Did you know, at Christmas time rum is in season. Sugar cane grows across the tropics, so there’s harvest going on somewhere. Harvest is nearly finished in Louisiana and just finishing in parts of Australia. So, the festive season is the perfect time to enjoy the world’s most diverse spirit.
Historically, cocktail innovation took off in the late 1800s, and early 1900s in North America, then the roaring 1920s golden era during the prohibition. In recent times, craft cocktails took off in the 2010s craft spirits boom era. Today, the classics remain, as well as riffs and twists on them, so we’ll embrace that spirit.
Designed to be poured with what you have in the kitchen, shot glass, an egg cup or similar within reason!
You can make your own simple syrup, or sugar syrup, flavour with seasonal cinnamon or nutmeg
To save cross-Atlantic measurement confusion, we made these easy parts-based recipes. A ‘what you have,’ be it shot glass, egg cup or jigger. Nice and simple to take the stress out of entertaining.
1. RUM PUNCH
The quintessential party starter, going back to the 1600s, rum punch can be easily modified to your taste.
RECIPE: 1 part sour (citrus), 2 part sweet (grenadine), 3 parts Jamaican or local rum, 4 parts fruit juice, top with grated nutmeg. Multiply quantities per serve, mix in a bowl with ice and serve!
2. ESPRESSO MARTINI
Espresso martini is always better with rum! We know this thanks to the tasty science of the Maillard Reaction. Take your party drinks to the next level with this seasonal twist!
RECIPE: 2 parts Guyana or Barbados rum, 1 part coffee liqueur, ½ part gingerbread syrup and 1 part espresso, cocoa bitters. Shake with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Expect this to be a popular after dinner pick-me-up.
3. HOT BUTTERED RUM
This cold climate cosy seasonal favourite enters the party. Make in batches, stove ready.
RECIPE: 2 parts Central American rum, 1 part butter, 1 part brown sugar, ¼ part hot water, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp allspice, 2 drops of vanilla essence (Combine all ingredients in a mug and stir until the butter and sugar are melted and combined. Pour in hot water, stir to combine and strain before serving. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, a nutmeg grating and a sprinkle of sea salt.
4. STONE FENCE
Before cocktails were a thing, in New England the seasonal apple harvest and rum created the perfect serve. Refreshing over ice, or try it heated as a delicious mulled hard cider drink. Stone Fences all round!
RECIPE: 2 parts American or local rum, 5 parts hard cider, 1 dash Aromatic bitters. Combine in a tall glass with ice & stir. To serve the hot version, combine and heat on the stove, multiply serves as required, and garnish with winter spices.
5. COQUITO
A Puerto Rican seasonal classic, make it in advance in large bottles and store in the fridge ready to pour.
RECIPE: 2-part Puerto Rican rum, 1 part coconut milk, 1 part condensed milk, 1/2 part evaporated milk, 1/2 part cream of coconut, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, 2 drops of vanilla essence. Multiply quantities per serve, blend all & refrigerate until serving and garnish. Top with a sprinkle of sea salt.
To make your own coconut milk, use 1 part desiccated coconut to 2 parts water, scale it, mix it and cloth strain. Try making your Coquito weeks out from the gathering.
6. MANGO COOLER
Southern hemisphere or tropical climates can stay cool this festive season with this juicy refresher.
RECIPE: 2 parts South East Asia, Australian or Pacific rum, 2 parts mango juice, 1 part apple juice, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part club soda. Combine into glasses with ice and garnish with rosemary sprigs for some festive feels!
7. DAIQUIRI
A bar room classic. Citrus is in season so use what you have, and for a seasonal twist switch out lime juice for tangerines or clementines and use maple for simple syrup. To discover rum profiles for daiquiri on our world rum map
RECIPE: 2 parts Light rum or try Rhum Agricole, 1 part lime juice, 1 part simple syrup. Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. Or add a twist and use mandarin orange, clementine’s or another seasonal citrus. This too can be spiced, or use a spiced rum as your base.
8. MOJITO
A classic bar room cocktail. Do you go with the classic recipe or festive up with cranberry juice and pomegranate seeds.
RECIPE: 2 parts Cuban rum, 1 part lime juice, ¾ part simple syrup, 6 mint leaves, club soda. Muddle the mint, lime and simple syrup. Add the rum, ice and top with club soda. Stir and garnish with a mint.
Use our map to explore producers you’d like to use in this cocktail.
9. PIÑA COLADA
Beach vibes with this dreamy rich classic winter sun rum cocktail. If you like piña coladas, and gettin’ caught in the rain..
RECIPE: 2 parts Puerto Rico or nearby island rum, 1 part coconut cream, 2 parts pineapple juice. Blend with ice until smooth and creamy. Pour into a chilled hurricane glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.
9. RUM SOUR
To clear the candy palate, and try this as a cleansing refresher.
RECIPE: 2 parts Trinidad rum or Fiji rum, 1 part orange juice, 1 part lemon juice, ½ part simple syrup, egg white. Combine all in a shaker, dry shake, then with ice and strain into glasses and garnish with winter berries or spices.
11. RUM OLD FASHIONED
Get comfortable with this tasty treat. A classic to enjoy when the chocolates are shared round.
RECIPE: 2 parts Venezuelan, Panama, Philippines or Dominican rum, 1 brown sugar cube, 2 dashes bitters. Muddle sugar & bitters, add rum & ice cubes, stir to dilution & garnish with an orange twist!
12. DARK ‘N STORMY
The moody favourite of northern European rum lovers, have yourself a merry spicemas!
RECIPE: 2 parts Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, 4 parts ginger beer, ½ part lime juice. Add rum, lime & ice in a highball glass and top with ginger beer.
Sundries
To make a jar of simple syrup ahead of gatherings: heat equal parts water and sugar. To make the syrup sweeter use more sugar or leaner by using less sugar. You can add spice or citrus if you like and store in the fridge until serving.
If you want to be really fancy you could prepare ahead of time a small barrel-aged, fat washed or smoked cocktail for some festive party wow factor. But the above recipes are designed to use your cupboard stables over the holidays.
Continue the festivities and enjoy these delicious drinks into the New Year Celebrations as well.
And, please drink responsibly.
