Summertime is the time for casual, easy entertaining and these rum drinks are as easy as they come, yet tasty and strong enough to make an excellent party.
Rum Punch: This is my father’s recipe and I don’t know where he got it, but it is a great rum drink. It is easy because once made, your guests just have to dip their cups while your relax.
1. Juice of 12 lemons, i.e. 1 cup of lemon juice
2. 1 cup of sugar
3. 1 pint of very strong tea
Mix these ingredients together, then add,
4. 2 Bottles (or fifths ) LIGHT rum
5. 2 Quarts of soda water
6. 2 trays of ice cubes.
Mix the rum, soda water and ice cubes with the earlier lemon mixture and put it out in a punch bowl. Makes 50 3-ounce cups.
Dark and Stormy: The Dark and Stormy is an excellent rum drink that originated in Bermuda. It has been slow in getting to the US and has come from the yachting community mostly. My first one was at Waterman Grille in Providence. Unfortunately, this drink is hard to come by in bars due to the ginger beer ingredient so this is my recipe for enjoying one at home.
1. 1 ½ jiggers, i.e. 2 ounces of DARK rum
2. Ginger Beer and ice
Using a large ice tea sized glass, pour in the rum, then add ice cubes, then fill the rest of the glass with ginger beer and stir.
The ginger beer problem: You CANNOT use Ginger Ale for this drink, it tastes terrible. I found Barritts Ginger Beer at some local liquor stores, and Barritts will tell where to get it in your area. Thankfully I found Goslings ginger beer at my local supermarket.
Hurricane: The Hurricane has become a very popular rum drink in the last few years and many bars are serving it. However, the only Hurricane that seems to taste right is one made in New Orleans. Since going to New Orleans is not easy, the following is my home version. There are many Hurricane mixes on the market, however, the best one is from Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans and can be bought by following the prior link to the online store. When you get your Hurricane Cocktail Mix , you will need to have only DARK or AMBER rum on hand. The mix does everything else for you. You make the mix separately in a quart container, ½ quart of water, add mix, turn upside down and shake, add more water and shake again. What could be easier? Then you keep the mix in your refrigerator and for the Hurricane itself you put 4 ounces (that’s right 4) of DARK or AMBER rum in a glass with ice and fill the glass with mix and stir. This rum drink is as close as you will come to a real Hurricane cocktail without leaving home
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Finally, the simplest, pour a diet Coke and fill with light rum to your taste and that’s easy and great summer living.
