Rum Summer Mixers

By ltrodrigu

Rum:

The quintessential summer spirit—it's like the tropics, bottled. Rums are as varied as the locales they come from. Some can be sweet and molasses-like, while others strike an earthy note. It's always good to have a lightly aged rum on hand—Brugal Añejo works well in cocktails. If you want to expand your rum well a bit, try a flavorful white one like Banks 5 Island. True connoisseurs should have a bottle of rhum
agricole. Distilled from sugar-cane juice instead of molasses, it has a farm-fresh flavor. La Favorite makes an excellent one.

Adriatic Dreams:
A fruity drink for people who don't like fruity drinks. Since most of the strawberry is strained away, you're just getting the essence of the fruit, not a candy-like cocktail.
—From Bryan Dayton of Oak at Fourteenth, Denver

Caribbees Daiquiri:
The daiquiri—that is, the classic kind, not the one that comes out of a blender—might just be the best summer cocktail of all time. This version uses Velvet Falernum—an almond-, ginger- and clove- based sweetener—for even more of a tropical note.
—From Paul McGee of RPM Italian, Chicago


Ti Punch:
A classic drink served at the San Francisco rum temple Bar Agricole, the Ti Punch lets the beautiful tropical earthiness of rhum agricole shine through.
—From Thad Vogler of Bar Agricole, San Francisco

Ingredients

• For Adriatic Dreams:
• 1 strawberry
• 1 1/2 ounces light rum
• 1/2 ounce Aperol
• 1/2 ounce agave nectar
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 6 mint leaves
• For Caribbees Daiquiri:
• 2 ounces rum (preferably El Dorado 3 Year)
• 1 1/2 ounces Velvet Falernum
• 3/4 ounce lime juice
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• For Ti Punch:
• 1 quarter-size lime disk with a bit of flesh
• 1 bar spoon Martinique sugar-cane syrup
• 1 1/2 ounces rhum agricole

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from online.wsj.com

Preparation

Step 1

For Adriatic Dreams:
Muddle strawberry in the bottom of a mixing tin. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain over ice into a rocks glass.

For Caribbees Daiquiri:
Shake ingredients with ice for 10 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass.

For Ti Punch:
Muddle lime disk with cane syrup. Top with rhum. Add a large ice cube. Stir until cold and serve.