The 5 Best Rum Cocktails, According To The Queen Of Rum

Forbes

10-07-2025

Think you know rum cocktails? These five drinks might just change your mind. getty
Few spirits are as versatile, or as misunderstood, as rum. With no single definition or style, and wide variation across regions, the category doesn't always help itself. Most people's first experience of it is in a sugary fruit punch, loaded with juice and umbrellas. But the truth is, some rums can hold their own against the world's best Scotch or bourbon. One of rum's greatest strengths is how well it works in cocktails. Unlike Scotch, which often resists mixing, rum welcomes it, making it far more adaptable behind the bar.
But what are the best rum cocktails in the world? That's not an easy question to answer, so I turned to someone who would know: Joy Spence, Master Blender at Appleton Estate and the first woman in the world to hold that title. I met Joy earlier this year at the distillery in Jamaica's Nassau Valley, where she shared her five favourite rum cocktails, drinks that show the spirit's full range and depth. To take things further, I asked Nathan Larkin, co-owner of Speak in Code in Manchester, to rework each one with his own modern twist. The results are thoughtful, bold and well worth trying.
Nathan Larkin, co-owner of Speak in Code, brings modern flair to five classic cocktails chosen by Joy Spence, Appleton Estate's legendary Master Blender. Speak In Code
Here's what made the list.
Speak in Code's take on the classic Daiquiri brings refined simplicity to the first cocktail in the Queen of Rum's top five. Speak In Code
Number five on Joy's list is the essential Daiquiri. Invented almost 50 years before the first official Appleton Estate rum was released (in 1949 in case you are wondering), its creation is credited to American mining engineer Jennings Cox. From its beginnings in Cuba, the Daiquiri works with rum so well because of its simplicity and the perfect balance of the lime's acidity and the sugar's sweetness. 50ml White Rum
25ml Freshly squeezed lime juice
15ml 1:1 (with caster sugar)
3 drops 20% saline solution (20% non iodised salt to filtered water)
While you can substitute ingredients in any of the cocktails on this list, Nathan says the key to a great Daiquiri is in the technique: 'Mastering a good hard shake can make all the difference. It gives you a silkier, better-textured drink. We use a three-piece cobbler shaker for more controlled loops and better aeration.' #4 Mai Tai
This sesame-spiked Mai Tai reimagines a tiki classic with layered richness and no cherry in sight. Speak In Code
Despite having had my fair share of Mai Tais over the years, I never actually knew the meaning of the name until I started writing this article. It comes from the Tahitian phrase "Maita'i roa ae" , meaning 'Out of this world' or 'The very best.'
That's not how I'd describe some of the Mai Tais I've been served in the past, often drowned in pineapple juice, with the occasional maraschino cherry on top.
In reality, a proper Mai Tai is a far more balanced and refined cocktail. It should showcase the rum and bring together sweet, sour and nutty elements in harmony. Speak In Code's Mai Tai Recipe 25ml White Rum
10ml Aged Rum
15ml Dry Curacao
5ml Angostura Di Amaro
5ml Overproof Rum
25ml Lime Juice
20ml Smoked Vanilla & Halva Orgeat
Grated nutmeg garnish
If you want to level up your next Mai Tai, Nathan's version is worth trying. 'Complex and rich' is how he describes it, using a sesame-based orgeat (sweet syrup) made from halva. 'This is a tahini-based paste which has sugar and vanilla as flavouring. Simply blend with water, filter and add sugar to sweeten and achieve the texture you want from your orgeat,' he explains. They also smoke theirs, adding depth without losing the core identity of the classic. And, importantly, there's no pineapple juice or grenadine in sight. #3 Old Fashioned
A bold rework of the Old Fashioned using dandelion and aged rum Speak In Code
Now, I'm a little biased as the Old Fashioned is my favourite cocktail hands down, but I was surprised to find that it works really well with rum. I'd still argue it's best with a good bourbon, but rum holds its own and in my opinion, it works far better than scotch. It's especially good when made with brown sugar, which is essentially unrefined and brings a lot more flavour to the glass.
There's a reason the Old Fashioned just works. It's a simple drink on paper, but when done well, it tastes spectacular. Each ingredient earns its place. The sugar softens the bite of the alcohol, the bitters add complexity and depth, the water from the ice opens up the flavours and the rum brings a tropical richness; think molasses and that all-important funk you get from a good Jamaican rum. Speak In Code's Rum Old Fashioned: 10ml Dandelion Demerara
Dandelion Bitters
Nathan's recipe takes the rum Old Fashioned to another level with a rather unusual ingredient: dandelion. He says, 'We use dandelion flowers for our homemade demerara and dandelion root for a coffee-like dandelion bitters. Dandelion flower has a bittered, honey-like flavour and honey notes are fairly aromatic. Naturally, you get warm caramel, apple spices, etc., from a good aged rum, and in this case, both parts of the dandelion complement the depth of the aged rum.'
Needless to say, you might not have dandelion bitters in your home bar, but if you want to level up your Old Fashioned, experimenting with different bitters is definitely a good place to start. #2 Stormy Valley
Inspired by the Dark and Stormy, this carbonated twist nods to Appleton Estate's Jamaican roots and ranks number two on our list. Speak In Code
At number two on the list is Appleton Estate's twist on the classic Dark and Stormy. The original cocktail is built around rum, lime and ginger—usually in the form of ginger beer. Appleton's version swaps that for ginger cordial and carbonated water, a subtle shift that gives much more control over the flavour and fizz. The name, Stormy Valley, is a nod to Jamaica's Nassau Valley, where the Appleton Estate is based, and where daily rain showers arrive at 2:30 pm like clockwork. Speak In Code's Stormy Valley Recipe: 50ml Aged rum
10ml clarified lime
20 Ginger cordial
70ml water
(All batched and carbonated)
Lapsang bitters to top
This isn't necessarily a difficult cocktail to make, but it's definitely one to batch and plan in advance.
Nathan shared how they approach Stormy Valley at Speak in Code: 'Fresh ginger juice and lime juice are clarified, sweetened a little, and then lengthened with water to batch with the alcohol base, and then force carbonated. Smoked ginger is always something we'll get behind.'
They even make their own lapsang bitters, lapsang tea steeped in high-proof neutral grain spirit, then cut with Cynar. And while he notes you can just top the drink with standard ginger beer, they prefer to stick with house-made ingredients throughout.
In short, it's a cocktail built on precision and balance, but one that's worth the effort if you're looking to elevate a classic. #1 Rum Punch
Fermented peach, spiced pineapple and distilled blossom elevate this rum punch far beyond the usual — and that's exactly the point. Speak In Code
Topping Joy's list is the classic rum punch. It has the longest history of any cocktail featured here, dating back to the 17th century, with its origins apparently inspired by Indian punch recipes brought back by sailors of the British East India Company.
There's even a well-known rhyme to help you remember how to make one: 'One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.'
The sour, sweet, strong, and weak refer to lime, sugar, rum, and water (or ice), plus a little spice (traditionally grated nutmeg) if you want to do it traditionally. Speak In Code's Rum Punch Recipe: 35ml white rum
10ml peach wine
5ml peach blossom distillate (rectified to 55% ABV)
10ml lime
20ml Lacto fermented peach & oats
30ml Pimento spiced pineapple
Nathan's take on the rum punch is, in his words, 'the OG – but not in the way you know it.'
Where many rum punches go wrong is by overloading fruit juices, skipping the lime, and masking the rum with syrupy sweetness. This version is the opposite: balanced, fresh and full of depth.
'We're demonstrating varied techniques here to create a warming, spiced rum punch that is juicy and fresh,' Nathan told me. The drink uses lacto-fermented peach, salt-fermented with oats to add creaminess and complexity. The peach blossom distillate is made by macerating the flowers and vacuum-distilling them to extract peach stone flavours, giving a subtle nuttiness similar to Amaretto.
So next time you're wondering what cocktail to make, or order, give one of these five a go. They prove just how versatile rum really is, and you'll definitely be rewarded for putting in the effort. And if all of that sounds like too much hard work, you can visit Nathan at Speak In Code.