15 Summer Rum Cocktails

At the top of all summer rum cocktails is the mojito pitcher! The minty mojito is one of top favorite classic cocktails of all time. I 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 king. 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. Here’s how to make a piña colada…the classic way.

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

Did you know how easy it is to whip up this drink? There’s no need for purchased mixes to make a frozen daiquiri: you just need a few simple ingredients. This frozen spin on the Classic Daiquiri tastes intensely zesty from the lime and fruity from the rum. Also try my Banana Daiquiri or Mango Daiquiri.

If you love piña coladas, 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 it's fruity and tropical.

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. It's so seriously fruity and refreshing, it's one of my top summer rum cocktails.

Ever tried to make a strawberry daiquiri at home? It tastes so much 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.

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 my favorite cocktails of all time, but I might like the icy version even better: it's so refreshing and like someone amped up the dial on the mint volume on the original.

Here's a rum cocktail that'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. 

This refreshing summer rum cocktail is simple and so good. Each ingredient has 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.

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.

This rum drink is 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. 

Here's a refreshing cocktail that takes 1 minute to mix together: 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? 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: sophisticated, nuanced, and 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 it perfectly balances the drink.

Last up in my favorite summer rum cocktails: a Mojito topped off with champagne. 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. It’s minty fresh, with complexity from the bitters and vanilla and coconut notes from the aged rum.