As the nights get colder and some of Australia remains in lockdown, World Rum Day couldn’t have come at a better time to warm our spirits.
World Rum Day was launched in 2019 by Paul Jackson, spirits writer and editor of World Rum Guide, and is celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of July each year. This year, the day devoted to the classic dark alcohol falls on this Saturday, July 10th, just a few days away.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re just discovering rum for the first time or you’re a seasoned enjoyer of it, for rum is the perfect winter tipple.
And with Sydney sadly stuck in quarantine for another week at least and the temperatures dropping elsewhere considerably, most of us will only have the energy to curl up in the living room and watch Netflix this weekend.
Lucky you, because we thought we’d help you get started with 4 easy-to-follow cocktail recipes that you can try to make this Saturday in celebration of World Rum Day.
So why not spice it up with these rum-derful suggestion (I’m so sorry) – ditch the bland beers and mark World Rum Day with some fabulous homemade cocktails instead!
For the recipes, we’ve used Diplomatico Exclusiva Reserva Rum, a wonderful Venezuelan dark golden rum, one of the most highly-awarded rums in the world. It’s a signature blend of 20% light column distilled rums with 80% pot still rums aged up to 12 years, a proportion of which are rums from exceptional barrels used in Master Blender Tito Cordero’s secret preparation.
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Pick up or order a bottle of Diplomatico at your local Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars, First Choice Liquor Market, or any good independent liquor retailer, from just $104.99.
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Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
60ml Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
20ml Lime juice
15ml Velvet Falernum
5ml Triple Sec
This tropical cocktail is a delightful twist on the Daiquiri. It’s thought to have been established all the way back in the 1840’s in Bermuda, named, of course, after the British Army’s Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. It’s the perfect marriage of sweet and sour, with a delicate little hint of spice to top it all off.
Method: add all the above ingredients together in a boston and add ice. Shake until frosted and then double strain into a chilled glass. To garnish, use a lime wedge.
Presidente Cocktail
45ml Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
15ml Vermouth Rosso
10ml Orange Curacao
1 small dash Grenadine
A cocktail fit for a president! Or you and your mates too, I suppose. Originally thought to have been created in Cuba during the prohibition years, the Presidente Cocktail grew in popularity when it spread through bars on Florida after having been a staple in the rest of America for a while. There’s a lot happening in this potent mix of alcohols so prepare yourself.
Method: stir ingredients with cracked ice before straining into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of orange zest.
Manhattan
70ml Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
30ml red Vermouth
Drop of bitters
Sometimes you’ve just got to keep it classic, you know? This legendary cocktail became a symbol of sophistication in the 1940’s, being drunk by many a suave character in famous movies from that era. The good folks at Diplomatico recommend the Reserva Exclusiva for a Manhattan as it brings delicate notes of vanilla and dried fruits to the cocktail. Your taste buds will thank you later.
Method: add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Mix, filter and serve in a glass. Top with a maraschino cherry and twist of lemon peel if you wish.
Sidecar
50ml Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
15ml Cointreau
20ml lime juice
Channel your inner Ernest Hemingway with this cocktail that was thought to be created in London or Paris around the 1920’s. A cognac-based cocktail, the orange hints of Exclusiva balance nicely with the bitterness of the lime juice for a pleasant drinking experience.
Method: add ice and all ingredients to shaker. Shake and strain the n pour into glass. Garnish with sugar rim.
Watch A Brief History of Rum:
