This 4th of July serve up a sweet and refreshing rum drink

It is the spirit found in most tropical island drinks, like the pina colada and daiquiri, but there is more to this spirit than just fruity blended drinks.

According to Mark Nothaft, Phoenix Drinks Examiner, it is a versatile liquor that’s a natural for blending with juices and cola.

So this 4th of July mix up America’s first widely distributed spirit in a few of Nothaft's favorite recipes.

Pina Colada
2 ounces pineapple juice
2 ounces coconut cream
2 ounces silver rum
1 teaspoon shredded coconut
Ice
Pineapple wedge for garnish
Maraschino cherries for garnish

Preparation: Combine juice, cream, rum and coconut in a shaker with ice and stir (shaking milk makes bubbles). Strain into a cooler glass filled with ice and garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.

Hawaiian Caress
2 ounces silver rum
2 ounces pineapple juice
Splash maraschino liqueur
1 teaspoon grenadine
Ice
Pineapple wedge for garnish

Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an old-fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with pineapple wedge.

Beach Comber
2 ounces light rum
1 ounce orange liqueur (triple sec or Cointreau)
1/2 ounce grenadine
1 1/2 ounces sour mix
Ice
Sugar
Lime wedge for garnish

Preparation: Combine rum, orange liqueur, grenadine and sour mix in a shaker with ice and shake until very cold. Moisten martini-style glass with lime wedge and line rim of glass with sugar (invert onto plate of sugar). Strain into glass and garnish with lime wedge.

Classic Mai Tai
1 1/2 ounces gold rum
2 ounces sour mix
1/2 ounce lime juice
Splash of almond syrup (Orgeat)
Ice
1/2 ounce dark rum
Pineapple wedge for garnish
Maraschino cherry for garnish
Orchid flower for garnish, if available

Preparation: Combine gold rum, sour mix, lime juice and almond syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Float dark rum on top and garnish with pineapple wedge, cherry and flower.

Tropical Itch
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce light rum
1/2 ounce triple sec or orange curacao
4 ounces passion fruit juice
Ice
Half orange slice for garnish
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation: Combine vodka, rum, triple sec and juice in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into double old-fashioned glass with ice and garnish with orange slice and cherry.

Planter's Punch
Ice
2 1/2 ounces light rum
Juice of two limes
2 teaspoons powdered sugar
Dash of bitters
1 teaspoon grenadine
3 ounces club soda
Lime wedge for garnish

Preparation: Fill a cooler glass with ice and add rum, lime juice, powdered sugar, bitters and grenadine and stir. Add club soda and stir again. Garnish with lime wedge.

Mojito
24 sprigs fresh mint
8 ounces simple syrup
16 ounces light rum
8 ounces fresh lime juice
Club soda or seltzer water
Ice
Lime wedges and mint leaves for garnish

Preparation: Muddle springs of mint in bottom of pitcher. Add simple syrup and muddle some more. Add rum and lime juice and refrigerate overnight. Strain into presentation pitcher, add club soda and stir. Serve in Collins glasses filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge and mint leaf.

Recipes courtesy: Mark Nothaft, Phoenix Drinks Examiner

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