These Rum Cocktails Bring A Taste Of Extravagance To Every Day

A few simple, good quality ingredients and a well-crafted, mid-range rum can make cocktails such as a Mai Tai taste expensive.

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Although National Rum Month is coming to a close, it doesn’t mean we can’t continue enjoying this versatile spirit beyond the warm days of summer. Sure, rum is often identified with the sunny beaches and tropical climate that characterizes most of its places of origin. But rum has come a long way, and it’s now made in places as far as Scotland and enjoyed in fireside cocktails during colder months.

With rum’s rise in popularity, so have the options for premium, high-end rums that may not be within reach of everyone’s pocket. However, there are ways to make fabulous rum cocktails with less expensive options, using good quality yet inexpensive ingredients to elevate the taste.

When it comes to rum, you don’t have to break the bank to sip on something delicious, says Bridget Albert, senior director of external communications at Southern Glazer’s and host of the Served Up Podcast. “Rum is one of the most versatile spirits out there, because of its big, bold flavor, you can use simple, affordable ingredients to create cocktails that taste like they came from a bar menu.”

Other experts agree that you don’t need to spend a lot to make great rum cocktails at home. “Honestly, some of the best drinks in the world are also the simplest,” says two-time James Beard nominee Ying Chang, co-owner and “fleet commander” of Strong Water Anaheim, makers of the award-winning Long Voyage Rum.

“A daiquiri, for example, is just rum, lime, and sugar. If you’ve got a decent bottle like Plantation 3 Stars or El Dorado 3 Year, you’re already way ahead of the game. Same thing with a Cuba Libre. People think it’s just rum and Coke, but add a squeeze of fresh lime and use something like Real McCoy 3 Year, and suddenly it tastes like a premium cocktail instead of a college bar drink.”

Jennifer Bryant and David Honma, mixologists from Hawaii’s Koloa Rum, also praise the daiquiri as a simple cocktail that can be easily enhanced. “Some of the best classics that stood the test of time have the least amount of ingredients. A daiquiris is clean, refreshing, and easy to enhance with anything at home. Add fresh fruit, grapefruit juice, or variations of flavored syrups to elevate.”

Maggie Mattias, chief commercial officer at Puerto Rico’s Ron del Barrilito, offers another way to upgrade the daiquiri. “While the classic version of the cocktail calls for a white rum, introducing Ron Del Barrilito 3 Stars adds a whole new level of complexity which makes the rum element in the cocktail shine. Ron del Barrilito 3 Stars, which is aged 6 to 10 years in oloroso sherry casks, elevates the premium aspect of the daiquiri.”

Classic Daiquiri

• 2 oz. white rum
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• ¾ oz. simple syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Affordable ingredients that elevate a rum cocktail

“You don’t have to buy expensive liqueurs or exotic syrups to make rum cocktails feel elevated,” says Albert. “There are budget friendly upgrades that make a big difference without breaking the bank.”

Ricardo Henry, bar manager at Dunn’s Rum Club at Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica, adds a pro tip: “Prioritize keeping everything fresh, and avoiding anything that may be processed,” he says. Here are a few ideas from the experts.

Fresh citrus

“Fresh citrus is the number one upgrade,” says Chang. “A lime that costs fifty cents will do more for your drink than a fancy bottle of syrup.” Albert agrees. “Citrus is always worth it – it’s pennies per drink compared to buying mixers. Fresh lime is a non-negotiable for rum cocktails,” she says. Think daiquiri and mojito, for example.

Fresh fruit

Bryant and Dunn recommend utilizing produce from farmers markets or anything locally grown in your area. “Seasonal produce is always best and featuring local items helps support sustainability.” They cite the mojito as the perfect example of a cocktail you can elevate “using fruit from your home garden, which is also easy to substitute with seasonal fruit, topped off with soda water for nice effervescence.”

Homemade syrups

“Homemade syrups feel craft but cost less than store bought, says Albert. “Stretch your pantry staples with honey syrup or agave syrup. These add richness and body.” “Orgeat is another great one,” says Chang. “It’s just almond syrup, and even the good brands don’t cost much, but it adds body and texture that make a cocktail feel like it came from a tiki bar.”

Bitters

“A bottle of bitters is also worth it. You only need a few drops, and one bottle will last you years,” says Chang. Ricardo Henry says that “bitters are treated like salt and pepper, enhancing the aroma and balancing sweetness” in your cocktail.

“Bitters is a great way to enhance the flavors of a rum cocktail,”says Maggie Mattias. “Here at the Hacienda Visitor Center experience, we use a combination of chocolate and orange bitters, both of which are easily found and affordable, in our Barrilito Old Fashioned.”

Barrilito Old Fashioned

• 2 oz. Ron del Barrilito Three Stars
• 3 dashes chocolate bitters
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• Orange peel garnish

Tips: Get creative with your ingredients! Add a unique twist by using coconut water ice cubes or experimenting with flavorful juices to make your cocktail stand out. To get more of Ron del Barrilito’s flavor, try reducing the amount of brown sugar syrup.

Coconut water or milk

“Coconut water or coconut milk is affordable and tropical,” says Albert. “Coconut water makes a light, refreshing mixer. A splash of coconut milk or cream adds texture and body to tropical drinks.” Adding a splash of coconut water to Ron Del Barrilito is another simple cocktail alternative, according to Mattias. “If you really want it to shine, freeze the coconut water into ice cubes and use these to mix with the Ron del Barrilito 3 Stars,” she says.

Salt

“A pinch of salt is a bartender’s secret weapon,” says Albert. “A tiny pinch of salt (or a saline solution dropper if you want to get fancy) can smooth harsh edges and make flavors pop, especially in fruity or sour rum cocktails.”

Spices

“Fresh ginger is inexpensive, and you can turn it into ginger syrup or muddle slices right into your drink,” says Albert. “Don’t sleep on the little stuff, like grating a bit of nutmeg or cinnamon on top of a drink,” adds Chang. “It costs pennies and smells like you’ve got a pro bartender in the house.”

Best budget-friendly rum cocktails to make at home

“When it comes to the classics, there are plenty of ways to make them affordable without losing the premium feel,” says Chang. “A mojito, for instance, is basically just rum, sugar, lime, and mint. If you’ve got a pot of mint growing on your windowsill, you’re set.”

Bermuda’s national cocktail, the Dark ’n Stormy, is another easy cocktail that can be elevated with the right ingredients. Originally created using Gosling’s Black Seal rum, it combines two of the Caribbean island’s best products. “Ginger beer is low cost and gives a lot of flavor,” says Albert. “Even if you splurge on a slightly better ginger beer, it’s still inexpensive compared to cocktail syrups or liqueurs. The rum carries the drink, so you don’t need anything fancy.”

Dark ‘n’ Stormy (budget version)

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 3 oz. ginger beer
• Squeeze of fresh lime

Pour ginger beer over ice. Float rum and finish with lime.

Koloa Rum’s mixologists also sing praises for rum and ginger cocktails. “Rum Mules are simple cocktails that can easily be elevated for any occasion. Add seasonal herbs, fruits or syrups to enhance the cocktail. Quality ginger beer such as Q Mixers or Fever Tree make a exceptional cocktail.”

Rum punch is another easy one that you don’t need rare liqueurs to make special. “A bottle of Mount Gay Eclipse and some fresh pineapple juice can get you a party-worthy drink in minutes,” says Chang. “Even frozen cocktails like piña coladas are super budget friendly. Grab a bottle of Hamilton White Stash Rum, canned coconut cream, and some frozen pineapple chunks and you’ve got a beach vacation in a glass.”

Low-cost variations that still taste premium

Coconut Pineapple Highball

“Coconut water and canned pineapple juice are affordable. You get those tropical feelings, just with less sugar, and less cost.” Bridget Albert.

• 2 oz. white rum
• 3 oz. pineapple juice
• 2 oz. coconut water
• ½ oz. fresh lime juice

Build in a tall glass with ice and stir.

Hot Buttered Rum (Budget Winter Warmer)

Cozy and indulgent, but made with pantry staples. “Pantry spices + butter = instant comfort. Tastes like a holiday splurge!” says Albert.

• 2 oz. dark rum
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar or honey
• Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg

Add all ingredients to a mug. Fill with hot water. Stir until butter melts.

The Higgin’s Swizzle

Instead of using the traditional syrup, Sandals mixologists use falernum, a sweet, spiced liqueur that has ginger, lime, almond, and clove flavors, sometimes with an extra kick of Caribbean spices. The outcome? Jamaica in a glass.

“The Higgin’s Swizzle is a refreshing crushed ice cocktail that pays homage to Higgin’s town in St. Anne, not only through its name but also through its flavor, with the falernum bringing Caribbean spices to the forefront. It is the binding ingredient, adding a little sweetness, spice and pairs perfectly with rum and mint,”says bar manager Ricardo Henry.

• 2 oz. Appleton Signature Rum
• 2/3 oz. Falernum Liqueur (JD Taylors is the recommended brand)
• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 3 tsp sugar
• 1 mint sprig

Fill 2/3 of your glass with crushed ice. Pour Appleton Signature Rum and Falernum liqueur into the glass. Add lime juice and sugar. Finish this cocktail off by mixing with a swizzle stick. Garnish with a mint sprig

It is easy to make a rum cocktail taste extravagant with a few simple ingredients, as long as they are fresh and of good quality, and you find a well-made rum in a price range that won’t break the bank. There are many options out there to keep in your bar, so you can save the expensive premium rums for sipping on a special occasion.

Ying Chang sums it up perfectly: “At the end of the day, rum is approachable, it’s forgiving, and it’s meant to be fun. That’s what makes it such a great spirit to play with at home – there’s a lot of flavors to explore without draining your bank account.”