12 Best Rum Cocktails, From Daiquiri to Mai Tai

Rum is made from sugarcane, and it's the spirit of sunshine: lime, pineapple, coconut and spice all love it. From the simple daiquiri to wild tiki drinks, here are 12 rum cocktails worth knowing.

Simple Classics

1. Daiquiri

White rum, lime and sugar. Crisp, tart and perfectly balanced. Shake 60 ml rum, 20 ml lime and 2 bar spoons of fine sugar. The best test of any bartender. Daiquiri recipe.

2. Mojito

White rum, lime, sugar, mint and soda. Cool and refreshing. Our mojito guide.

3. Cuba Libre

Rum, cola and fresh lime. The lime turns a simple rum and coke into a real cocktail. Cuba Libre recipe.

4. Dark 'n' Stormy

Dark rum and ginger beer. Spicy and rich. A Bermuda classic. Dark 'n' Stormy recipe.

5. Canchánchara

Rum, honey and lime. Possibly one of the oldest Cuban drinks. Simple, honeyed and tart. Canchánchara recipe.

Tiki and Tropical

6. Mai Tai

Aged rums, lime, orange curaçao and orgeat (almond syrup). Nutty, citrusy and rich. Not a fruit punch! Created by Trader Vic in 1944. Mai Tai recipe.

7. Piña Colada

Rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice, blended with ice. Creamy and tropical. The official drink of Puerto Rico. Piña Colada recipe.

8. Jungle Bird

Dark rum, Campari, pineapple, lime and demerara syrup. Tropical with a bitter edge. Born in Kuala Lumpur in the 1970s. Jungle Bird recipe.

9. Zombie

Three rums, lime, falernum, grapefruit-cinnamon mix, grenadine and absinthe. Complex and very strong. Classic tiki bars limit you to two. Zombie recipe.

10. Planter's Punch

Jamaican rum, lime and sugar. The old Caribbean punch formula: one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak. Planter's Punch recipe.

Elegant and Unusual

11. Hemingway Special

Rum, grapefruit, maraschino and lime. A drier daiquiri made famous in Havana. Tart and refreshing. Hemingway Special recipe.

12. Old Cuban

Aged rum, lime, mint, sugar and bitters, topped with Champagne. A mojito dressed up for a party. A modern classic from New York. Old Cuban recipe.

Which Rum to Use

White (light) rum: clean and crisp. Daiquiri, Mojito, Cuba Libre.
Gold or aged rum: more vanilla, caramel and oak. Mai Tai, Old Cuban, rum Old Fashioned.
Dark rum: rich and molasses-heavy. Dark 'n' Stormy, Jungle Bird.
Jamaican rum: funky and fruity. Great in tiki drinks and punch.
Rhum agricole: made from fresh cane juice. Grassy and bright.

Avoid spiced rum in classic recipes. Its added flavors can clash with lime and mint.

Rum Cocktails FAQ

What's the easiest rum cocktail? A Cuba Libre or a Dark 'n' Stormy. Just pour over ice.

What mixes well with rum? Lime, pineapple, coconut, ginger beer, cola, mint, orange and almond.

What's the difference between a daiquiri and a mojito? Same base of rum, lime and sugar. A daiquiri is shaken and served short. A mojito is tall, with mint and soda.