Due to the post-colonial proliferation of sugarcane plantations, rum is one of the Caribbean’s most important exports – and one of its favourite cocktail ingredients!
I’ve given suggestions for white or dark rum in some recipes below, but you can make these classic Caribbean rum cocktails with either; quantities given serve 2. Buy Crawley’s Simple Sugar Syrup from any bottle shop or make your own by combining equal volumes of water and sugar over a low heat until sugar dissolves.
Mojito
Created in Havana, Cuba, this classic Caribbean rum cocktail may be based on a drink Francis Drake used to cure shipboard scurvy. Use a muddler or wooden spoon to combine 10 mint leaves, 1 tablespoon castor sugar, 2 nips (60ml) lime juice and 3 nips (90ml) white rum, crushing the mint well. Top with ice and add a splash of soda water if you like.
Piña Colada
Piña colada (‘strained pineapple’ in Spanish) originated in Puerto Rico, where it’s now the national drink. White rum is typical, but I like dark too. Shake or blend 3 nips (90ml) rum, 2 nips (60ml) coconut milk, 1 cup (250ml) pure pineapple juice, a good squeeze of lime juice and plenty of crushed ice. Serve in a large glass – as a dessert cocktail if you like.
Classic Daiquiri
The only fruit in a classic Cuban daiquiri is lime. Try the classic version of this Caribbean rum cocktail and you may never go back to the fruity adult-slushie ones again. Shake 3 nips (90ml) white rum, 3 nips (90ml) lime juice and 1½ nips (45ml) sugar syrup together with ice and serve strained or with the ice. See my dessert cocktails for a fruit daiquiri.
Rum Punch
A simple rhyme reminds us how to make a perfectly balanced rum punch: mix one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong and four of weak. Combine 1 nip (30ml) lime juice, 2 nips (60ml) sugar syrup, 3 nips (90ml) dark rum, 4 nips (120ml) soda or sparkling mineral water. Pour into punch cups and enjoy!
Rum Lime Shrub
Colonial sailors carried sweet/sour shrub syrups on voyages as a preserved source of Vitamin C; perhaps that’s how they became popular in the Caribbean. I love the range of shrubs from The Curious Cabinet, or you could make your own from the many online recipes. Fill 2 tall glasses with ice, add 4 nips (120ml) white rum and 1 nip (30ml) lime shrub syrup. Top with soda, stir and serve.
Updated 2 Jan 2024
Due to the post-colonial proliferation of sugarcane plantations, rum is one of the Caribbean’s most important exports – and one of its favourite cocktail ingredients!
Some say the precursor to the Mojito – called El Draque – was created by Francis Drake’s onboard doctor to help prevent scurvy.
Mojito was created in Havana, Cuba.
The only fruit in a classic Cuban daiquiri is lime, mixed with rum and sugar.
The Daiquiri cocktail is named for the town of Daiquiri in southeastern Cuba.
