Rum Old Fashioned recipe
Aged rum, demerara sugar, and bitters — the tropical Old Fashioned.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Old Fashioned Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aged Rum (Jamaican or Barbadian)
- 0.25 oz Demerara Syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 dash Orange Bitters
How to make a Rum Old Fashioned
- Add demerara syrup and bitters to a rocks glass.
- Add a large ice cube.
- Pour in aged rum.
- Stir gently for 20-30 seconds.
- Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in.
Garnish
Orange peel, expressed.
Pro tip
Demerara syrup is essential — its caramel richness pairs perfectly with aged rum in a way regular simple syrup can't match. Use a funky Jamaican rum like Appleton Estate for character, or a smooth Barbadian like Mount Gay.
History of the Rum Old Fashioned
The Rum Old Fashioned has roots in the Caribbean where rum was the spirit of choice long before bourbon. It gained mainstream popularity in the 2010s as bartenders explored the Old Fashioned template with different base spirits.
Flavour profile
Caramel, Tropical, Warm, Boozy
Variations
- Demerara Dry Float — Float overproof rum on top for extra punch
- Banana Rum OF — Add banana liqueur for tropical depth
- Agricole Old Fashioned — Use rhum agricole for grassy funk
Practise making the Rum Old Fashioned in the free Virtual Bar game.