Nothing says vacation like a rum cocktail. But like most of us, your getaway fantasies might be limited to making drinks in your home bar and drinking them during digital happy hour. Just because you’re not jetting off to the Caribbean, the birthplace of rum, doesn’t mean you can’t go there…see what we did there?
July also happens to be the month we page homage to the Piña Colada Day ( July 10), Mojitos ( July 11) and Daiquiris (July 19). You don’t need a better reason (or three!) than that to indulge.
This month take a mental holiday to Puerto Rico, Cuba or any Caribbean island you please. These getaways in a glass will definitely put you in a tropical state of mind. Salud!
For National Piña Colada Day Try:
Piña De Lite
This drink was created in Puerto Rico (where Don Q is made) and is the quintessential trago on vacations. It’s been around for more than 60 years.
Make this version, shaken and not stirred, for yourself.
Ingredients:
2 oz Don Q Piña Rum
2 oz Coconut water
½ oz Lime juice
2 Fresh strawberries
1 Lime wheel
Campari*
Preparation: Add rum, coconut water, lime juice, and strawberries into a Boston shaker and muddle. Add ice and shake. Strain into a coupe class. Garnish with lime wheel. Add a bar spoon of Campari.
*Garnish at your discretion
For National Mojito Day Try: Grapefruit Chili Mojito
Cuba is synonymous with the Mojito thanks to the bite of lime juice, mint leaves and rum. This version gives you a kick by adding some heat and an unexpected type of citrus.
Ingredients
2 oz Don Q Gold Rum
1 oz Fresh lime juice
6-8 Fresh mint leaves
3 Freshly cut grapefruit wedges
1/2 oz *Chili Pepper Syrup
Sparkling Rosé Brut
Preparation: Muddle the fresh grapefruit with the lime juice, chili syrup and mint. Fill the highball with as much ice as possible, add Don Q Rum and lift all the ingredients from the bottom of the glass throughout the drink so that there is an even distribution of all ingredients, top to bottom. Add more ice and top with the Rosé Brut. A final gentle stir so that the rosé doesn’t sit on the top. Garnish with a mint sprig and grapefruit peel.
* To make chili pepper syrup, dissolve 16 oz of granulated sugar in 16 oz of hot water. Add one whole diced Serrano pepper, and let cook into water for 3 mins. Remove from heat and let chill in refrigerator overnight. Strain out the pepper residue and bottle, store in refrigerator.
For National Daiquiri Day Try:
Don Q Piña Daiquiri
Cuba is also where the Daiquiri, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite drinks, was invented during the Spanish-American war. These days this rum cocktail is most known as a summer staple. This recipe adds Sherry for a touch of sophistication.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Don Q Piña Rum
½ oz Sherry wine
1 oz Lime juice
½ oz Simple syrup*
Preparation: Shake rum, wine, lime juice, simple syrup and ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a coupe glass.Garnish at your discretion
*For the simple syrup, dissolve 8 oz of granulated sugar in 8 oz of hot water.
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Cocktail photos and recipes courtesy of Don Q.
Photo of girl poolside by Artem Beliakin, Unsplash.com