The 20 Best Rum Cocktails From Daiquiri to Dark & Stormy

White, Gold, and Aged — Our Favorite Rum Drinks

Written by Curiada Editorial Staff

11 min read
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The 20 Best Rum Cocktails From Daiquiri to Dark & Stormy

Why These 20 Rum Cocktails?

Rum is the most diverse spirit category on earth. White rum, gold rum, aged rum, overproof rum, rhum agricole — each one behaves differently in a cocktail, and the best rum drinks lean into that variety rather than treating it as interchangeable. A Daiquiri built on Havana Club tastes nothing like one built on Smith & Cross, and that's exactly the point.

This guide spans the full rum spectrum: Caribbean classics like the Bacardi Cocktail and Jack Dempsey, tiki-adjacent builds with multiple rum types, modern sours and sidecars, and spirit-forward stirred drinks where aged rum gets the Old Fashioned treatment. The White Rum Daisy, the Larchmont, and the Rum Sidecar Blanc are the kinds of recipes that change how you think about what rum can do in a glass.

from working with a single bottle of white rum to a shelf full of Caribbean treasures, these recipes will meet you where you are.

All 20 Recipes

A photo of the Bacardi Cocktail cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Liber & Co. Real Grenadine, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water in a Martini.
#1 medium Other Family

Bacardi Cocktail

White rum, lime, and grenadine -- the classic Bacardi done by the book.

This is the cocktail that sparked a lawsuit over its recipe. Lime and real grenadine keep the white rum honest and tart.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino cherry
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the The White Rum Daisy cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Martini.
#2 easy Other Family

The White Rum Daisy

Pink grapefruit gives white rum a bright, bittersweet daisy treatment.

Just three ingredients -- white rum, grapefruit, and cane sugar -- make this daisy a refreshing entry point for rum drinks.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino cherry
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Larchmont cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Grand Marnier, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#3 medium Other Family

Larchmont

Grand Marnier adds orange richness to this lime-forward rum sour.

White rum and Grand Marnier with lime create a refined sour that shows rum's range beyond the standard daiquiri.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Express orange zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Jack Dempsey cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Beefeater London Dry Gin, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#4 medium Other Family

Jack Dempsey

Rum and gin spar in this citrus sour named for a boxing legend.

Splitting the base between white rum and London Dry gin delivers a one-two punch of tropical and botanical flavors.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino cherry
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Rum Sidecar Blanc cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#5 medium Other Family

Rum Sidecar Blanc

White rum steps into the Sidecar role with triple sec and lime.

Swapping cognac for white rum in the Sidecar template keeps the citrus-forward structure while adding Caribbean lightness.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Express lemon zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Blue Caribbean Daisy cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Blue Curaçao, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Old-Fashioned.
#6 medium Sidecar/New Orleans Sours & Riffs

Blue Caribbean Daisy

Blue curacao turns this rum daisy into a Caribbean sea in a glass.

Giffard Blue Curacao gives this lime-forward rum sour a striking color and orange-peel sweetness that's pure Caribbean fun.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Fill old-fashioned glass with crushed ice
  2. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake well
  5. Strain into glass over crushed ice
  6. Express orange zest twist over drink
  7. Drop orange zest twist into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Minty White Daiquiri cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Tempus Fugit Crème De Menthe, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Martini.
#7 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Minty White Daiquiri

Creme de menthe and triple sec give the daiquiri a cool, minty edge.

Adding mint liqueur to a white rum daiquiri base creates a refreshing, herbal variation that stands out in any rum collection.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Chill martini glass
  2. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake vigorously
  5. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  6. Garnish with mint leaf
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Montego Bay cocktail containing Rhum Clément Canne Bleue, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Angostura Aromatic Bitters in a Old-Fashioned.
#8 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Montego Bay

Rhum agricole and aromatic bitters bring Martinique flair to this daiquiri.

Clement Canne Bleue's grassy, cane-juice character plus bitters give this daiquiri a distinctly French Caribbean personality.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Pour all ingredients into shaker
  3. Shake well with ice
  4. Fill old-fashioned glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled glass
  6. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Bacardi Special cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Beefeater London Dry Gin, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Liber & Co. Real Grenadine, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#9 advanced Other Family

Bacardi Special

Gin joins white rum and grenadine, adding botanical punch to a Bacardi riff.

London Dry gin sharpens the classic Bacardi Cocktail formula with juniper and citrus, making it more complex.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino cherry
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Orange Rum Sidecar cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Grand Marnier, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Martini.
#10 medium Other Family

Orange Rum Sidecar

Fresh OJ and Grand Marnier double the orange in this rum sidecar.

Orange juice and Grand Marnier together create a citrus-rich rum sour that leans into sunny, marmalade-like flavor.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Chill martini glass
  2. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake vigorously
  5. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  6. Garnish with orange slice
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Rumba cocktail containing Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Beefeater London Dry Gin, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Liber & Co. Real Grenadine, Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Old-Fashioned.
#11 advanced Other Family

Rumba

Wray and Nephew overproof plays with gin and grenadine in this shaker.

Overproof Jamaican rum and gin with grenadine make this a bold, high-proof sour with serious tropical bite.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Fill old-fashioned glass with crushed ice
  2. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake well
  5. Strain into glass over crushed ice
  6. Garnish with lime wedge
  7. Serve with straws
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Daiquiri Blanc cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Hamilton Navy Strength 114 Proof Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#12 advanced Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Daiquiri Blanc

White rum and navy strength team up for a daiquiri with real muscle.

Splitting the base between standard and navy-strength rum with triple sec creates a daiquiri that's both smooth and powerful.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Daiquiri No.2 cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed orange juice, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Martini.
#13 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Daiquiri No.2

Orange juice and triple sec stretch the classic daiquiri into citrus heaven.

The No.2 adds OJ and triple sec to the standard daiquiri blueprint, making it fruitier and more layered than the original.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Rum Sidecar cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Rose water in a Martini.
#14 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Rum Sidecar

Triple sec and lime reshape the Sidecar through a rum-soaked lens.

A straightforward rum take on the Sidecar formula -- white rum, triple sec, and lime working in clean harmony.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Bare Bones Daiquiri cocktail containing Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Angostura Aromatic Bitters, Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#15 medium Daiquiri/Classic Sours & Riffs

Bare Bones Daiquiri

Overproof rum and bitters strip the daiquiri down to its raw essentials.

Wray & Nephew at full strength with just lime, sugar, and bitters -- this is the daiquiri with nothing to hide.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Flying Tigre Coctel cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Beefeater London Dry Gin, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Liber & Co. Real Grenadine, Angostura Aromatic Bitters, Chilled water (reduce if wet ice) in a Martini.
#16 advanced Other Family

Flying Tigre Coctel

Rum, gin, grenadine, and bitters fly together in this vintage shaker.

A split rum-gin base with grenadine and aromatic bitters gives this old-school cocktail a fruit-spice balance worth rediscovering.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fine strain into chilled martini glass
  5. Express orange zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Rum Blush Fizz cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, Liber & Co. Real Grenadine, Fee Brothers Fee Foam Egg White Alternative in a Flute.
#17 medium Fizzes & Flips (Egg/Cream Sours & Drinks)

Rum Blush Fizz

Grapefruit, grenadine, and egg white foam give this rum fizz a pink blush.

Pink grapefruit and grenadine under a silky egg white foam make this a beautiful, frothy rum drink with tart-sweet balance.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Chill flute glass
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker without ice
  3. Dry shake vigorously to emulsify
  4. Add ice to shaker
  5. Shake again vigorously
  6. Fine strain into chilled flute glass
  7. Dust with grated nutmeg
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Blue Horizon Sour cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Blue Curaçao, Freshly squeezed lime juice, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne), Fee Brothers Fee Foam Egg White Alternative in a Coupe.
#18 advanced Fizzes & Flips (Egg/Cream Sours & Drinks)

Blue Horizon Sour

Blue curacao and egg white foam turn this rum sour sky-blue and silky.

Double citrus, blue curacao, and egg white foam create a visually striking rum sour with orange-peel depth.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add all ingredients to shaker without ice
  2. Dry shake vigorously
  3. Add ice to shaker
  4. Shake again vigorously
  5. Fine strain into chilled coupe glass
  6. Express orange zest twist over drink and discard
  7. Garnish with lime wedge
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Cherry Reserve Sour cocktail containing Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Rum, Heering Cherry Liqueur, Freshly squeezed lemon juice, Freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, Giffard Sugar Cane Syrup (Sirop Sucre de Canne) in a Coupe.
#19 medium Sidecar/New Orleans Sours & Riffs

Cherry Reserve Sour

Heering cherry liqueur and aged rum build a rich, ruby-toned sour.

Appleton Estate with cherry liqueur and grapefruit makes this sour dark, fruity, and full of reserve-rum character.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to cocktail shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously with ice
  4. Strain into chilled coupe glass
  5. Express lemon zest twist over drink and drop into glass
View Full Recipe →
A photo of the Tropical Cherry Rum Sling cocktail containing Planteray 3 Stars White Rum, Giffard Triple Sec, Giffard Banane du Brésil Liqueur, Heering Cherry Liqueur, Fresh pressed pineapple juice, Freshly squeezed orange juice in a Hurricane.
#20 advanced Tropical & Tiki Drinks

Tropical Cherry Rum Sling

Banana liqueur, cherry, and pineapple send this rum sling to the tropics.

Giffard banana, Heering cherry, and pineapple juice layered over white rum make this the most tropical sling in the collection.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Add ice to shaker
  2. Add all ingredients to shaker
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Fill hurricane glass with ice
  5. Strain mixture into ice-filled hurricane glass
  6. Garnish with pineapple leaf
View Full Recipe →

Your Three-Bottle Rum Shelf

If you're starting from scratch, three bottles cover enormous ground. A clean white rum (Plantation 3 Stars or Probitas) handles Daiquiris, Mojitos, and anything citrus-forward. An aged rum (Appleton Estate 8 Year or El Dorado 12) brings depth to stirred drinks, Old Fashioneds, and sipping cocktails. And a Jamaican pot-still rum (Smith & Cross is the classic) adds the funk and intensity that makes tiki drinks sing.

From there, you can go deep — rhum agricole for grassy complexity, overproof for tiki builds that need backbone, or a good demerara rum for rich, molasses-heavy cocktails. Rum rewards shelf diversity more than any other spirit.

Browse our full Rum collection to find the perfect bottle.
Shop All Rum

Shop the Spirits in This Guide

Spirit Categories: Rum · Liqueurs · Syrups · Gin · Bitters · Mixers

Shop by Style: Light Rum · Fruit Liqueurs · Fruit Syrup · London Dry Gin · Herbal & Spiced Bitters · Other Mixers · Herbal & Spice Liqueurs · Rhum Agricole

Get Specific: Light Rum · Orange Liqueur · Grenadine · Classic London Dry Gin · Aromatic Bitters · Overproof Rum · Other Mixers · Cherry Liqueur · Mint Liqueur · Agricole Rhum Blanc

Our Picks for Rum Cocktails

Rum's diversity meant we had to be disciplined. We could have filled this guide with Daiquiri variations alone. Instead, we picked across rum styles (white, gold, aged, Jamaican), cocktail families (sours, tiki, stirred, highball), and difficulty levels. The result is a collection that shows rum's full range — not just the tropical side.

Shop the Rum Collection

White rum, dark rum, navy strength, aged — every rum in this guide plus the liqueurs and syrups that complement them. All available for delivery.

Shop Rum Browse The Complete Curiada Cocktail Library

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