Summer may be coming to a close, but if you’re like me and refuse to let it go a few summer rum drinks should ease your disappointment. To keep the warm weather in our hearts I’d like to acquaint you with three easy rum cocktails that everyone can make. A surefire way to revisit the good times of summer, these tasty beverages will elicit visions of crystal blue Caribbean waters even on the chilliest days. So readjust your mindset and let’s head to the beach for a few rum cocktails!
Cubra Libre
History has it that this simple rum drink originated during a free-Cuba movement that sprung up just after the Spanish-American War. The Cuba Libre calls for the juice of one lime in addition to the rum and Coke; the wonderful lime juice makes all the difference. If your memories of overly sweet rum and cokes seem a bit silly and have left you feeling a bit underwhelmed, I urge you to try this delicious rum cocktail. You’ll thank me when you realize how well the lime marries with the other ingredients and livens up the joint.

Ingredients
- 1 Lime, Cut in Half
- 2 oz. Rum
- Coca-Cola
Preparation
- Squeeze the Lime Halves Into a Collins or Highball Glass
- Muddle the Lime Halves in the Glass
- Add Ice and Rum
- Top with cola
- Stir
Dark ‘n Stormy
Despite its simplicity, The Dark and Stormy has a bit of a litigious side to it. Believe it or not Goslings Rum has patented the recipe for making this classic rum cocktail and holds two certificates for it at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent specifies exactly how the drink should be made; thankfully they’ve graced us with the option to add lime.
Needless to say if you substitute a different rum you risk being arrested by the Rum police, but don’t worry I won’t tell… However if you want one of the classic dark rum drinks of all time, you’ll need to follow the official Dark ‘n Stormy recipe:

Ingredients
- Ice
- 1.5 oz.of Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
- 4 oz. Ginger Beer
- Lime (optional)
Preparation
- Fill a Highball Glass With Ice
- Add Rum & Ginger Beer
- Stir
If you’d like to “break the law” by using a different ginger beer, check out How to Make Ginger Beer which includes a review of 7 different commercially available brands.
Mojito
Legend traces the Mojito to a similar 16th century drink known as “El Draque”, named after Sir Francis Drake. In 1586, after a successful raid at Cartagena de Indias, Drake’s crew was afflicted by an epidemic of dysentery and scurvy. Arriving at Havana, a small boarding party went ashore and returned with ingredients from the local Cuban Indians for an effective medicine.
Those ingredients were aguardiente de caña (translated as fire water, a crude form of rum made from sugar cane) mixed with local tropical ingredients: lime, sugar cane juice and mint. The lime itself would have cured the crew, but I think you will agree that this rum cocktail recipe is much more fun!

Ingredients
- 3 Sprigs of Fresh Mint
- 2 Tsp. Sugar
- 3 Tbsp. Lemon or Lime Juice (Fresh)
- 1 1⁄2 oz. Light Rum
- Club Soda, Chilled
- Lemon or Lime Wedge
Preparation
- Muddle Two Springs in a Highball Glass
- Add Sugar and Citrus Juice
- Add Ice & Rum
- Stir Thoroughly
- Top with Club Soda
- Garnish With Citrus Wedge and Mint
Conclusion
Everyone needs a taste of summer year ‘round and these three easy rum cocktails are sure to fit the bill. Rum has been around since before the days of Blackbeard and whether you feel like a pirate or just want to act like one, these three are worthy of more than just a sip. Enjoy!