Rum Runner Cocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
The Rum Runner is a fruit-forward, rum-led cocktail that sits firmly in the modern tropical tradition: big flavours, bright colours, and a holiday-in-a-glass vibe. While its exact origin story isn’t as universally pinned down as some classics, you’ll find it associated with the broader Caribbean-inspired bar scene where layered rums and liqueurs are used to build richness and easy-drinking sweetness. It’s the kind of drink that feels designed for warm weather and lively nights, with multiple spirits working together rather than one taking the spotlight.
On the palate, white rum keeps things light while dark rum adds deeper molasses-like weight. Blackberry brandy brings a dark berry sweetness that plays against the creamy, candy-like banana liqueur. Pineapple juice gives a tangy tropical lift, and orange juice rounds it out with softer citrus sweetness. A dash of grenadine ties the fruit together with a red-berry syrupy note and a touch of extra sweetness.
Served in a hurricane glass, you’ll want this when you’re craving something bold, juicy, and unapologetically tropical. It suits poolside afternoons, beach-bar moods, and party playlists, and it’s ideal if you like your cocktails sweet, fruity, and generously spirited without tasting overly sharp or dry.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Hurricane glass
Ingredients
Cocktail Colin says:
White rum and dark rum lay a warm base under blackberry brandy and banana liqueur, while pineapple juice and orange juice bring bright, tangy sweetness and grenadine adds a cherry-like candy note and rosy depth. It works because the rums’ weight anchors the lush fruit and the citrusy juices keep the liqueurs from feeling cloying; ideal for anyone craving a bold, dessert-leaning tropical pour.
Method
How to make a Rum Runner
- White rum 30ml, Dark rum 30ml, Blackberry brandy 30ml, Banana liqueur (crème de banane) 30ml, Pineapple juice 30ml, Orange juice 30ml, Grenadine Dash
-
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake well
-
- Strain into a hurricane glass over ice
-
- Garnish with a pineapple chunk, a strawberry slice and an orange peel twist, and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Rum Runner with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- Upgrade to premium to receive power tips from top bartenders around the world. Raise you mixology game.
- Read the tweaks that take this simple cocktail to the next level of greatness. Become the next best mixologist which people all talk about.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the origin of the Rum Runner cocktail?
The Rum Runner cocktail is believed to have originated in the late 1950s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida. It was reportedly invented by the bartender there as a means to use up excess inventory of certain spirits, including rum, blackberry brandy, and banana liqueur.
Can I substitute any ingredients in the Rum Runner for similar effects?
Yes, you can make some substitutions in the Rum Runner recipe without losing its essence. For instance, if you don't have blackberry brandy, you could use a blackberry liqueur or even raspberry liqueur for a similar fruit profile. If banana liqueur is unavailable, a splash of pure banana extract mixed with a bit of simple syrup could work in a pinch.
What is the best way to mix a Rum Runner?
The Rum Runner is best prepared by shaking all the ingredients (pineapple juice, orange juice, white rum, dark rum, grenadine, banana liqueur, and blackberry brandy) with ice in a cocktail shaker. Then, strain the mixture into a hurricane glass filled with fresh ice. This technique ensures a well-chilled and mixed drink.
What is the ideal glass to serve a Rum Runner in?
A Rum Runner is traditionally served in a hurricane glass. The distinctive shape of the hurricane glass not only enhances the tropical vibe of the cocktail but also provides ample space for the drink and its garnishes, contributing to an enticing presentation.
How can I garnish a Rum Runner to enhance its appearance?
To elevate the visual appeal of a Rum Runner, consider garnishing it with a slice of orange, a cherry, and a pineapple wedge. A sprig of mint can also add a refreshing aroma. Arrange these garnishes on the rim of the glass or skewer them together and place atop the drink, allowing the colors and textures to complement the cocktail's vibrant flavor.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we'll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we'll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments