Rum Runner recipe
A potent, fruit-forward Florida Keys original combining rum, banana, and blackberry.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Advanced ·
Family: Tiki & Tropical
Ingredients
- 1 oz Light rum (Silver or white rum)
- 1 oz Dark rum (Jamaican or aged pot still rum)
- 0.75 oz Banana liqueur (Creme de banane)
- 0.75 oz Blackberry liqueur (Crème de mûre or blackberry brandy)
- 1.5 oz Fresh orange juice (Squeezed fresh)
- 0.75 oz Fresh lime juice (Squeezed fresh)
- 0.25 oz Grenadine (Optional, for deeper color and sweetness)
How to make a Rum Runner
- Combine the light rum, dark rum, banana liqueur, blackberry liqueur, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine in a cocktail shaker.
- Add 1 cup of crushed ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10 seconds to chill and dilute.
- Fill a tall hurricane glass or Pilsner glass with fresh crushed ice.
- Strain the contents of the shaker directly into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with an orange wheel, a brandied cherry, and a pineapple frond.
Garnish
an orange wheel, a brandied cherry, and a pineapple frond
Pro tip
Measure carefully, keep the dilution controlled, and serve Rum Runner as soon as it is cold and balanced.
History of the Rum Runner
Created around 1958 by John 'Tiki John' Ebert at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida Keys. The drink gained widespread fame across resort bars in the Caribbean and Southern Florida as a refreshing, heavy-handed vacation cocktail, though exact specs varied wildly between establishments over the decades.
Flavour profile
Sweet, Boozy, Citrus
Variations
- Blend all ingredients with two cups of crushed ice for 15 seconds to serve as a frozen resort slushie. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Substitute overproof Demerara rum for the dark rum to increase the proof and structural depth. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters to temper the intense sweetness of the fruit liqueurs. — A bartender's variation on the original.
Practise making the Rum Runner in the free Virtual Bar game.