21 Delicious Summer Rum Cocktails for the Perfect Summer Drink
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Summer is all about soaking up the sun, spending time with friends, and enjoying delicious drinks. And what better way to celebrate the season than with some flavorful and refreshing Summer Rum Cocktails?
Rum pairs perfectly with the flavors of summer because it has a tropical and fruity flavor profile that complements the bright, refreshing tastes of the season.
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The Best Summer Rum Cocktails to Make
Rum is a spirit that is made from sugarcane and can be found in various grades ranging from light to dark. It is produced in nearly every sugar-producing region of the world.
One of the best things about rum is its versatility.
It’s not only used in mixology (the fancy term for making cocktails!) but in food recipes too like Coconut Pineapple Cupcakes with Rum, Rum Caramel Banana Pancakes, and the New Orleans classic dessert, Bananas Foster.
And you can’t forget jello shots! Try these Shark Bait Jello Shots with Malibu!
Light rums are most often used in cocktails, while darker rums are typically drunk neat or with mixers.
That’s not to say you can’t use dark rums in cocktails, like Dark & Stormy!
Handy Information
Before I get into the rum cocktails for summer, here is some handy information for you.
Summer rum cocktail recipes are not the only ones I have on my blog, there are 500+ Recipes here for you to enjoy! Please feel free to check them out too.
Links to the various recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog will open the same window/tab, so to reach this page again, just hit the back button on your browser.
If you are looking for a specific recipe, please use the search function below. If you can’t find what you are searching for, then please do contact me as I take all reader suggestions on board!
I will be adding to this list of summer rum cocktails over time, so why not save this post to your Pinterest cocktail boards so that you can always find them. (Tap the button below!)
Classic Rum Cocktails
Rum can be used in a variety of cocktails, from classic recipes like Rum Punch or the Cuban Mojito made with sugar, lime, mint, light rum, and soda.
To more modern creations like the Frozen Miami Vice Cocktail which is a hybrid cocktail combining a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri and a Frozen Piña Colada.
Other classic rum cocktails include the Hurricane, Mai Tai, Zombie, Cuba Libre (rum and coke with a twist of lime), Cable Car, and the Painkiller.
Tropical Rum Summer Cocktails
If you’re a fan of fruity and tropical flavors, there are plenty of rum-based cocktails to choose from!
This selection of tropical rum cocktails is perfect for sipping on a hot summer day while relaxing on the deck or by the pool.
Or, if you’re throwing a Hawaiian luau, a tropical party, or a BBQ with friends, why not make one as your signature summer drink for the event?
This Tropical Blue Cocktail that I named Blue Rumba, was inspired by the ingredients – Blue Curaçao, Rum (three different kinds), and Banana Liqueur. Finish the drink off with slices of citrus fruits and a maraschino cherry.
If you dream of islands in the sun, then you need a Fruity Island Escape! This fruity concoction is made with orange, pineapple, and guava juices, coconut rum, pineapple rum, and spiced rum. Serve it in a hollowed-out pineapple for the ultimate escape!
The Surf’s Up! cocktail is made with Malibu Rum, Vodka, Blue Curaçao, coconut water, and Sprite. The blue drink is topped off with coconut cream which gives a pretty two-tone effect.
Tropical Island Breeze is a refreshing drink crafted using pineapple juice, bourbon, and two types of rum. Mix up a pitcher of this cocktail and watch your guests fall in love with its irresistible flavor.
Made with white rum, coconut rum, Creme de Banane, cranberry juice, and orange juice, a Tropical Paradise Cocktail is perfect for sipping on as the sun goes down.
The Blue Hawaiian Cocktail (not to be confused with the very similarly named Blue Hawaiian), is essentially a Piña Colada with added Blue Curaçao. Don’t forget the cocktail umbrella!
I dubbed this Pineapple Rum Cocktail “Waikiki Beach” named after the famous Hawaiian beach. The two-layered drink of pink and blue is made with pineapple rum, tropical fruit juices, and liqueurs, and for a special touch, there is some gold shimmer dust stirred in too.
Fruity Summer Rum Cocktails
Fruit – whether fresh or from a bottle or carton – pairs perfectly with rum! Here are some of our fruity libations for you to try…
This Fresh Watermelon Cocktail is made in a blender using cubes of sweet watermelon, Malibu, Tequila, coconut water, and lime juice. Garnished with watermelon wedges and fresh mint, you can’t get a more summery cocktail!
Why not make a batch of Banana Coladas for your next summer gathering? The Tropical Rum Banana Cocktail uses Malibu, Creme de Banane, Midori (a melon liqueur), pineapple juice, and half-and-half (single cream).
Shake together tropical fruit juice, Pineapple Rum, Tropical Rum, Blackheart Toasted Coconut Spiced Rum, and Orange Curaçao to make our Disney-inspired Polynesian Village Cocktail.
Made with fresh peach slices, White Rum, Peach Schnapps, lime juice, and simple syrup, this Cuban Rum and Peach Cocktail is a refreshing, fruity delight!
Staying in the Cuban region, this Passion Fruit Mango Mojito is a tropical fruit twist on a classic cocktail using passion fruit juice, mango juice, mint, lime, soda, and of course, white rum.
Take a trip down a tropical river (in your mind) with a Jungle Cruise Cocktail in hand! Inspired by the famous Disney ride (and movie of the same name) it combines orange juice, grenadine (pomegranate syrup), lime syrup, Tequila, Spiced Rum, and Coconut Rum. The mixture looks like a beautiful sunset!
Setting Up Your Cocktail Bar
Most, if not all the recipes I’ve listed in this blog post have got alternative variations, including mocktail versions, virgin cocktails made with non-alcoholic spirits, and how to make a large batch of the cocktail for parties.
Serve the large batch cocktails in drinks dispensers, or pitchers, or go really retro and serve from a punch bowl! Whichever container best suits your event (and the drink!).
When setting up your bar area, here are some serving items you might want to consider:
- Ice Bucket (filled with ice!)
- Cocktail Glasses
- Cocktail Napkins
- Cocktail Stirrers
- Cocktail Picks
- Tropical Cocktail Decorations
Caribbean Rum Cocktails
And if you still haven’t found the right summer rum cocktail yet, here are a few more to take a look at, with a Caribbean beach flair!
This Caribbean Rum Punch shakes together Spiced Rum, White Rum, and Coconut Rum with Triple Sec, Sweet and Sour Mix, Grenadine, and Pineapple Juice. It’s just the drink for a pirate-themed party!
And speaking of pirates, the Captain Jack Sparrow Rum Cocktail is layered to look like a tropical beach, with the sandy-colored “beach” at the bottom of the glass, and the clear blue “sea” on top.
For those beach bonfires, you have to make mason jars of this Campfire Cocktail with Fireball Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rum. Another layered cocktail that resembles glowing embers.
Summer Cocktails with Rum
With a wide range of cocktails to choose from, there is something for everyone. So, grab a glass, mix up one of these delicious drinks, and enjoy the summer sun!
Try your hand at making some summer rum cocktails now – explore new recipes and find out what kind of delicious concoctions you can create this summer!