Hey, Reader!

Rum is a necessary spirit for summer, IMO. Light and bright, rum works especially well in summery cocktails, from tiki drinks to classic recipes.

This sugarcane-based spirit is mostly produced in the Caribbean countries, where sugarcane thrives in the tropical climate. Depending on what kind of rum is produced — there are more than 6 kinds of rum — it ferments hours to weeks before it's ready to be enjoyed.

Now let's get to the fun part, talking about a few rum cocktails you need to know!

daiquiri

Rum is a staple in daiquiri recipes, combining rum with fruit and simple syrup. The result is a sweet sipper with plenty of room for variation, from banana to strawberry or even one in frozen form. You can even make a booze-free version for everyone to enjoy!

mojito

The mojito is a summertime classic. Mint, simple syrup, lime juice and rum all come together in this refreshing drink. It's also a good base drink to try flavor variations, like this gorgeous blackberry mojito, watermelon or mango. You can even let your guests DIY their own with a mojito bar!

hurricane

Another fan-favorite rum drink is the Hurricane. You can't visit New Orleans without trying this classic cocktail made with two kinds of rum, lemon juice and passionfruit syrup. It's a great one to sip in the sweltering heat.

rum & coke

The rum & coke might seem like a simple 2-ingredient cocktail, but it can be so much more than that. Try it with different kinds of rum, and make sure you get your ratios right. You can add a squeeze of lime for extra flavor. (But if you do, it's called a Cuba Libre!)

big batch drinks

The fish bowl drink uses coconut rum for an infusion of tropical flavor, making it perfect for serving up at summer parties. Jungle juice is deliciously potent to keep the party going, with silver rum and fruit juice teaming up with other spirits for a grown-up version of the millennial fav.

Don't be afraid to get creative with rum, either. It can replace the typical spirit in classic drinks to totally transform them, like in the rum old-fashioned or Cubanita. As the weather cools, it's a star in cozy and comforting wintry drinks like hot buttered rum too!

Now, which one will you try making at home first?

Susannah