52 Amazing Caribbean Rum Drinks and How To Make Them

Life is better with rum drinks, especially Caribbean rum drinks. Just one sip can take your mind to the islands. Below are 52 Caribbean rum drinks and their recipes so you can make the cocktails at home. Home might not be a tropical island, but each one of these rum drinks truly is paradise in a glass.

My name is Ryan VanDenabeele, a.k.a. RumShopRyan, and together with my wife we run a Caribbean blog and podcast. During my years of traveling the Caribbean and talking with island bartenders, I’ve learned which rum drinks are the most popular and how to make them. Now it’s time to share that rum knowledge with you.

Rum is a big part of the Caribbean and it is a tremendous source of pride for each island nation. So we have put together this huge list of cocktail recipes so you can taste some of the differences in rums and mixers.

You’ll find traditional island classics like rum punch, rum runners, painkillers and bushwackers, but you’ll also find many unique creations from the different islands and a few gems from our rum drink loving audience.

There are 52 rum drink recipes, one delicious drink for every week of the year. I thought that would be a good number to start with, but I’ll be adding to this list as I learn about new Caribbean cocktails that I think you might enjoy.

If you would like this entire list of Caribbean rum drinks, I have a link at the bottom where you can get download them as an ebook for free.

Okay, let’s jump in and start the taste testing!

Ti’ Punch

In Martinique, a Ti’ Punch (pronounced “tee paunch” or the more American way “tee punch”) is more than just a cocktail, it’s part of Martinique’s culture. Ti’ Punch brings friends together, reconciles foes, and is a way to welcome strangers with open arms.

Historically, the people of Martinique have a Ti’ Punch in the morning, better known as the famous “Décollage” (which means “Take off”) to help tackle the day. Then they might have one or two as the day draws long.

The drink begins with the selection of three key ingredients: Rhum Agricole (White, Gold or Aged rhum according to preference), sugarcane syrup or natural raw sugar, and a piece of lime. That’s it–simple, pure, and refreshing.

If you would like to read a little bit more about Ti’ Punch, you can find that here.

Ingredients:

• 1½–2 oz. Rhum agricole (I like Clément Premiere Canne)
• 1–2 tsp. Cane sugar (or ¼–½ oz cane syrup)
• 1 Large “coin” of fresh lime

Mixing Instructions: Add the sugar to the glass; squeeze the lime juice over the sugar, and (optionally) add the lime shell into the glass. Add the rhum agricole and stir well. Ice is optional. No garnish.

The Bob Marley

When I was researching the drink I found a few different variations, but I didn’t see one using something I thought would be a no-brainer…Blackwell Jamaican Rum. If you don’t know much about Blackwell Rum it was created by Chris Blackwell.

Chris Blackwell is a record producer that founded Island Records. The same Island Records that introduced the world to the sound of Bob Marley and reggae music. If that wasn’t enough, he is the owner of the famous GoldenEye Resort in Jamaica and Blackwell Rum. So I figure if there’s a drink called the Bob Marley, it’s going to be made with Blackwell Rum.

Ingredients:

• Blackwell Jamaican Rum
• Blue Curacao
• Orange Curacao
• Strawberry daiquiri mix
• Fresh Mango
• Sweet and Sour mix
• Lime juice

Mixing Instructions: The Bob Marley drink takes some work, but the payoff is as sweet as the songs sung by three little birds. First, start by making the red portion, combine 1oz of Blackwell Rum, 4 oz of strawberry daiquiri mix and 1 cup of ice in a blender. Blend and pour into a tall glass. Next combine 1 oz of Blackwell Rum, 3 oz of chopped mango, 1.5 oz of sweet and sour mix and one cup of ice in a blender. Blend to create the yellow portion of the drink. Pour only half of the mixture into the glass. Take the remaining drink mixture and blend with .5 oz of Blue Curacao to create the green portion of the drink. Pour into the glass. Raise glass and toast to the father of reggae music.

The Potcake

Real pirates drink overproof. Let me introduce to you a Jamaican overproof rum that is surprisingly smooth but has that unmistakable overproof kick. Say hello to Rum Fire.

This cocktail recipe is named after those cute, feral, four-legged island dogs called Potcakes. I believe they are called Potcakes because (at least this is what I was told by locals) after people would cook their peas n’ rice, they would leave the pot outside so the dogs could eat the hard, burnt up rice on the bottom of the pot. Hence the name Potcakes.

This simple yet refreshing drink is all about beating the Caribbean heat and having a good time at the same time. Grab a little Rum Fire overproof, some fresh grapefruit juice, pinch of salt and a squeeze of lime. The Potcake was created by rum expert Forrest Cokely and it will push any beach party into 6th gear.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Rum Fire overproof Rum
• 3 oz. Grapefruit Juice (fresh pressed)
• Pinch of Salt (I used Himalayan, but table salt is fine)
• Lime wedge squeeze for garnish

Mixing Instructions: Pour ingredients into a rocks glass with ice. Mix or stir. Garnish with lime. Raise glass and toast.

Rum & Coconut Iced Coffee

One Grande Carmel Frappuccino, hold the whip please. I’m no coffee drinker. That foo foo frappuccino is about as close as I come to coffee drinks.

But the Rum & Coconut Iced Coffee is a new best friend. Even the name has a smooth and delicious sound. Hold on to your flip flops because it tastes even better than it sounds.

The recipe consists of coffee, coconut sugar, rum, coconut milk, with optional coconut cream and toasted coconut shavings. I told you this was going to be good! For the rum, Papa’s Pilar dark works well. Its smooth rich flavor compliments the coconut milk and coffee perfectly.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup strong hot coffee
• 1 Tablespoon coconut sugar
• 1 ½ oz. Shot of good rum (I prefer Papa’s Pilar dark rum)
• ¼ Cup coconut milk (or coconut non-dairy beverage)
• 2 Tablespoons toasted coconut
• Whipped coconut cream (optional)

Mixing Instructions: Brew coffee and stir in sugar as needed. Set it aside to cool slightly. Fill a large glass with ice and add rum. Add the coffee and the coconut milk or non-dairy beverage. Top with whipped coconut cream if desired and then sprinkle with toasted coconut. Raise glass and toast.

The Sandy Toes Rum Punch

Sandy Toes Beach Bar on Rose Island is my favorite escape when in Nassau. This little slice of beach heaven has a signature cocktail appropriately called the Sandy Toe. Trust me, you’re going to want one.

I’ve had many requests for this drink recipe, and I don’t like to disappoint.

If you would like to learn more about the awesome Sandy Toes Beach bar, you can find that here.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Light Rum
• 1 oz. Bacardi Gold
• 1 oz. Coconut Rum
• 1 oz. Pineapple Rum
• 3 oz. Mango Juice
• Topped with fruit punch and a dash of the secret ingredient!*

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients into mixing glass with ice. Shake. Pour into glass of your choice. Raise glass and toast.

* The secret ingredient? I have no idea. It seems all beach bars with a good rum punch like to add a little somethin’ somethin’ special and not tell anyone about it. I guess it makes sense, but it throws a wrench into my home mixology recreations!

The Blue Latitude

The Blue Latitude is just the kind of liquid inspiration that will encourage you to work on a Caribbean escape plan. It’s a fruitiful blast of the tropics that is sure to satisfy those island day dreams…at least for a little while. Plus, who doesn’t love a blue drink!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Cruzan Orange Rum
• 2 oz. Blue Curacao
• 3 oz. Orange Juice
• 2 oz. Lemon-Lime Soda

Mixing Instructions: Pour Cruzan Orange Rum and Blue Curacao in a tall glass over ice. Fill with orange juice and top with lemon-lime soda. Raise glass and toast.

The Papa Coco

As a Castaway, I’m inspired by a handful of adventurous island-loving souls, one of those being the famous late writer Ernest Hemingway. Adventurer, angler, island lover, boxer, writer, rum enthusiast–it’s hard not to be seduced by the life that Hemingway lived.

For this drink we are going to use the rum branded after the man himself, Papa’s Pilar. The Papa Coco recipe was created by one of Key West’s most famous bartenders (now retired), Bahama Bob. Show us how it’s done Bob!

You can take a video tour of the Key West Papa’s Pilar rum distillery here.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum
• Coconut water
• Squeeze of Lime juice

Mixing Instructions: Pour rum into a highball glass with ice and fill the rest with coconut water. Top it off with a squeeze of lime. Raise glass and toast.

The Taste of Cayman

This drink recipe was created by the talented Gabor, a young Cayman Islands bartender working at the Seven Mile Beach Westin Beach Resort on Grand Cayman. He loves to use local ingredients and creativity to make some of the best cocktails on Grand Cayman.

Anyone can be creative with a bar full of ingredients, but when you take it a step further and begin to infuse your own liquors with local spices, that’s when you know you’re a talented bartender.

Gabor infused the local Gun Bay vodka with Scotch Bonnet peppers. If you don’t know what a Scotch Bonnet pepper is, Google it. Just reading about it is enough to make you cry and sweat at the same time.

Being that it’s a true product of the Cayman Islands, it could only be called one thing…Taste of Cayman.

See the drink video of the Taste of Cayman here.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Scotch Bonnet infused Gun Bay Vodka
• 1 ½ oz. Mango puree
• 1 oz. Fresh local lime juice
• ½ oz. Cilantro infused simple syrup
• Dash of key lime bitters

Mixing Instructions: Combine ingredients to a shaker. Shake well, serve over ice. Raise glass and toast.

The Dread Fox

Straight out of the British Virgin Islands, the Dread Fox drink recipe is from one of the most famous beach bars in the world, Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke.

While the drink is easy to make, getting a hold of some Foxy’s Fire Water Rum might be a little tough. You’re going to need a trip to Jost in order to get your hands on a bottle. Some sacrifices just have to be made.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Foxy’s Fire Water Rum
• 4 oz. Margarita Mix
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Shake well. Pour into glass with ice. Look out over Great Harbour. Raise glass and toast.

The Coconut Castaway Rum Punch

I have a mission for you. Climb a coconut palm, knock down a couple coconuts, then stuff them into a bottle of smooth white rum. Sound doable?

Okay okay, that might be a little extreme, but hey, we are pirates aren’t we?

Let’s grab a bottle of Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum instead and use that sweet sweet coconut rum to mix a delicious Coconut Castaway Rum Punch. Have I tempted you?

Good…now let’s make one!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum
• 3 oz. Orange juice
• 3 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 oz. 7-Up
• 1 oz. Grenadine or cherry syrup
• Dash of Angostura Bitters
• Orange and maraschino cherries for garnish

Mixing Instructions: Mix Coconut Rum, orange juice, pineapple juice and 7-Up together. Pour over ice and add grenadine. Garnish with orange and lemon slices. Raise glass and toast.

The Spicy Sailor

If you are a fan of a little Caribbean spice, then you’re going to love the Spicy Sailor which is made with spiced rum and muddled jalapeños. This cocktail is a blend of heat and refreshing tropical fruits.

Ready for a heat wave?

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Spiced Rum
• ½ oz. Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
• 1 Pinch of Cinnamon
• 3 Sliced Jalapeño, deseeded
• 2 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Garnish: Lime wedge and Jalapeño slice

Mixing Instructions: Muddle jalapeño slices in a shaker. Add rum, lime juice, and pineapple juice. Shake and pour into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Dash of cinnamon on rim if wanted and garnish with lime wedge and jalapeño slice. Raise glass toast.

The Peach Mango Rum Splash

Work, kids, bills, responsibilities–life can be a big headache at times. Sometimes the only medicine that can wash away the stress is a tropical vacation in a glass. Fruit juice, ice, and rum–it’s all the medicine you’ll need for a temporary island escape.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Silver rum
• ½ oz. Grand Marnier
• 4 oz. Peach mango juice
• Splash of grenadine
• Squeeze of a lime wedge
• Garnish with lime

Mixing Instructions: Combine rum, Grand Marnier, peach mango juice and grenadine in an ice filled shaker. Shake well. Pour into an ice filled glass and squeeze in juice from a lime wedge. Garnish with slice of lime. Raise glass and toast.

The Vanilla Smooth

Get ready to feel like a kid again, because this boat drink recipe will take you back to the days when a vanilla milkshake was the best treat in the world. Only this treat is for adults and tastes like a million bucks.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Cruzan Vanilla Rum
• 1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
• ½ oz. Bailey’s
• 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream
• Splash of whole milk
• Walnut Crumbles

Mixing Instructions: Blend all ingredients with ice. Serve as a shake with whip cream and walnut crumbles as a garnish. Raise glass and toast.

Reef Rum Punch

Rum punch is one of those things that can be made a million different ways, kind of like meatloaf. No matter which ingredients the bartender at a particular place uses, you can always bet on a unique delicious taste.

When in the Caribbean, my go-to drink is a rum punch. And when on St. Thomas, the Reef Rum Punch is one of the best.

This recipe comes to us from our friends at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on St. Thomas. Not a bad place to relax with a rum punch in hand.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ oz. Cruzan Raspberry Rum
• 1 ¼ oz. Captain Morgan Silver Rum
• ½ oz. Pomegranate Liqueur
• ½ oz. Passion Fruit Juice
• ½ oz. Mango Juice
• ½ oz. Soda Water

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients together except the soda water. Mix and strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with pineapple and cherry. Raise glass and toast.

The Blueberry Mojito

The Mojito, an iconic cocktail that was born in Cuba and exported to the rest of the world. Gracias mis amigos Cubanos!

While I’m not a huge fan of Mojitos in general (can’t stand mint!), I know that every day thousands of people call out across the bar, “mojito por favor.” So to honor the popularity of the drink and to add a little twist to the classic cocktail, let’s add a little something extra.

Ingredients:

• 8 Blueberries, plus a few more for garnish
• 1 oz. Freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 Teaspoons sugar
• 8 Fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 oz. White rum
• 1 Cup ice
• 1 oz. Club soda
• Lime slice for garnish

Mixing Instructions: Add blueberries, lime juice, sugar and eight mint leaves to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the mint into the lime juice and sugar. Add rum, stir well then pour into a glass filled with ice, leaving about an inch of room then top with club soda. Garnish with extra blueberries, mint leaves and a lime slice. Raise glass and toast.

The Jamaican Redhead

It’s called the Jamaican Redhead because the drink is blue. No…obviously the drink is red, the color coming from a refreshing watermelon purée. Watermelon and summer go hand in hand, so what better way to extinguish the sizzle than a rum drink infused with watermelon! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Appleton Estate Reserve (could use any Appleton)
• 3 oz. Ting
• 1 oz. watermelon purée/juice (blend fresh chunks until smooth)
• Dash Angostura Bitters
• Watermelon chunk (Garnish)

Mixing Instructions: Shake everything except Ting. Strain into ice filled highball glass, top with Ting. Garnish with a watermelon chunk (or throw it in, eat at the end!). Raise glass and toast.

Irie Nectar

As any good scientist knows, you have to constantly test to see what works and what doesn’t. The same goes with any mixologist.

Yes, I just compared a scientist to a mixologist!

This flavorful concoction was tested and perfected by Castaway Mixologist Jeremy McDaniel. He is a big fan of Jamaica and this cocktail recipe pays homage to that love.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Appleton Special
• ½ oz. Wray and Nephew overproof
• 3 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Dash Angostura Bitters
• 1 oz. Ting

Mixing Instructions: Shake all but Ting with cracked ice. Strain into ice filled highball glass, top with Ting. Raise glass and toast.

The Rum Cake Shot

If you love rum cake, and who doesn’t, then you’re going to love this drink. If you’ve never had rum cake then you are missing out and your pirate card has been revoked.

This recipe was created to give you that delicious taste of rum cake but in liquid form. My good friends Linda and Debra Jo came up with this drink (actually a shot) at the 2014 Rum Bahamas Festival. I was helping them run their booth by handing out Rum Cake Shots to soggy festival goers. It was a tough job.

See how we make a Rum Cake drink here.

Ingredients (Makes 3-4, 2 ounce shots):

• 2 oz. Tortuga Spiced Rum
• 2 oz. Tortuga Vanilla Rum
• 2 oz. Rum Cream
• Splash of Half & Half
• Splash Vanilla Extract
• Teaspoon Cinnamon

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients to mixing glass with ice. Shake well then strain into 2 oz. shot glass. Raise glass and toast.

The Red Light

Anytime Appleton Rum is in play you know it’s going to be something good. The Red Light drink recipe uses just three ingredients, but you wouldn’t know it by the taste.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Appleton V/X
• 4 oz. Ting
• Splash of cranberry juice

Mixing Instructions: Build over ice in glass, stir. Raise glass and toast.

The Island Boy

The Island Boy was created by Castaway Mixologist Jeremy McDaniel and is made with Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay Rum. It’s a fruitiful combination of juices and rum that will have you singing island songs in no time.

Instructions:

• 1 oz. Blue Chair Bay White Rum
• ½ oz. Blue Chair Bay Coconut Rum
• ¼ oz. Banana liqueur
• 1 ½ oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 ½ oz. Simply Orange w/ Banana
• Splash Cream of Coconut

Mixing Instructions: Shake all with cracked ice, strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Raise glass and toast.

The Atlantic Breeze

Located on the windward side of the island, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort faces the near constant trade winds as it looks out over the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. These gentle winds are the inspiration behind the Atlantic Breeze cocktail that is served at the resort’s beach bar.

Don’t be blown away though, this brightly colored cocktail could be considered hurricane force with its Bacardi 151 kicker!

Instructions:

• 1 oz. Bacardi 151
• 1 oz. Light Rum
• 1 oz. Orange Juice
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Mango Juice
• 1 oz. Passion Fruit Juice
• Splash of Grenadine

Mixing Instructions: Combine all ingredients, except grenadine, in mixing glass with ice. Shake well then pour into tall cocktail glass. Add a small splash of grenadine. Raise glass and toast.

The Tipsy Pineapple

If you’re a fan of fruity glasses of goodness, then you’re going to love this. Named the Tipsy Pineapple, it is a frozen blend of pineapple chunks, pineapple concentrate, milk, spiced rum and a little bit of sugar. You could use coconut rum, but I think the spiced rum adds a nice bite so you’re not washed away by all the pineapple flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Frozen pineapple juice concentrate
• 2 Pineapple chunks (canned or fresh)
• 3 oz. Milk
• 2 oz. Spiced rum (Cruzan 9 or Captain Morgan work well)
• 1 Pinch of sugar

Mixing Instructions: Place all ingredients in the blender. Blend on a high until smooth. Sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon on top. Serve with a pineapple wedge. Raise glass and toast.

The Caribbean Arnie

This cocktail is a twist on the Arnold Palmer, made famous by the golf legend. His drink, also called the Half and Half, is a combination of lemonade and iced tea. Our drink, created by Castaway mixologist Jeremy McDaniel, is called the Caribbean Arnie and it tastes fantastic!

The Caribbean Arnie obviously has a touch of rum and a little island flavor, but keeps the two main ingredients that make the Arnold Palmer what it is. The recipe calls for Myer’s Platinum White Rum, but Blue Chair Bay White Rum works really well also.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Myers’s Platinum White Rum ( Blue Chair Bay White is a good sub)
• 2 ½ oz. Simply Lemonade with Mango
• 2 ½ oz. Gold Peak Iced Tea (regular not sweet)

Mixing Instructions: Stir all over ice in a rocks glass, top with nutmeg. Raise glass and toast.

SunBurn Rum Punch

I think getting sunburnt has happened to all Caribbean travelers a time or two. The only cure is jumping in a tub of aloe vera or consuming multiple stiff rum drinks. Since we aren’t selling aloe by the truck load here, let’s go the rum route.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Light rum (Brugal Especial extra dry)
• 2 oz. Pink grapefruit juice
• 2 oz. Cranberry juice
• ½ oz. Pineapple juice
• ½ oz. Grenadine

Mixing Instructions: Shake all with crushed ice for about 5-10 seconds. Strain over ice into glass. Raise glass and toast.

The Rasta Maan

From Bugaloe Beach Bar on Aruba, the Rasta Maan will have you in a happy place on Happy Island.

The Rasta Maan is a simple drink, three ingredients blended with ice and served with a smile. The recipe calls for Mango Syrup, but I would use real mango if you have it. Slice up a few wedges and toss them into the blender. I also like to add a splash of dark rum on top once it’s blended. More rum the better right?

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Dark Rum (I like Myers or Kraken Rum for this drink)
• Mango Syrup (Sub real mango if you can)
• Margarita Mix

Mixing Instructions: Add ingredients to the blender with ice. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass then add an additional dark rum floater. Raise glass and toast.

The Killer Bee

Nevis is known for a lot of things…natural beauty, pristine beaches, romantic getaways and Killer Bees. Killer Bees? You might get stung, but it won’t be by a bug.

The Killer Bee cocktail is by far the most popular beverage on Nevis. You can grab a couple at Sunshine’s Beach Bar on Pinney’s Beach. The recipe is so secret the drink is mixed under the bar to hide the ingredients from curious eyes. So while my recipe might not be exact, I’ve been told it’s the closest thing you will find.

You can read more about Sunshine’s Beach Bar and the Killer Bee here.

Ingredients: (almost)

• Makes 2 servings
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 2 oz. Orange juice
• ¼ Teaspoon black pepper
• 2 oz. Club soda
• 2 oz. 151 white rum
• 2 oz. Gold rum
• 2 oz. Absinthe (maybe the secret ingredient)
• 2 oz. Passion fruit juice
• Nutmeg, Starfruit and lime for garnish

Mixing Instructions: In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave honey and 1 tablespoon of water for 30 seconds or until honey is dissolved. Stir in rum, juices and pepper; divide evenly between glasses with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with nutmeg and fruit. Raise glass and toast!

Stormy Seas

Rum has a rich history with sailors and the Caribbean. This recipe is called the Stormy Seas and is made with Shellback rum, a rum branded for sailors. This drink is smooth, tastes great and will actually calm a stormy stomach in my opinion.

How? Ginger Beer and its soothing effects.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Shellback Spiced Rum
• ¼ oz. Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
• 3 oz. Ginger Beer
• Lime Wedge – Squeezed

Mixing Instructions: Build in highball glass over fresh ice. Squeeze lime over cocktail and drop in. Raise glass and toast.

The PainKiller

If you were to ask any salty Caribbean soul what their favorite island cocktail is, you might hear Rum Punch, Bushwacker and Killer Bee. But I’m willing to bet a round of drinks at the Soggy Dollar Bar the majority of people would say the Painkiller.

Ground zero for the Painkiller is the Soggy Dollar Bar on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. No stay in the BVI is complete without hitting the sands of White Bay and drinking a few Painkillers at this beach bar oasis. It’s nearly a religious experience.

To get the history of the Painkiller and see a drink video click here.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Pusser’s Rum
• 1 oz. Cream of coconut
• 4 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 oz. Orange juice

Mixing Instructions: Add all the ingredients to mixing glass. Shake well. Pour into glass with ice. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top. Raise glass and toast.

The Reef Wreck

The Reef Wreck recipe is from the Reef Bar at the Hope Town Lodge on Elbow Cay in Abaco Bahamas. I remember sitting on the beach, feet covered in sand, condensation dripping from the glass, each sip tasting better than the last. Making a Reef Wreck takes me back to the beaches of Hope Town. Hopefully it will take you back to the shores of your St. Somewhere as well.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Gold Rum
• ½ oz. Apricot Brandy
• 4 oz. Orange Juice

Mixing Instructions: Combine all ingredients into mixing glass. Shake and pour into glass. Garnish with cherry. Raise glass and toast.

The Mango Madness

Cocktails are works of art. So many different combinations of mixers, spirits, and liquors–it’s an endless canvas for an artist to experiment with.

The Mango Madness is one of those artistic creations, complete with a blast of Mango flavors and a little craziness splashed on top. I love this drink, there’s just something about mango that swells my salty soul. Every sip tastes like paradise in a glass.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Cruzan Mango Rum
• ½ oz. Appleton V/X
• 3 ½ oz. Pineapple-Mango-Guava Juice (Tropicals is the brand, sold at Wal-Mart)
• 1 oz. Simply Lemonade with Mango
• Splash Wray and Nephew overproof (wouldn’t be any madness without it!)

Mixing Instructions: Shake all with crushed ice. Raise glass and toast.

The Bruised Banana

Not only is The Bruised Banana mind-numbingly delicious, it was the official cocktail of the second Castaway Winter Beach Bash. This drink was served poolside at Bolongo Bay Resort and at Iggies Beach Bar on St. Thomas. I can think of nothing better than sipping on this sweet banana drink while swaying in a hammock and watching the waves roll into Bolongo Bay.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Dark rum
• ½ oz. Banana liqueur
• 1 ½ oz. Coconut water
• 3 Medium banana slices
• ¼ oz. Lime juice
• Nutmeg or Granola crumbles

Mixing Instructions: Muddle banana slices and lime juice in a shaker. Add rest with ice and shake well. Strain and top with nutmeg or granola crumbles. It’s really good frozen as well. Simply add all ingredients to the blender, blend, then raise glass and toast.

The Mustique Whammy

When one hears about the island of Mustique in the Grenadines, stories of rock stars, movie stars, princes and models aren’t far behind. Yes, Mustique attracts the rich and famous, but there’s a beach bar that no matter who you are, you’ll be greeted with open arms and a rum punch.

Basil’s Bar is famous for its good food, strong drinks and a chance to relax island style with a big name. So let’s belly up to the bar, order a Mustique Whammy and watch the Caribbean tide roll in.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. white rum
• Dash of Triple Sec
• Top up with orange juice
• Dash of grenadine syrup

Mixing Instructions: Mix, shake and pour. Raise glass and toast.

Over The Coop

Simple. Different. Exquisite.

Is the word exquisite really the right word to describe a rum drink? It is when it’s made with Cockspur Rum from Barbados. Over The Coop is a delicious little drink that will turn heads at your next party. Simply grab a bottle of Cockspur Fine Rum, lime juice and some honey and you’re all set.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Cockspur Fine Rum
• ¾ oz. Lime Juice
• ¾ oz. Honey Syrup (equal parts honey and warm water)

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake like a crazy person. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

The Expat Smash

The Expat Smash is a variation of the popular Bahamian drink, the Goombay Smash. Legend has it that the original Goombay Smash was concocted at the Blue Bee Bar on Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos.

I can honestly say that the Goombay Smash is one of my favorite island drinks of all time. When you drink one state side you feel like you’re in the Bahamas, and when you drink one in the Bahamas you feel like you’re in heaven.

Ingredients:

• ½ oz. Gold Rum
• ½ oz. Light Rum
• ¾ oz. Coconut Rum
• ¼ oz. Amaretto
• 4 oz. Pineapple Juice
• Splash of Dark Rum (Floater)

Mixing Instructions: Shake all ingredients, except dark rum, in ice filled glass. Top with the dark rum floater. Raise glass and toast.

Jamaican Me Pain Go Away

Castaway Mixologist Jeremy McDaniel is a magician when it comes to mixing drinks, and the Jamaican Me Pain Go Away cocktail adds to that magic.

Made with Jamaican flagship rums, Appleton and Wray & Nephew, this cocktail tastes as good as the blue waters that surround Jamaica look. Of course you know if we’re talking about Wray & Nephew, it’s going to kick.

As we are mixing this let’s dream about making Jamaica our destination. Anchoring ourselves at Rick’s or the Pelican Bar and lose track of time.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Appleton v/x
• ½ oz. Wray And Nephew white over proof
• 4 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Orange Juice
• 1 oz. Coconut Water
• 2 Dashes bitters

Mixing Instructions: Shake all top with nutmeg. Raise glass and toast.

The Express De-Stress

Created by Castaway Kevin S. for a drink contest on CaribbeanCastaways.com, this amazing cocktail won Kevin two tickets aboard the Key West Express.

The award winning Express De-Stress is such an, “Oh my God I need another” type of cocktail that it’s only fitting that it’s added to this rum recipe book. With each sip you’ll fall deeper into island relaxation.

You can read more about the Express De-stress here.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Siesta Key Dark Rum
• 4 oz. pineapple juice
• Juice of a half lime
• Dash of Bitters
• Splash of Grenadine
• Nutmeg Sprinkle

Mixing Instructions: Shake and strain rum, pineapple juice and lime juice over crushed ice. Float a splash of Grenadine. Add a dash of bitters and a touch of nutmeg. Raise glass and toast.

The Bitter End Buddy

Don’t you wish you could be sitting under a palm on a postcard-perfect beach on Virgin Gorda in the BVI right now? Ummm yeah, of course.

But after all that relaxing is done, let’s head over to the Bitter End Yacht Club for happy hour and sip a few of their Bitter End Buddy cocktails shall we.

Ask the bartender for a Bitter End Buddy, it’s a simple drink containing two fruit juices which help mask the potency of the overproof rum, so be careful. It was submitted to the resort by past guests M & D Harris.

After a couple of these Bitter End Buddies, you just might meet your bitter end! I have a feeling the Harris family are Castaways to the bone. Excellent drink guys!

• Ingredients:
• 2 oz. 151 proof rum
• 4 oz. Pineapple juice
• 4 oz. Guava juice

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients to mixing glass with ice. Shake. Pour over ice in a tall glass. Squeeze in a large wedge of lime and stir. Raise glass and toast.

The Island Tan

The Island Tan is a mixture of some of the usual suspects, and then the not so usual. The addition of rum cream which is not usually mixed with fruit juices (at least not at my home bar), adds an interesting twist I think you might enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 ½ oz. OJ
• ½ oz. Cruzan Rum Cream
• ¾ oz. Cream of coconut
• 2 oz. Spiced Rum
• Dash of Angostura Bitters

Mixing Instructions: Shake all or blend all with a cup of ice until smooth. Raise glass and toast.

VooDoo Juice

St. Thomas is a great island for cruise ship stops. But if you want to get away from the hustle of downtown Charlotte Amalie, head to Iggies Beach Bar, located at Bolongo Bay Resort. Once there, belly up to the bar and ask for a Voodoo Juice. It’s a rum filled bucket of goodness that goes down way too easy.

You can see our Voodoo Juice drink video here.

Drink Recipe:

• 1 oz. Cruzan Pineapple Rum
• 1 oz. Cruzan Banana Rum
• 1 oz. Cruzan Coconut Rum
• 1 oz. Cruzan Citrus Rum
• ½ oz. Cruzan Dark Rum
• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 3 oz. Pineapple Juice

Mixing Instructions: Fill bucket (or really large glass) with ice and pour in the Pineapple, Banana, Coconut and Citrus Cruzan rums. Then add the Cranberry and Pineapple Juice and top with Cruzan Dark rum. Raise bucket and toast.

The Crazy Parrot

The parrot comes from the Parrot Bay coconut rum, but what about the “crazy”?

The “crazy” comes from the 151 rum. Boom. “Man up Sally,” squawk, “Fire in the hole, fire in the hole.”

That is one crazy parrot!

Drink Recipe:

• 1 ½ oz. Parrot Bay coconut rum
• ¾ oz. 151 proof rum
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• 1 ½ oz. cranberry juice

Mixing Instructions: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry. Raise glass and toast.

Sweet Poison

Okay, so the only thing dangerous about this drink is the name, Sweet Poison. Pineapple juice, coconut rum, Blue Curacao, and white rum are common ingredients in these blue drinks, so I’m guessing this drink might go by different names in other places. As you can see there is no harmful poisons, super overproof rum, or sharp objects being used to make this drink. It just has a devilish name and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Drink Recipe:

• 1 oz. Pineapple juice
• 2 oz. Coconut rum
• 1 oz. Blue Curacao
• 1 oz. White Rum

Mixing Instructions: Combine both rums and Blue Curacao in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake, then pour into a cocktail glass. Fill the rest of the glass with chilled pineapple juice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge. Raise glass and toast.

The Ginger Sea Dog

When you think of Pusser’s Rum, I’m betting most of you immediately think of the famous Painkiller cocktail. And why wouldn’t you, the drink is freaking amazing and is associated with the British Virgin Islands, one of the most beautiful spots in all the Caribbean. But did you know there are other Pusser’s Rum drinks?

How about the Pusser’s Ginger Sea Dog. I thought this would be fitting because Sea Dog was my nickname in high school. Just kidding. Although I do like the way that sounds. Arrrrr.

The Ginger Sea Dog is made with Pusser’s Rum, delicious ginger beer, Angostura Bitters, and a couple wedges of fruit. It sounds like the Pusser’s twist on the Dark N Stormy.

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. Pusser’s Rum
• 6 oz. Ginger Beer
• Angostura Bitters
• Lime Wedge
• Lemon Wedge

Mixing Instructions: Place ice into a large glass. Add rum and ginger beer. Squeeze lime wedge and lemon wedge over top of drink and drop into glass. Stir briefly. Add Angostura bitters and serve. Raise glass and toast.

Papa’s Summer Punch

Are you in the mood for a little summer time? Warm sunny days, splashing in the pool, fishing on the boat, and exploring exciting new islands is what summer is all about. To help you wrap your arms around that feeling all the time, I give you Papa’s Summer Punch by Papa’s Pilar Rum.

Drink Recipe:

• 1½ oz. Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum
• 1½ oz. Guava Juice
• 1½ oz. Mango Juice
• 1½ oz. Passion Fruit Juice

Mixing Instructions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Shake well. Pour into cocktail glass. Garnish with Serrano Slices. Raise glass and toast.

The Afrodisiac

Why did this cocktail make the recipe book? No, not because it has a kinky name. This drink is a favorite because you muddle jalapeños in the creation process. I like things with a kick and this drink definitely delivers. Oh, and the Afrohead rum isn’t half bad as well.

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. Afrohead Rum
• 1 oz. Fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz. Simple syrup
• 1½ oz. Papaya juice
• 1 Thin slice jalapeño

Mixing Instructions: Muddle jalapeño in shaker. Add Afrohead Rum, lemon juice, simple syrup and papaya juice. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with jalapeño slice. Raise glass and toast.

The Bahama Mama

The Bahamas are a special place. With their neon blue waters, friendly people and nearly endless islands to explore, it’s almost easy to forget about their famous cocktail…the Bahama Mama.

The Bahama Mama is one of those drinks with dozens of different recipes. This recipe I believe is closest to the authentic drink you would get if you were in the islands. Give it a try and let me know if you’ll be Bahama bound.

Drink Recipe:

• ¾ oz. White rum
• ¾ oz. Myer’s dark rum
• ½ oz. Coconut rum
• 3 oz. Pineapple juice
• 2 oz. Orange juice
• 1 Teaspoon grenadine
• Maraschino cherry for garnish
• Orange slice for garnish

Mixing Instructions: Combine all but garnish, shake with ice, strain into hurricane glass & garnish. Raise glass and toast.

If you would like to learn more about the Bahama Mama, you can find the drink history and video here.

The Bushwacker

The Bushwacker is one of my all-time favorite drinks. This frozen cocktail is full of sweet treats like delicious dark rum, Kahlua and coconut. Mix them together and you have a refreshing island drink that’s impossible to have just one.

One of the best I’ve had was at the One Love Beach Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. No stop to White Bay is complete without one!

You can read more about the Bushwacker cocktail here.

Drink Recipe:

• 4 oz. Cream of Coconut
• 2 oz. Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
• 1 oz. Dark Rum
• 1 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao
• 4 oz. Milk

Mixing Instructions: Combine ingredients with two cups of ice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Raise glass and toast.

The Rum Runner

To me the Rum Runner is the quintessential beach drink. It has tons of flavor, cools you off, and can jump start any party.

They come on the rocks or frozen, either way, they come strong. I usually top mine off with a 151 rum floater, but I’m not a smart man. So don’t be afraid to leave that ingredient off when making yours. It’s like adding gas to a fire, so beware. I have fallen prey to it’s persuasions before and paid the price.

Drink Recipe:

• 1 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 oz. Orange juice
• 1 oz. Blackberry liqueur
• 1 oz. Banana liqueur
• 1 oz. Light rum
• 1 oz. Dark rum or aged rum
• ½ oz. 151 rum
• Splash of grenadine

Mixing Instructions: Fill the shaker with ice and add ingredients. Shake. Strain into glass with ice. If you want to get crazy, float a half ounce of 151 rum on top. Garnish. Raise glass and toast.

You can also blend the Rum Runner. Simply add everything in a blender with ice.

The Hemingway Daiquiri

After one sip, you’ll be dreaming of La Floradita.

“I drink to make other people more interesting.” – Ernest Hemingway

Possibly the worlds most interesting man before those Dos Equis versions. Ernest Hemingway was a world traveler, boxer, angler, drinker, and someone told me he wrote a few decent books. Not a bad Castaway in my book.

Often his zest for life would take him to a local bar. He said, “Don’t bother with churches, government buildings or city squares, if you want to know about a culture, spend a night in its bars.”

When in Havana he could often be found at the La Floradita Bar sipping on a properly made Daiquiri. Let’s mix one ourselves and see if we can be inspired to live like he did.

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. White rum (Havana Club or Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum)
• ¾ oz. Fresh grapefruit juice
• ½ oz. Fresh lime juice
• ¼ oz. Maraschino Liqueur
• ¼ oz. Simple syrup
• Garnish with a grapefruit twist

Mixing Instructions: Shake all ingredients except the garnish and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

The Ting Wray

Pronounced “ting-ray,” this drink is pure Caribbean. It can also be called, Ting with a Sting, or Rum and Ting. Whatever you want to call it, this simple cocktail is refreshing and will put you on the ground if not careful.

Made with the famous Jamaican Wray & Nephew overproof Rum which checks in at 126 proof, it’s easy to see how the sting is delivered.

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. Wray & Nephew Jamaican overproof Rum
• 4 oz. Ting Caribbean cola
• Lime Wedge

Mixing Instructions: Add both ingredients to glass with ice. Squeeze lime wedge juice into the drink. Stir well. Raise glass and toast.

The 3 Sheets to the Wind

Don’t be alarmed, there’s no rum in this drink. Crazy I know, but Mexico also borders the Caribbean and I think it’s only right we toss some tequila into this party.

The 3 Sheets To The Wind is named after both that famous state of mind when one has a little too much cocktail fun, and one of my favorite old cable shows, 3 Sheets, starring Zane Lamprey. The show, as you can probably guess, was about a guy traveling the world while enjoying the local drinking customs. Tell me that’s not a bad gig!

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. Tequila (I prefer Don Julio or Cabo Wabo)
• 1 oz. Lime juice
• ½ oz. Agave nectar

Mixing Instructions: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Shake well. Pour into rocks glass with ice, rimmed with salt. Raise glass and toast.

The Spicy Farm

A healthy cocktail, is there such a thing? Yes, sort of. Let me introduce you to the Le Soleil d’Or Resort on Cayman Brac and their Spicy Farm cocktail.

Le Soleil d’Or is the Cayman Islands’ first farm-to-table, wellness-focused destination, situated on the limestone bluffs overlooking the beaches of Cayman Brac. Even at a health-first type of resort, there’s always room for rum.

This is their Spicy Farm cocktail. It’s a bit of a creation, but the effort is worth it.

Drink Recipe:

• 2 oz. Star Fruit Infused White Rum
• 3 oz. Homemade Green Juice

To make the Homemade Green Juice for one cocktail:

• 2 ½ oz. of fresh wild cherry
• ½ oz. Water
• ½ oz. Honey
• 2 Leaves of Kale
• 1 Piece of ginger
• 1 Clove
• Sprinkle of Cayenne ground pepper

Mixing Instructions: Blend all the ingredients on the highest speed and then strain. Garnish: slice of star fruit, 3 cloves and 1 small leaf of Kale.

To make the Star Fruit Infused White Rum: Cut slices of star fruit and put in a jar with white rum, let sit for at least 3 days and a maximum of 5.

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Conclusion

That’s it, 52 Caribbean rum drinks and how to make them. It’s a good mix of traditional island favorites and a few of my own. Creating cocktails is a creative expression meant for experimentation and fun. I encourage everyone to grab your favorite spirits, mixing flavors, and create a cocktail that will WOW your rum loving friends.

To help you wow those friends and make those rum drinks, here is a cocktail mixology set that I recommend. It will help you prepare your drinks and turn you into a master or rum.

I plan on adding to this list of rum drinks, so if you have a favorite that I should know about, hit us up on Instagram at @CaribbeanCastaways and send me a direct message.

If you would like a pdf copy of all 52 drink recipe, I’ve turned this page into an ebook that you can download. Click here to download your free copy.

If you’re planning a trip to the islands, make sure you grab a Caribbean Preferred Discount Card. It’s the largest collection of Caribbean discounts on the internet and it will save you hundreds. It can even get you free drinks at some pretty awesome bars and restaurants throughout the islands! You’ll love it.

Thank you and cheers!
Ryan – RumShopRyan