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National Rum Day 2025: History, Types, And 10 Cocktails To Celebrate On August 16
National Rum Day is a great chance to discover rum's rich history, try new cocktails, and enjoy a flavourful, refreshing spirit with friends or on your own.
National Rum Day is celebrated in the United States on August 16, although World Rum Day is usually observed on the second Saturday of July. Rum is a popular spirit that most people connect with the Caribbean, but today, it is made in many places around the world, including Scotland, Africa, and Hawaii.
Rum is the key ingredient in many tropical drinks like mojitos, daiquiris, and piña coladas. Bartenders these days are also getting creative, mixing rum into new and surprising cocktails, even some with savoury flavours. National Rum Day is a fun chance to enjoy this versatile and tasty spirit.
Rum has an interesting and sometimes dark history. The word 'rum" comes from the Latin word saccharum, meaning sugar. Rum began as a byproduct of sugar production, especially when Christopher Columbus brought sugarcane plants to the Caribbean, as per NDTV. Over time, rum became one of the Caribbean's biggest exports and spread around the world.
The first rum was distilled in the 1600s on sugar plantations in Barbados, the publication states. From there, production spread to islands like Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, where it became industrialized.
Rum was often drunk 'neat" (without mixers) until 1740, when an English naval officer named Edward Vernon mixed rum with water to make it safer to drink on long sea voyages. He called this mixture 'grog," a name that stuck and became part of naval history.
This tradition inspired bartenders to create many versions of the 'navy grog" cocktail, including one popular recipe from California's tiki bars.
The Different Types of Rum
Light-bodied rum: It is less sweet than usual and is sometimes called dry rum. It has a pale colour and a mild taste. This rum is made using special distillation methods at high alcohol levels. You will mostly find it produced in Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Venezuela.
Full-bodied Rum: This rum is rich, flavourful, and aromatic because it is aged for several years in barrels. It is usually made in pot stills and comes from English-speaking countries like Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Martinique. People often enjoy this type of rum neat or with ice, calling it a 'sipping rum."
Demerara Rum: This comes from sugarcane molasses and is made near the Demerara River in South America, specifically in British Guiana. It is distilled using special equipment and has a rich, smooth taste.
Spiced Rum: It is mixed with different spices and natural flavours to give it a unique taste. A well-known example of spiced rum is Captain Morgan.
Rhum Agricole: Also called plantation rum, Rhum Agricole is made directly from fresh sugarcane juice instead of molasses. This method skips the regular sugar-making process and gives it a distinct flavour.
National Rum Day 2025: Celebration Ideas
Rum is a timeless spirit that never goes out of style. Whether you want to relax quietly, throw a casual party, or feel the island vibes, National Rum Day is the perfect excuse to enjoy a delicious rum drink.
Here are some simple cocktail ideas to try:
Kairi Daiquiri: Made with citron rum, raw mango syrup, and lime juice, shaken and served with a salt rim.
Spiked Citron Chai: Citron rum mixed with black tea and simple syrup, served over ice with a lime wedge.
Xcream Colada: Dark rum blended with pineapple, coconut cream, and vanilla ice cream for a creamy treat.
National Rum Day: 10 Cocktails to Celebrate on August 16
Cranberry Orange Ginger Punch: A fruity and spicy punch with cranberry juice, fresh citrus, ginger liqueur, and ginger beer.
Cartel Old Fashioned: A twist on the classic using Coconut Cartel rum with coconut water, bitters, and orange peel.
Prosciutto-Infused Rum and Cantaloupe Cocktail: A smoky, savoury drink with Jamaican rum infused with prosciutto fat, fresh cantaloupe, lemon, and simple syrup.
Estatua Verde: A fancy cocktail featuring white rum fat-washed with peanut butter, infused cachaça, sherry, and syrup, garnished with cassia bark.
Fresh Coco Mojito: A refreshing drink with navy-strength rum, lime juice, simple syrup, coconut water, and mint.
Mango Mole Daiquiri: A tropical daiquiri with rum, lime juice, mango juice, cinnamon syrup, poblano chile, and chocolate bitters.
Cloudlifter: A dessert cocktail with aged Zacapa 23 rum, pistachio syrup, lemon juice, espresso, chocolate bitters, and egg white.
Imperial Basil Smash: A herbal, fresh cocktail combining Dominican rum, fresh basil, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
Savory Mary: A rum-based twist on the Bloody Mary using dark rum, tomato juice, lime, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and other savory ingredients.
Chili Passion Martini: A spicy, fruity cocktail with chili-infused vodka, passion fruit rum, cranberry juice, and ginger syrup.
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