Tropical concoctions are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of rum mixers. If you are not mixing rum with something fruity, you are most likely mixing it with regular cola. But there's so much more you can do with rum that doesn't require a blender. Although rum is made from sugar, the flavour isn't always overly sweet. White rum can be dry, whereas dark rum can have a woody flavour that is similar to scotch. White rum can be mixed with tropical fruits and a lot of ice, while others are best simply stirred with one or two ingredients to bring out the flavour of the spirit.
What this boils down to is that rum is far more versatile than we give it credit for and can be used with a wide range of mixers and not just your regular cola, some of which you may not have thought to try before. To get you started, here's a list of the best drinks to mix with rum for your sipping pleasure.
1. Coconut Water
A refreshing combination of coconut water and rum. The combination has a distinctly tropical flavour without the heaviness and sweetness found in many tropical rum cocktails.
The combination may be especially beneficial for avoiding a hangover because coconut water is hydrating and provides extra electrolytes that water alone does not provide.
2. Pineapple Juice
While we're on the subject of tropical flavours, here's another: pineapple juice. The juice is a bright and vibrant rum mixer that also helps to balance the rum's characteristics.
The catch is that you should use fresh pineapple juice, which requires you to juice the pineapple yourself. It's a pain and pineapples aren't as easy to juice as citrus fruit.
However, combining rum and canned pineapple juice isn't the same thing. The flavour profile of the canned stuff is completely off. You'll end up with a far too sweet drink.
If canned pineapple juice is your only option, make a cocktail like a pina colada instead. When you use more ingredients in your drink, the quality of any single component becomes less important.
3. Grapefruit Juice
Grapefruit juice and rum go well together, with the sweetness of the rum balancing out the harshness of the juice. However, while some people enjoy grapefruit juice as a mixer on its own, others may find it too strong.
With a little sugar and club soda, you can enjoy the flavours of grapefruit juice and rum without overpowering them. Lemon juice can also be useful.
4. Soda Water
It's easy to dismiss soda water as a rum mixer, but that's a mistake. Soda water pairs well with any spirit because the bubbles help to elevate the drink to a new level without sacrificing the flavour of your spirit.
Dark rums pair particularly well with soda water, allowing you to appreciate their complex flavours and spices. Furthermore, combining soda water and rum creates a drink that is easy to sip slowly.
This is an excellent opportunity to appreciate all of the nuances of your rum, which is more difficult to do when drinking it straight.
5. Tonic Water
Tonic water is typically paired with gin because the bitterness of the tonic complements the floral notes of the gin. That same bitterness works well with rum, helping to balance out the sweetness.
Other flavours, such as woody notes, may also come to the fore, especially if you use aged rum.
You can also experiment with the type of tonic water you use. There are numerous craft tonics available today. Some of them are simply higher-quality versions of tonic water, with manufacturers avoiding artificial ingredients to create a mixer that tastes far better.
6. Ginger Beer
Ginger beer, like cola, is a classic soda mixer that goes well with a wide range of spirits. In fact, the combination of ginger beer and rum has its own name: the Dark 'n' Stormy.
Technically, the Dark 'n' Stormy is only made with Goslings Black Seal Rum, but in practice, any dark rum will do. Some variations of the cocktail include a squeeze of lime as an additional ingredient. While the lime isn't required, it adds an appealing complexity to the drink.
7. Apple Cider
While tropical flavours are frequently used in rum mixers, apple cider is also a surprisingly good mixer. The fruitiness of apple cider is one reason to pair it with rum, and the sweetness also contributes. Furthermore, many types of apple cider have a tanginess that provides a nice contrast.
Most importantly, apple cider brings out the sweet flavours of rum. This makes it ideal for anyone who is new to rum mixing. Due to the complex flavour notes of dark rum, the combination works exceptionally well.