15 Summer Rum Cocktails

At the top of all summer rum cocktails? This mojito pitcher! The minty mojito is one of top favorite classic cocktails of all time. We created this big batch cocktail for summer entertaining, and it’s infinitely more fun to party with one of these in hand. It’s minty, tangy, bubbly.

When it comes to summer rum cocktails, the piña colada is up there! Did you know it’s actually a classic cocktail invented in the 1950’s? It’s gotten so popular that most restaurant versions stray far from the essence of the real thing. So what ingredients are really in this tropical frozen mixed drink? Here’s how to make a piña colada…the real way! 

One of our top summer rum cocktails is the Bushwacker! This one is equal parts refreshing and rich. Invented in the 1970’s, the Bushwacker is a mashup of a chocolate milkshake and piña colada. It’s lusciously smooth with notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla. 

All hail the Frozen Daiquiri! Did you know how easy it is to whip up this frozen drink? There’s no need for purchased mixes to make a daiquiri. Nope, all you need are a handful of ingredients to achieve massive flavor! This frozen spin on the Classic Daiquiri tastes intensely zesty from the lime and fruity from the rum. 

Also try: Banana Daiquiri or Mango Daiquiri

So you love piña coladas? Then you absolutely must try the Painkiller! This 1970’s summer rum drink is a spin on the classic piña colada, but even better. It stars aged rum, cream of coconut, and orange juice, which add intrigue and nuance to this sophisticated drink. Top it off with a little grated nutmeg, and wow! It’s fruity, tropical, and darn tasty.

It’s fruity, it’s extra boozy, and it’s 100% fun: meet the Hurricane! This New Orleans special is a bit of a splurge: and that’s exactly what it’s intended for. Loaded with two types of rum, it’s got a tropical nuance from passion fruit. A hint of grenadine gives it extra sweetness and a rosy-golden color. 

Ever tried to make a strawberry daiquiri at home? It tastes approximately 100 times better than the strawberry daiquiri mix from the store! Blend it up with frozen strawberries and it's fresh and delicious. It's a primo summer rum cocktail to cool off through the season.

Here’s a cocktail recipe that’s so pristine, it’s no wonder it’s got a long history. Try this Rum Punch recipe! The concept of rum punch goes back to the 1600's, though this one is similar to a spin from the 1900's. The balance of the ingredients is ideal: instead of overly saccharine is perfectly sweet tart, fruity, and tropical. In fact, it’s so good you won’t be able to resist another sip. 

Just 3 ingredients make up this classic cocktail: the Dark and Stormy! This refreshing summer rum cocktail has quite the reputation…because it’s just that good. Each ingredient has lots of personality: the rich, earthy dark rum, with vanilla and brown sugar notes. Add to that spicy ginger beer, fruity and filled with effervescent bubbles. Top it off with a squeeze of tangy lime, and there’s not much that’s better for a hot afternoon (or anytime!).

Here’s a bright blue drink that’s as beautiful as the ocean: the Blue Hawaii! This one is as classic 1950’s as it gets, from the crushed ice to the drink umbrella. Both vodka and rum feature in this sweet tart drink, along with a secret ingredient that brings in its ocean-tinted color.

When the summer heat is is at sky high levels, here’s a drink that will cool you to your core: the Frozen Mojito! The Classic Mojito is one of our top greatest cocktails of all time. And this frozen spin…well, it made our heads turn! It’s icy and outrageously refreshing: like someone amped up the dial on the mint volume on the original.

Try this Pineapple Rum Cocktail! It’s sweet tart, tropical and sophisticated with loads of nuance in the flavor, like a combination between a mojito and the famous Hemingway daiquiri. Make it using any type of rum you have on hand: with aged or dark rum for a classy vibe, or white rum for a straightforward take. 

Looking for a tasty, refreshing cocktail that takes 1 minute to mix together? Try Rum and Ginger Ale! It’s similar to a Dark and Stormy, but the ginger flavor is subtler and melts right into the rum. Add a squeeze of lime and it’s the perfect refreshing highball. It’s a great way to make a fast and easy cocktail with a bottle of rum. 

How to make a real Mai Tai? Well, this summer rum cocktail is breathtakingly complex in flavor, featuring rum, orange liqueur, and orgeat syrup. It’s just sweet enough, with nutty and vanilla notes against the sharp citrus. Float a little dark rum on top, and you get to the core of a Mai Tai: it’s sophisticated, nuanced, and might we say…extraordinarily special. 

Here's a unique drink with rum for summer: the Jungle Bird! It’s one of the few rum cocktails to pair tropical flavors with an Italian bitter: Campari. You might know Campari from the ubiquitous Negroni: an ultra dry and bitter drink. But add it to a tropical drink and the effect is surprising. Campari perfectly balances the drink and gives the finish an intriguing complexity.

Last up in our summer rum cocktails...want a Mojito topped off with champagne? (Yes, please.) Enter the Old Cuban: one part Mojito, one part French 75. This mashup cocktail is a modern classic created by a famous bartender in the early 2000’s. And it’s truly an incredible drink. It’s minty fresh, with complexity from the bitters and vanilla and coconut notes from the aged rum.