Crowd-pleasing rum cocktails to serve your guests

01. Best for wedding celebrations: the Hotel Nacional

Named after the famous Hotel Nacional in Havana, Cuba, this signature cocktail adapts the classic Daiquiri. It mixes pineapple, lime juice and apricot (or peach liqueur) for a cocktail that’s smooth in taste and big on tropical flavour. 

You'll need:

• 45ml rum

• 15ml Apricot or peach juice

• 20ml Lime juice

• 20ml Pineapple juice

• 15ml Simple syrup

• 1 Lime wheel

To make:

• In a cocktail shaker with ice, add all liquid ingredients

• Shake for 5-7 seconds and fine strain (using a tea strainer to catch the ice bits) into a chilled cocktail glass

• Garnish with a lime wheel.

02. Best for birthday celebrations: the Rum Manhattan

Part spiced rum, part aged rum, this cocktail is a great way to add a little zing to a classic drink.  

You'll need:

• 25ml Spiced Rum

• 25ml Aged or Dark Rum

• 25ml Red vermouth

• 2 dashes Aromatic bitters

• 1 Lemon or orange peel

To make:

• Stir all liquid ingredients with ice in a mixing glass

• Strain neat into a chilled cocktail glass

• Garnish with lemon or orange peel and a brandied cherry on a cocktail pick.

03. Best for milestone moments: the Rum Sour

The most famous sour cocktails are the Margarita and the Whisky Sour, but the Rum Sour is a great contender.

The combination of rum with zesty citrus is something to look forward to. It's easy to make, easy to switch up (all types of rums are welcome) and easy to enjoy, making it an excellent drink for celebrating life's big, big moments with your favourite people.

You'll need:

• 45ml Spiced Rum

• 20ml Lemon juice

• 15ml 1:1 Simple syrup (to taste)

• 2 dashes Aromatic bitters

• 1 Egg white (optional)

To make:

• Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake hard for 7-10 seconds.

• Double strain using a mesh tea sieve into a chilled cocktail glass.

04. The best for for Christmas: the Eggnog

The festive season isn’t festive without Eggnog. Warming and delicious in equal measures, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to serve your guests a glass of Eggnog. 

You'll need:

• 45ml Rum

• 60ml 36% Cream or milk

• 30ml Black tea syrup

• 1 Whole egg

• 300gr Sugar or honey (optional)

• 1 sprinkle Nutmeg

To make:

• Add 5 tea bags of preferred breakfast or earl grey tea to a container, and top with 300ml hot water. Steep for 10 min, strain and reserve the tea water.

• Combine with 300g white sugar or honey, stir to dissolve. Store in fridge, use within 7-10 days.

• Add all ingredients to a shaker, and viciously dry shake without ice to emulsify the egg. Add ice and shake hard. Double strain into a moose mug.

• Top with freshly grated nutmeg.

05. Best for cocktail parties: the Winter Mai Tai

No cocktail party is complete without a Mai Tai. And if you’re hosting one during the colder seasons, Lauren’s "winterised" Mai Tai will go down a storm with your guests.  

You'll need:

• 45ml rum

• 15ml all spice dram

• 20ml lime juice

• 20ml orange juice

• 20ml almond syrup

• 1 sprig of fresh mint

• 1 pinch of grated almond

To make:

• Shake all ingredients with ice, and strain over fresh ice into a festive glass.

• Garnish with fresh mint and grated almond.