These craft poolside Caribbean rum cocktails are the perfect addition to any get-together!
Grenada: Calabash Rum Cocktail
This sugar-and-spice drink hailing from the “Spice Island” of Grenada delicately mixes fresh lime juice, nutmeg syrup and blue liqueur for that signature ocean blue color.
What you’ll need:
- Grenadian overproof white rum
- Grenadian nutmeg syrup
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- splash of Blue Curacao
- grated nutmeg for topping
What to do:
- In a large glass, mix together the rum, nutmeg syrup, lime juice, sugar and Blue Curacao.
- Add a few cubes of ice, garnish with grated nutmeg and enjoy!
Barbados: Malibu Sunset
Barbadian coconut-flavored rum shines in this layered summer cocktail that combines pineapple and orange juices for the ultimate refreshing drink.
What you’ll need:
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 3 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces Barbadian coconut rum
- grenadine
- maraschino cherries
- pineapple wedges
- orange slices
What to do:
- In a short glass, mix together the pineapple juice, orange juice and coconut rum until combined and add ice cubes.
- Slowly pour in a small amount of grenadine to reach the desired layered effect.
- Garnish with orange wedges, pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries or all three.
- Enjoy!
Trinidad and Tobago: The Queen’s Park Swizzle
First concocted in the 1920s, this drink was named after the Queen’s Park Hotel in Trinidad where it was created. Muddled mint leaves, lime juice and Caribbean rum combine in a refreshing beverage truly fit for a queen.
What you’ll need:
- a handful of mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces aged dark rum
- 4 – 5 dashes bitters
- mint sprigs for garnish
What to do:
- In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle together the mint leaves (leaving a couple for garnish) and sugar with a muddler or wooden spoon. Alternatively, rip the mint leaves by hand, mash them between your fingers and add to the shaker.
- Add the lime juice, simple syrup and rum, then cover and shake to blend.
- Add crushed ice to a tall glass and pour in the mixture.
- To swizzle the drink, place a swizzle stick or spoon between your hands rubbing both hands together to create an agitating motion until the beverage becomes a bit frothy.
- Add a few splashes of bitters for a layered effect.
- Top with a sprig of mint and enjoy!
