Rum Drinks to Sip This Spring
Spring is finally here, along with the happy sounds of birds chirping and glasses clinking… outside! While winter is wonderful in its own right, we’re super excited to be social outdoors again, with lively conversations and delicious beverages in hand. All of our spirits make great seasonal cocktails, but rum is the one spirit that is always top-of-mind when the temperatures go up. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of rum drinks you can sip on this spring.
STRAWBERRY SMASH
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Rum 44
- 5 ripe strawberries, leafy ends removed
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- juice from 1 medium lemon
- bar spoon of Runamok Maple Grenadine
- club soda
Directions:
Muddle strawberries and basil in a mixing glass. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon, and add a bar spoon of Runamok Maple Grenadine. Add in the Rum 44 and stir all ingredients to incorporate. Add to a stemless wine glass over ice. Top with club soda, and garnish with a fresh strawberry and basil.
HOST WITH THE MOST
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. of First Run Rum
- 1 oz. of pineapple juice
- 1/2 oz. of Fernet Branca
- 3/4 oz. of simple syrup
- 3/4 oz. of lime juice
- 2 dashes of Vena's Island Bitters
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake for 30 seconds, then strain into a collins glass filled with pebbled ice. Top with soda water, then garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of mint.
PURPLE SKIES
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz. of Rum 44
- 1 oz. of lime juice
- 1/2 oz. of Creme de Violette
- 1/2 oz. of Orange Curacao (or Cointreau)
- 1/2 oz. of simple syrup
- 2 dashes of Orange Bitters
- 2 droppers of B'lure Flower Extract
Directions:
Add all ingredients except the Flower Extract to a shaker with ice. Shake hard, then strain into a stemless wine glass over pebbled ice. Top with the Flower Extract, and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.
SPRING SHOWERS
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Rum 44
- 1/2 oz Amaro Montenegro
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon
- 2 Dashes Peychaud's Bitters
Directions:
Muddle 3 blackberries with simple syrup. Dry shake and strain the contents over crushed ice. Add a blackberry & lemon peel for garnish.
PINEAPPLE DAIQUIRI
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Rum 44
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents into a Coupe glass. Add a pineapple & lime peel for garnish.
LAVENDER LEMONADE
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Rum 44
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
- 4 Dashes Lavender Bitters
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents into a Collins glass with ice. Add a lavender sprig for garnish.
GRAPEFRUIT MOJITO
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Rum 44
- 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup
- 8-10 mint leaves
Directions:
Muddle Mint with simple syrup in a shaker. Add remaining ingredients, then shake with ice. Strain contents into a Collins glass, and top with club soda. Add a mint sprig & grapefruit for garnish.
RUM 44 MULE
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Rum 44
- 1/2 oz Lime Juice
- Ginger Beer
- 4 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Directions:
Add rum, lime and ginger beer to a highball glass with ice, and stir. Add a lime wheel & bitters for garnish.
VERMONT SPRITZ
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Rum 44
- 3/4 oz St. Elder
- 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents into a flute. Top with sparkling wine. Add a lemon peel for garnish.
AIR MAIL
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Rum 44
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Honey Syrup
- 2 Dashes Angostura
- Sparkling wine
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents into a flute. Top with sparkling wine, and add a lemon peel for garnish.
MAI TAI
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Rum 44
- 1 oz First Run Rum
- 3/4 oz Curacao
- 3/4 oz Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Orgeat
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Dry shake, then strain contents over crushed ice. Add a mint sprig for garnish.
TRICKSTER
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz First Run Rum
- 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
- 3/4 oz Honey Ginger Syrup
- 3/4 oz Curacao
- 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents over a large ice cube. Garnish with candied ginger.
CAFE SWIZZLE
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Vanilla Rum
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
- 1.5 oz Coconut cream
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake, then strain contents over crushed ice. Garnish with grated nutmeg and espresso beans.
Now that you have some delicious new spring drink recipes up your sleeve, we hope your spring social calendar fills up with good drinks, good times, and really good people. As always, you can find bottles of our rum at our Tasting Rooms. At our Burlington Tasting Room, you can find a variety of bitters, orgeat, simple syrups and more in order to make the recipes above. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Originally published by Brianne Lucas on March 27, 2022 and updated on March 18, 2024.
Some recipe content provided by Maeghan Phillips for Mad River Distillers. Cocktail photos with the brick background provided by Brandon Phillips.
