Rum is redolent of the Caribbean, with sandy beaches and blue seas. Cocktails made with rum, such as Banana Daiquiri, Havana Beach, El Presidente, Pina Colada and Bacardi Cocktail evoke the hazy, lazy days of summer on a tropical island beach.
Banana Daiquiri
Like many rum based cocktails, the Daiquiri originated in Cuba, close to a beach and an old mine of the same name. The original just consisted of rum and lime juice with added sugar, but now there are many variations available. This version has a pleasant banana flavour.
- 1 ounce of Bacardi light rum
- 1/2 ounce of Cointreau
- 1 ounce of lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce of simple syrup or very fine sugar
- 1/4 ounce Galliano
- 1 banana
- 1/2 ounce of light cream
Slice the banana and combine all the ingredients in a blender with 1/2 cup of crushed ice. Begin blending at low speed and then increase until the mixture starts to firm. Pour contents into a champagne glass and decorate with a slice of banana and a cherry.
Havana Beach Cocktail
Another Cuban cocktail, this drink is great for parties and easy to make in large quantities using a blender or food processor. Using a lime fruit ensures the drink is peppered with tiny green specks.
- 1 measure of white rum
- 2 measures of pineapple juice
- 1/2 lime fruit
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 measures of ginger ale
- 1 lime slice
Quarter the half lime fruit and put in blender with the pineapple juice, rum and sugar. Blend until smooth. Put 2 to 3 ice cubes in a large goblet and pour in the mixture. Top up with ginger ale and garnish with a slice of lime.
El Presidente Cocktail
There have been many Latin American presidents and there are as many cocktails honoring them. This one was created for President General Mario Menocal of Cuba in the 1920s.
- 2 measures of white rum
- 1 measure of rosso vermouth
- 1/2 measure of dry vermouth
- 1 teaspoon of grenadine
- 1 orange slice
- 1 cherry
- Ice cubes and crushed ice
Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add the rum, rosso vermouth, dry vermouth and grenadine. Shake well and strain into an old fashioned glass almost filled with crushed ice. Use the orange slice and cherry as decoration.
Pina Colada
Now known as the official beverage of Puerto Rico, the Pina Colada is a modern classic cocktail enjoyed worldwide.
- 1 ounce of white or light colored rum
- 1 ounce of pineapple juice
- 2 ounces of coconut syrup or coconut cream
Mix all the ingredients in a blender with some crushed ice. Pour into a tall glass and decorate with a cherry and slice of pineapple.
Bacardi Cocktail
Just as rum is synonymous with the Caribbean, so is Bacardi with rum. The owners of the trademark Bacardi, backed by the New York Supreme Court, have insisted that any cocktail with the word “Bacardi" in its name must contain Bacardi rum.
- 1/2 measure of Bacardi white rum
- 1 measure of lime juice
- 1/2 measure of gomme syrup
- 1 teaspoon grenadine
Pour the Bacardi rum, lime, gomme syrup and grenadine into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice cubes. Shake well and strain into a champagne saucer. Garnish with a cherry.
For exotic cocktails rum is the ideal base. For those that dislike the distinctive taste of rum there are always the gin based cocktails or vodka based cocktails. For those that do not use alcohol many rum based cocktails, such as Pina Colada can be converted to non alcoholic cocktails by removing the rum ingredient.
Laurence O'Sullivan - Larry O'Sullivan, Irish short story and freelance Article writer now living in Thailand. I am Irish, 55 years old and am now living in ...
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