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Here are the best classic rum cocktails to make, made with white or dark rum! These popular fruity mixed drinks will please everyone, from classic favorites like the Mojito to unique drinks like the Old Cuban. As two cocktail experts, these are our top picks!

Rum cocktails
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Rum cocktails are some of the tastiest mixed drinks out there! Rum is often paired with sweet and fruity flavors, making cocktails that are very easy to drink. This liquor made from sugar cane became popular in the US as early as the 1700’s, and stars in some of the most classic cocktails like the daiquiri and the mojito.

This spirit is perfect for spiking frozen drinks like a frozen daiquiri, and great in hot drinks like buttered rum. Whatever the occasion or season—there’s a rum drink for that! As home cocktail experts who have over 300 cocktail recipes in our library, here are the top rum cocktails we think you should try!

Looking for a type of rum? Go to Top 10 Dark Rum Cocktails or 20 White Rum Cocktails.

21 classic rum cocktails

More unique rum cocktails

Looking for a few unique rum cocktails outside of the classic ideas? Here are a few creative spins on a rum drink:

Dark rum vs light rum vs aged rum

A few of the rum cocktails above use dark rum: something altogether different than the light rum you get for daiquiris and piña coladas! Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

  • Aged rum Also referred to as golden rum, amber rum, or añejo rum (meaning “aged”). Aging gives it a complex flavor, more like a Cognac. It has undertones of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel.
  • Dark rum is also aged; it has a dark color and a rich, developed flavor with caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla notes.
  • Light rum or white rum is clear and has a smoother, more straightforward flavor than dark rum.

More rum drinks

Here are a few more ideas for whipping up rum cocktails and drinks:

Frequently asked questions

What mixers go well with rum?

Rum pairs well with a variety of mixers, including fruit juices (lime, pineapple, orange), soda water, cola, ginger beer, tonic water, coconut cream, and various liqueurs.

Can I use any type of rum for any cocktail?

While you can experiment with different rum styles in cocktails, certain types are traditionally used for specific drinks. For example, a Mojito typically calls for white rum, while a Mai Tai is made with both white and dark rum.

What are some tips for making great rum cocktails at home?

Use fresh ingredients, quality rum, and follow the recipes exactly. Shake cocktails with ice to chill and dilute them properly. Garnish your drinks to enhance their visual appeal and aroma.

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21 Classic Rum Cocktails!

Rum punch
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No one can resist this Rum Punch recipe! Here are the classic ingredients that make a perfectly balanced tropical flavor.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ounce* (or 1 cup) white rum
  • 1 ounce (or 1 cup) dark rum
  • 2 ounces (or 2 cups) pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce (or 1 cup) orange juice
  • ½ ounce (or ½ cup) lime juice
  • ½ ounce (or ½ cup) grenadine
  • For the garnish: orange slice, cocktail cherry

Instructions

  1. For the single serving: In a highball glass, stir together all ingredients (in ounces), except for the grenadine. Fill the glass with ice and top with the grenadine. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.
  2. For party size (8 servings): Place all ingredients (in cups) in a punch bowl or pitcher, and add a few handfuls of ice. Add orange slices or wheels as a garnish.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

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More cocktails!

Outside of these rum cocktails, there are so many great cocktail recipes! Here are some of our best cocktail collections:

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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  1. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!