“Of all the spirits in your home, rum is the most romantic,” wrote bon vivant James Beard in 1956. Whether you agree or not, let the summer drinking continue with National Rum Day which happens to fall on Tuesday August 16th. 

Rum has been one of the more misunderstood spirits with numerous myths surrounding it’s history. Although all rum is made from sugar, that doesn’t mean it’s sweet and needs to be mixed with fruit juices to be enjoyed.  Some of the best rums are aged and meant to be served and savored “neat”.  While believed to be a Caribbean spirit associated with West Indian pirates, prior to the American Revolution, they were many rum distilleries in New England and today craft rum is made in many states throughout the US.  

Here are some local Miami spots for delicious rum drinks and even some recipes to try at home.  Let’s get ready to “RUM ble”!

Db Bistro Moderne- 255 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami, FL 33131

Cocktail: Rum Old Fashioned

Ingredients: AFROHEAD Briland 07, Demerara, Angostura

Driftwood Room at Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel- 1825 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cocktail: The Antidote

Ingredients: Bacardi 8 Rum, Coconut Milk, Pineapple Juice, Chamomile Orange Syrup, Nutmeg

Juvia - 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cocktail: Apple Ginger

Ingredients: Selveray Rum, Ginger Shrub, Lime Juice, Apple Juice

Komodo-801 Brickell Ave., Miami, FL 33131

Cocktail: Yuzu Daiquiri

Ingredients: Facundo neo rum, Bacardi 8 rum, yuzu sake, lime

KYU- 251 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127

Cocktail: Mojito Posh Nosh

Ingredients: Rum, shiso & mint leaves, fresh lime and lychee juice

Makoto- 9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154

Cocktail: Lemongrass Cooler

Ingredients: Bacardi limon rum, cilantro, lemongrass, lemon, soda

NaiYaRa -1854 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cocktail: Ko Mak Colada

Ingredients: Flor de Cana Silver, Pineapple, Coconut Water, Egg White

Radio Bar- 814 1st St., Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cocktail: Colada Swizzle

Ingredients: Coconut infused Mount Gay XO Rum, Chocolate Milk, Radio’s Coffee Bean Tincture

Regent Cocktail Club- 1690 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Cocktail: Martha Washington's Rum Punch

Ingredients: Dark rum, light rum, lemon juice, Orange juice, Simple syrup, lemons, orange, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks

Verde - Pérez Art Museum Miami, 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

Cocktail: Coconut Rum Collins

Ingredients: Rum, Cilantro, Lime, Coconut

And for those of you who also might want to do some mixing at home here are some recipes:

SUSHISAMBA Miami Beach- 600 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.673.5337

Samba Juice                                                          

Recipe

-      1oz. Bacardi Razz

-      ½ oz. Bacardi Grand Melon                                                              

-      1oz.  Acai purée                                                   

-      ½ oz. Passion Fruit purée

-      ½ oz. crème de banana                                                    

-      1 oz. guava juice                                                

Method

-      Shake                                          

Izzy’s Miami- 423 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.397.8843

Yacht

Recipe

-      5 muddled grapes

-      .75 lemon juice

-      .25 Cointreau

-      .75 Orgeat

-      1 oz. white rum

Method

-      Shake and strain over crushed ice

-      Top with .75 oz. Remy VSOP

-      Garnish with two grapes skewered

Ortanique on the Mile- 278 Miracle Mile Coral Gables, FL 33134 305.446.9895

Tyku Dragon Cloud

Recipe

-      1 1/2 oz. Bacardi Dragonberry

-      1 oz.  Tyku coconut Nigori

-      1 oz. lemon juice

-      1/4 oz. agave

Method

-    Mint leaf garnish

-    Served on the rocks

-    Collins glass

Rum Remedy

Recipe

-      1 1/2 oz. Bacardi Gold

-      1 oz. Malibu Rum

-      1 oz. pineapple juice

-      1 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice

-      1/2 oz. simple syrup

-      Bacardi Black floater

Method

-      Ground nutmeg on top

-      Orange and cherry garnish

-      Served on the rocks

-      Snifter glass

-      Both drinks are shaken before being poured directly into glassware

The Forge-  432 Forty First Street Miami Beach, Florida 33140 305.538.8533

Zombie

Recipe

-      ¾ oz. Flor de Cana 4yr. Rum

-      ¾ oz. Flor de Cana 7yr. Rum

-      ½ oz. Ron Atlantico Rum

-      ¼ oz. Bacardi 151

-      ¾ oz. Velvet Falernum

-      ½ oz. fresh lime juice

-      ½ oz. orange juice

-      ½ oz. grapefruit juice

-      ½ oz. pineapple syrup

-      2 dash grapefruit bitters

-      1 dash aromatic bitters

-      1 dash lucid absinthe

Method

-      Garnish with a mint leaf, orange wedge and bordeaux cherry

-      Serve over crushed ice

SUGARCANE raw bar grill- 3252 Northeast First Avenue Miami, FL 33137 786.369.0353

Halo (pronounced hah [like "haha"] - low)

Recipe

-      1 ½ oz. coconut milk

-      ½ oz. fresh lime juice

-      ½ oz. agave

-      ½ oz. Giffard banana liquor

-      1 ½ oz. Koloa Coconut Rum

Method

-      Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Garnish beer glass with halo  

-      Add light ice to mixing glass and shake to mix

-      Add fresh ice to beer glass, strain, and top with purple yam foam

( information and recipes provided by various sources and subject to availability )