your mixing techniques with the fun rum swizzle. This Bermuda favorite combines two rums with falernum, and orange and pineapple juices, but it's more about how the ingredients come together. For this cocktail, you'll use a swizzle stick (a bar spoon works) to churn the liquids in a glass filled with crushed ice. Called "swizzling," the method creates a frosty drink perfect for hot days.

  • 08 of 23

    Hot Buttered Rum

    A mug of Hot Buttered Rum

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    Rum is also perfect for cozy cocktails. When the cold months of winter hit, forget the fruit and make hot buttered rum. It's not as difficult as some people make it seem. All you need is a dark rum and a few kitchen pantry staples. If you find yourself enamored with this sweet, spicy winter warmer, make a large batch of the batter, so the next round of drinks is even quicker.

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  • 09 of 23

    Easy Rum Eggnog

    An Easy Rum Eggnog drink

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    When it comes to classic rum cocktails, none hold a candle to eggnog. This classic recipe is as traditional as it gets: rum, port wine, egg, simple syrup, and nutmeg. If you haven't made a cocktail with an egg before, don't be intimidated. With a strainer and a solid shaker, it's easy to do and tastes far, far better than even the highest-quality store-bought version.

  • 10 of 23

    Planter's Punch

    A Planter's Punch drink topped with an orange slice and cherry

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    Rum and punch go hand-in-hand, and it doesn't always fill a punch bowl. In most cases, a "rum punch" is a tall mixed drink with lots of fruit juices, such as the classic planter's punch. Which fruits go into it is a matter of personal taste. Some drinkers prefer pineapple, others like passion fruit, while others like to pour a medley of fruits. If needed, the recipe is easy to convert into a party-sized punch.

  • 11 of 23

    Jungle Bird

    A Jungle Bird Cocktail with a slice of pineapple on top

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    The garnish makes this tropical rum cocktail special. You'll use a pineapple wedge, a few leaves along with a cherry to create a "jungle bird" adornment for the glass. This drink also stands apart because while it is made with traditional rum, pineapple, and lime, it also has the addition of Campari for just the right touch of bitterness this drink needs.

  • 12 of 23

    Dark & Stormy

    Dark and Stormy Cocktail with a lime wedge on the rim

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    After a long day at work, happy hour is the time for a tall, refreshing drink that's super easy to pour. The dark and stormy is perfect for such times because it uses just three ingredients. Ginger beer is the drink's star attraction. To keep it authentic, pour Goslings Black Seal Rum and Barritt's Ginger Beer and add some fresh lime.

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  • 13 of 23

    Rum and Coke

    Three glasses of Rum and Coke

    The Spruce Eats / Claire Cohen

    Ah, the rum and Coke; It's almost too easy to warrant a recipe. However, even the easiest drinks can become a disaster. The primary issue with this perennial favorite is that people like to overpour the rum, which burns the flavor. To maintain balance, stick with a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3, and you'll never be disappointed.

  • 14 of 23

    Jean Harlow Cocktail

    A Jean Harlow Cocktail with a lemon peel on the rim

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    Each of the six base liquors has a version of the martini. For rum, that recipe is found in the Jean Harlow cocktail. Named after the first platinum-blonde movie star, this classic is a perfect dinner companion. Be sure to dress up the light rum and sweet vermouth duo with a lemon twist and express its oils into the glass.

  • 15 of 23

    Knickerbocker

    A Knickerbocker Cocktail with a lime wedge and raspberries on top

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    When you taste the Knickerbocker, it's hard to believe that this is a recipe from the mid-1800s. It's sweet and fruity, a flavor profile that many modern bartenders continue to replicate. That's why this classic cocktail remains a favorite. The rum, curaçao, and lime are sweetened with raspberry syrup, though today, it's common to use a liqueur like Chambord.

  • 16 of 23

    Cable Car

    A Cable Car Cocktail with an orange peel on the rim

    Robert Benson / Getty Images

    For an impressive rum sour, mix up a cable car. This modern classic uses spiced rum and requires a fresh lemon sour, which you'll have no trouble making and find quite useful for other drinks. Like many sours, it also calls for orange curaçao, though any orange liqueur will do.

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  • 17 of 23

    Caipirinha

    A Caipirinha Cocktail with a lime slice on the rim

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    It would be impossible to discuss the best rum cocktails without including the caipirinha. It features cachaça, and while it's technically not rum, it's often thought of as Brazilian rum. No matter how you look at it, this is one of the hottest drinks in the world, and it's beyond simple: muddle lime and sugar, then add cachaça. The formula opens the door for an array of variations and it's often as easy as using different fruits.

  • 18 of 23

    Rum Runner

    A Rum Runner cocktail with a strawberry on the rim

    The Spruce Eats

    A shining star in tiki bars since the 1950s, the rum runner is always a fun drink to mix up. Like many of its tropical counterparts, there are many ways to make it, though you're always assured of finding a good dose of rum and lots of fruity flavors. Since no one can decide on the original recipe, you'll have to try them all to discover which you like best.

  • 19 of 23

    California Surfer

    California Surfer (aka Surfer on Acid) Mixed Drink With Jagermeister

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    The best use for that bottle of coconut rum that you need to use up? Undoubtedly, it's the California surfer. This leisurely mixed drink has a surprisingly splendid flavor. It requires equal parts of the rum, Jägermeister, and pineapple juice, which makes it easy to remember and ensures you can't screw up the pour.

  • 20 of 23

    Chicago Fizz

    A Chicago Fizz Cocktail with a cocktail strainer in the background

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    The Chicago fizz is a high-class drink that offers a taste of adventure like few others can provide. This pre-Prohibition cocktail recipe is a classic fizz, featuring an egg white and a touch of club soda. Underneath is an intriguing mix of dark rum and ruby port accented by a little sweet and sour.

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  • 21 of 23

    Nevada Cocktail

    The Nevada Cocktail in three martini glasses
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    The Nevada cocktail is a pretty little drink and a refreshing gem. Think of it as a rum and grapefruit martini with an ideal balance of sweet and sour. Serve it up at a backyard barbecue or a spring brunch, and it's sure to delight all your guests.

  • 22 of 23

    Bacardi Cocktail

    Two Bacardi Cocktails with a cocktail shaker off to the side

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    In the history of rum, Bacardi played a significant role. Many of the first bartending guides specifically called for the brand or used the name when referring to rum in general. The Bacardi cocktail recipe helped make it a household name and, if you want to stay on the right side of the law, you need to pour Bacardi. It's a tasty drink, made with light rum, either lemon or lime juice, and grenadine.

  • 23 of 23

    Hot Gold Apple Cider

    Two mugs of Hot Gold Apple Cider

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    Invite a few friends over on a cold winter day and heat a pot of hot gold apple cider. Spiced rum, cinnamon schnapps, and cider create an intoxicating brew that is guaranteed to warm everyone up. With a sachet of spices added, this warm drink also fills your home with a cozy, inviting aroma.