I’ve enjoyed trying a variety of rums in this cocktail. My first take split the base between a blended white rum and an overproof Jamaican white. I eventually settled on a version using Smith & Cross “Navy Strength” rum, so-called because its alcohol content is so high, gunpowder could still ignite if a barrel of rum happens to spill in the hold. This rum is full of funk or “hogo,” a term that stems from the French “haut gout,” which refers to slightly tainted meat or another strong yet desirable flavor.

Honeymusk

Spirit Rum

Cocktail family Sour

Flavors

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum
• 1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1 oz Pineapple Syrup
• 3/4 oz Cynar

Method

• Combine all in shaker.
• Add ice and shake for 15 seconds until well diluted.
• Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
• Garnish with lemon wheel.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Fine Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer

Glass

Coupe

Garnish

Crafted during World War II, this patriotic tiki drink refers to Morse Code for the letter “V,” as in “V for Victory!”

3 Dots and A Dash

Spirit Rum

Cocktail family Sour

Flavors Fresh · Herbal · Sweet · Tart

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 oz Denizen Merchant’s Reserve Rum
• 1/4 oz John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum
• 1/4 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
• 1/2 oz Honey Syrup
• 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters

Method

• Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
• Shake until chilled.
• Strain over fresh ice in a tiki mug or tall glass.
• Garnish.

Equipment

• Citrus Press
• Shaker
• Hawthorne Strainer

Glass

Tiki Mug

Garnish

Apple Fan · Cherry · Pineapple Frond

For the Freydis, I used a liberated bottle of 1960s-era Scandinavian aquavit from my in-laws house. It adds a decidedly sharp caraway/rye undertone to the flavor party.

Freydis

Spirit Rum

Cocktail family Sidecar

Flavors Boozy · Rich

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Light Rum
• 3/4 oz Aquavit
• 1/2 oz Aperol
• 1/2 oz Orgeat
• 1/4 oz Peach Liqueur

Method

• Combine all ingredients in shaker.
• Add a handful of ice and shake for 15 seconds until well diluted.
• Strain into a hurricane glass over fresh crushed or pebble ice.
• Garnish.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Hawthorne Strainer

Glass

Hurricane Glass

Garnish

Mint Sprig

This is a riff on the French Martini using French berry liqueur alongside the unaged funk of Jamaican overproof rum and grassy notes from French-style rhum agricole. It’s a flavor bomb.

French Daiquiri

Spirit Rum

Cocktail family Sidecar

Flavors

Makes

1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 3/4 oz Rhum Agricole
• 1/2 oz J. Wray & Nephew Overproof
• 1 1/2 oz Fresh Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters

Method

• Shake all ingredients with ice and double-strain into a chilled coupe.
• Garnish with lime wedge.

Equipment

• Shaker
• Fine Strainer
• Hawthorne Strainer

Glass

Coupe

Garnish