Here are the best classic rum cocktails to make, with either white or dark rum! These popular fruity mixed drinks will please everyone.

Rum cocktails

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. It’s 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.

Looking for specific rum? Go to Top 10 Dark Rum Cocktails or 20 White Rum Cocktails.

And now…the top classic rum cocktails to try!

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:

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Rum punch

21 Classic Rum Cocktails!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink 1x

Description

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


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

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Rum cocktails

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

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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