Best Rum Runner - How To Make A Rum Runner - Delish

Though Prohibition outlawed the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcohol during the 1920s and early 1930s, it couldn’t put a stop to Americans’ desire to imbibe. To satisfy that thirst—and turn a tidy profit—bootleggers spent those years smuggling booze to speakeasies across the country, crossing state lines and dodging law enforcement along the way. That perilous endeavor—colloquially known as rum-running—inspired the name of this classic tropical cocktail. A blend of dark and light rum forms the foundation, enriched by banana and blackberry liqueurs. Tangy pineapple and lime juices cut through it all, giving the drink a refreshing tropical lift—perfect for a balmy day.

How To Make A Rum Runner

INGREDIENTS

• Rum (Dark & Light): For the cocktail’s base, I went with a blend of dark and light rum. The dark rum lends molasses depth and sweetness, while the light rum keeps the drink crisp, refreshing.
• Banana Liqueur: As anyone who’s tried Bananas Foster knows, banana and rum flavors are incredibly simpatico. In this cocktail, banana liqueur infuses the drink with a creamy, sweet tropical note.
• Blackberry Liqueur: Blackberry liqueur offers a sweet-tart berry accent that deepens the overall flavor and balances the banana liqueur.
• Pineapple Juice: The tropical flavor and balanced sweetness and acidity of pineapple juice makes it the ideal mixer for a rum runner. Fresh juice is preferable for its vibrant flavor, but high-quality canned juice works too.
• Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice cuts through the drink’s sweet elements, bringing all the flavors into sharper focus.
• Grenadine: Just a splash imparts a lovely scarlet hue and lends an appealing sweet-tart finish.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a cocktail shaker with 4 or 5 ice cubes. Pour in the rums, liqueurs, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine.

Shake vigorously until the shaker is very cold and condensation forms on the outside. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with crushed ice; a hurricane glass is the traditional choice, but a highball works just as well. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a few blackberries.

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Variations

Love classic rum drinks? Give the Bahama Mama a shot. And if you’re looking for something a little less traditional, you’re going to love these Frozen Dark 'n' Stormies.

Recipe Tips

• Fresh is best: Fresh pineapple juice is well worth seeking out. It boasts a vibrant, complex flavor that canned versions can only approximate.
• Hack the grenadine: If you don’t have a bottle of grenadine lying around, don’t sweat it. You can make a perfectly workable substitute by mixing pomegranate juice and simple syrup in a 1:1 ratio.