What is a Rum Runner?
A Rum Runner is an alcoholic cocktail comprised of four different liquors – rum, blackberry brandy, orange juice and grenadine. The taste is sweet and tart with underlying notes of coconut and pineapple. The drink was created in the late 1950s by Tiki bartender Don Beach in Florida’s Holiday Isle Resort & Marina. It quickly gained popularity across the United States and has since become a classic favorite among drinkers everywhere.
Ideal for sipping on warm summer days or enjoying at Caribbean-style parties, the Rum Runner offers a harmonious combination of flavors, including underlying notes of coconut and pineapple. In this article, we provide a step-by-step recipe, tips on selecting the best rums, and ideas for creative variations, so you can enjoy this iconic beverage in the comfort of your own home.
This refreshingly fruity beverage creates an atmosphere worthy of any tropical paradise – perfect for sipping while listening to Calypso music or dancing the night away at your very own Caribbean-style party!
Rum Runner Ingredients
These delicious concoctions are made up of just 5 ingredients: light rum, dark rum, lime juice, orange juice and grenadine syrup. For those who like it extra strong add some blackberry brandy too! To make sure you get all the flavors combine equal parts each ingredient except for the orange juice which should be doubled.
Don’t forget to also pick up some crushed ice as well as fresh limes for garnish – these will really elevate your Rum Runners from good to great!
How To Make A Rum Runner Cocktail
Making this delectable elixir couldn’t be easier! Just fill a highball glass with crushed ice then pour 1 ounce each of light rum, dark rum and blackberry brandy over it (optional).
Next add 2 ounces each of lime juice and orange juice followed by one tablespoon grenadine syrup. Stir everything together until evenly combined then top off with more crushed ice.
Finally garnish with a few slices of lime before serving – enjoy responsibly!
Variations On The Traditional Recipe
If you’re feeling adventurous why not try out something new? Experimenting with other types of fruit juices or adding seasonal flavors such as mint or elderflower can bring exciting new twists on this classic tiki drink.
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Fiery Rum Runner: Add a dash of hot sauce or a slice of jalapeño to the cocktail for a spicy kick.
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Floaters: Add a floater of high-proof rum (e.g., Bacardi 151) or an overproof rum on top of the finished cocktail for an extra potent finish.
- Berry Rum Runner: Muddle fresh berries, such as strawberries or blackberries, in the cocktail shaker before adding the remaining ingredients for a burst of berry flavor.
- Coconut Twist: Add a splash of coconut rum or coconut cream to the Rum Runner for a creamy and tropical touch.
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Spiced Rum Variation: Replace the light or dark rum in the traditional Rum Runner recipe with spiced rum for a warm and aromatic twist.
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Tropical Fruit Twist: Experiment with adding different fruit juices, such as mango, passion fruit, or guava juice, to complement the existing orange and pineapple flavors.
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Banana Rum Variation: Use banana-flavored rum in place of regular rum for an extra burst of banana flavor.
Best Rums For Your Favorite Drink
When making any kind of cocktail its important to use quality ingredients if you want maximum flavor . And for our beloved Rum Runners there’s nothing better than selecting premium rums from renowned distilleries around the world.
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Light Rum:
- Bacardi Superior: A versatile and smooth light rum that is commonly used in cocktails.
- Flor de Caña 4 Year Extra Seco: A crisp and light-bodied rum from Nicaragua that adds a clean flavor.
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Dark Rum:
- Myers’s Original Dark Rum: A rich and full-bodied Jamaican dark rum with molasses and spice notes.
- Goslings Black Seal Rum: A dark and flavorful Bermudian rum that adds depth to the cocktail.
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Spiced Rum:
- Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum: A bold spiced rum with notes of vanilla and cinnamon, adding warmth to the drink.
- Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum: A popular spiced rum with hints of caramel and spices.
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Flavored Rum:
- Cruzan Banana Rum: A banana-flavored rum that enhances the tropical flavors of the cocktail.
- Malibu Coconut Rum: A coconut-flavored rum that adds a creamy and tropical twist to the Rum Runner.
Have fun experimenting until you find what works best for you . Don’t forget though all these amazing options come at varying prices points so always keep quality vs budget in mind during your search process .
Rum Runner
Ingredients
- Ingredients:
- - 2 parts dark rum
- - 1 part blackberry liqueur
- - 1 part banana liqueur
- - 2 parts orange juice
- - 2 parts pineapple juice
- - Dash of grenadine syrup for color
Instructions
- Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
- Pour in the dark rum, blackberry liqueur, banana liqueur, orange juice and pineapple juice into the shaker.
- Shake well for 10 to 15 seconds or until the outside of the shaker becomes frosted.
- Strain drink into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice and float grenadine on top for added color and sweetness if desired.
- Garnish your Rum Runner cocktail with an orange slice or cherry before serving cold!
Glassware
A Rum Runner is typically served in a highball glass, which has a stem and foot and is taller than an old-fashioned glass. The vessel should have enough room to contain the multiple ingredients that make up this classic tropical cocktail.
Mai Tai: This popular tiki drink is usually served in either a double Old Fashioned or hurricane glass. The double Old Fashioned glass has more of a squared off look while the Hurricane has curved sides similar to those found on traditional tiki mugs. Both glasses provide ample space for the mix of rum, orange curaçao, lime juice, orgeat syrup and simple syrup involved in making this delicious cocktail.
Flavors
A Rum Runner is a delightful tropical cocktail made with dark rum, banana liqueur, orange and pineapple juice. It has a distinct flavor profile that evokes the Caribbean islands.
The dark rum gives this drink its base of sweetness and warmth, while the banana liqueur adds a creamy note to it. Pineapple and orange juices bring tartness as well as brightness to the flavor profile of this beverage. Combined together these ingredients make for an exotic taste that’s sure to please any palate!
The unique combination of flavors in Rum Runner makes it an ideal drink for summer days spent by the beach or poolside. The sweet notes from the dark rum are balanced out by citrusy acidity from both pineapple and orange juices – creating a refreshing yet indulgent taste experience! Plus, with its beautiful hue of amber-orange color, you can be sure that every sip will be aesthetically pleasing too!
