Gallery: 9 Rum Cocktails to Make for National Rum Day

The Swarm rum cocktail
Autumn Giles

Ok, we know that National Rum Day is really not the kind of holiday people plan parties around...but on the other hand, it's Friday, and you might as well fix yourself a rum drink. Here are nine recipes for rum cocktails we love.

  • Bermuda Black

    Bermuda Black rum cocktail
    Jessica Leibowitz

    This variation on the classic Dark & Stormy punches up the ginger flavor with spicy fresh ginger juice and a combination of two different rums. A float of dark beer dries the drink out nicely.

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    Dave Arnold's Thai Basil Daiquiri

    Thai Basil Daiquiri
    Brent Herrig

    At Booker and Dax in NYC, the team freezes the basil leaves for this rum drink with liquid nitrogen, and then muddles them to a matcha-like powder before adding the sweets and spirits. This home version of the recipe requires making a batch for at least two so that the liquid rises above the blender's blades. But you won't have any trouble drinking it all, we promise.

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    Hibiscus Rum Cooler

    Hibiscus Rum Cooler
    Robyn Lee

    This easy pitcher drink gets its color from brewed hibiscus tea. It's mixed with mint, lemon, and rum, and topped off with soda for fizz. The result is rosy and refreshing.

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    The Swarm

    The Swarm rum cocktail
    Autumn Giles

    If you haven't tried Cynar yet, we highly recommend that you do. This bitter liqueur can add quite a bit of interesting flavor to cocktails, as shown here in this concoction, simply made with rum, lemon, and honey.

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    Jungle Bird

    Jungle Bird cocktail
    Alice Gao

    We learned about this drink from Theo Lieberman of The Lantern's Keep in NYC; it originated in the Aviary Bar at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton, circa 1978. Lieberman's description says it all: this cocktail, made with rich Cruzan blackstrap rum, bittersweet Campari, fresh pineapple, and lime "tastes like you're eating pancakes covered in maple syrup and drinking a cup of coffee."

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    The Hawthorne's Mojito

    mojito
    J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

    Do you ever get annoyed with the bits of mint and lime pulp that get stuck in your teeth when drinking a mojito? This version from The Hawthorne in Boston solves the problem by straining the lime and rum-based drink through a tea strainer while adding a bit of complexity with a dash of bitters.

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    Admiral Schley Punch

    Admiral Schley Rum Punch
    Wes Rowe

    Since we first published this historical cocktail, several friends have told us it's become a go-to drink for them. No wonder: the cocktail, originally printed in Baker's The Gentleman's Companion, is darn delicious. You'll need Cruzan Blackstrap rum for richness, plus lime, sugar, bourbon, and mint.

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    Grilled Pineapple Mojito

    Grilled Pineapple Mojito
    Heather Meldrom

    Grilling slices of fresh pineapple brings out the sweet, juicy flavor of the fruit (and adds a little char.) Muddle it up with mint and rum and you have the perfect drink for a cookout.

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    El Floridita Daiquiri

    Daiquiri with slice of lime
    Robyn Lee

    Sometimes it's the little changes that make a difference in a drink: this version of the classic Daiquiri is sweetened with maraschino liqueur, and the result is a cocktail with more depth and seductive aroma.

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