The Best Rum Drinks For Summer

Stuck at work during the last part of summer…rum can take you away to cool breezes on a sandy beach – here is your ticket to chilling

When the sun is out and the temperatures climb, nothing says “summer vibes” quite like rum. Known as the spirit of the tropics, rum has a natural way of transporting us to sandy beaches, cool breezes, and carefree afternoons. From its Caribbean roots to tiki-bar fame, rum has become a staple of summer cocktails thanks to its smooth sweetness and versatility. Whether you prefer light, crisp refreshers or bold, fruity concoctions, rum delivers a perfect balance for warm-weather sipping. Below are five of the best rum drinks to make your summer unforgettable.

Mojito

Originating in 16th-century Cuba, the Mojito became a favorite among sailors and later Ernest Hemingway, who helped make it globally famous.

Ingredients

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp sugar
• 6–8 fresh mint leaves
• Club soda

Create

1. Muddle mint, sugar, and lime in a glass
2. Add rum, fill with ice, and top with soda water
3. Stir gently
4. Garnish with more mint

Daiquiri

The Daiquiri was invented in Cuba in the late 1800s and later popularized by American author Ernest Hemingway, who enjoyed a drier version with less sugar.

Ingredients

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

Create

1. Shake all ingredients with ice
2. Strain into a chilled coupe glass
3. Garnish with a lime wheel

Dark ’n’ Stormy

Created in Bermuda after World War I, it paired the local Gosling’s Black Seal rum with ginger beer. It’s so iconic that the name is trademarked!

Ingredients

• 2 oz dark rum
• 3 oz ginger beer
• ½ oz lime juice

Create

1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Pour in ginger beer, then float rum on top
3. Add lime juice and garnish with a wedge

Mai Tai

First mixed in 1944 at Trader Vic’s in California, the Mai Tai became the star of tiki culture and remains a tropical classic.

Ingredients

• 1 oz white rum
• 1 oz dark rum
• ½ oz orange curaçao
• ½ oz orgeat syrup
• 1 oz lime juice

Create

1. Shake all ingredients except dark rum with ice
2. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice
3. Float the dark rum on top
4. Garnish with mint and lime

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Piña Colada

Born in Puerto Rico in the 1950s, the Piña Colada became the island’s official drink in 1978. With its creamy sweetness, it’s a vacation in a glass.

Ingredients

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 3 oz pineapple juice

Create

1. Blend all ingredients with ice until smooth
2. Pour into a chilled glass
3. Garnish with pineapple and cherry

Chi Chi (The Vodka Piña Colada)

Created in the 1970s as a playful twist on the Piña Colada, the Chi Chi swapped rum for vodka to appeal to American vodka drinkers.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz coconut cream
• 3 oz pineapple juice

Create

1. Blend ingredients with ice until frosty,
2. Pour into a tall glass
3. Garnish with pineapple for a tropical touch

From iconic Caribbean rum drinks to frozen vodka riffs, these easy summer cocktails capture everything good about warm weather and long days. Whether you’re a rum loyalist or open to new spirits, these recipes offer something cool, refreshing, and totally Instagram-worthy.

Looking to impress at your next backyard bash? Just grab a bottle of rum, a few limes, and you’ve got the makings of a summer well spent.