Rum Runner

Rum Strong Modern Classic
Rum Runner cocktail

Ingredients

Garnish

Tools & Glassware

Directions

  1. Chill the glass
  2. Fill shaker with ice
  3. Add all ingredients
  4. Shake vigorously until the ingredients are well combined
  5. Fill glass with crushed ice
  6. Dump into glass
  7. Top with crushed ice
  8. Garnish with a pineapple slice and a cherry

History

The Rum Runner cocktail is a tropical icon with roots as colourful as its ingredients. It was born in the 1970s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida Keys, when bartender “Tiki John” Ebert needed to use up surplus rum and liqueurs. He mixed banana liqueur, blackberry brandy, grenadine, and rum, creating a fruity powerhouse that quickly became a local legend. The name pays homage to Prohibition-era smugglers who ferried rum from the Caribbean to Florida’s shores. Key West, just 100 miles from Cuba, was a hotspot for this illicit trade. The cocktail’s name evokes that rebellious spirit and maritime lore.

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