Rum Runner — This delicious Rum Runner recipe packs a punch that can sneak up on you! It’s made with three types of rum, a blend of fruit juices, and my secret ingredient.
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There’s nothing better than being on a sailboat, floating out on the ocean and looking at all the natural beauty…and everything looks much more beautiful with a Rum Runner in my hand!
A Rum Runner is a fruity rum cocktail that everyone loves, even people who don’t normally love rum! I created this easy rum runner recipe after a recent sailing adventure.
I made sure to ask the bartender what’s in his Rum Runner that makes his so good. He gave me the drink recipe and told me the secret ingredient that makes their version so special — it’s amaretto.
Plus, I have a thing for amaretto. An amaretto sour was the first drink I ever ordered in a bar — extra cherries, please!
Of course, there are a million versions and drink recipes for Rum Runners and really, any time you start combining rum and juice, you’re in for good times. But this is the version I adore!
Ingredients in a Rum Runner
Not sure what’s in a Rum Runner cocktail? The ingredients you’ll need for this rum and amaretto cocktail are:
- Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
- Bacardi Light Rum
- Malibu Rum
- Amaretto
- Pineapple juice
- Grenadine
- Maraschino cherries or orange wedges, for garnishing
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make a Rum Runner
This is one of the easiest rum cocktails you can make! Exact rum runner ingredient ratios depend on preference, but here’s how I like to make mine:
- Add 1 part of each of the rums and 1 part of the amaretto into a glass filled with ice.
- Add 4 parts pineapple juice to the glass, followed by the grenadine.
- Shake or stir the Rum Runner to combine the ingredients, then garnish with orange wedges and/or maraschino cherries. So simple, right?
Measuring Tip
If you were counting, that’s a four-shot drink. I recommend using a half-filled shot glass of each type liquor, so the final drink ends up being a two-shot drink. But feel free to play around with the ratios to suit your own tastes!
Cocktail FAQs
Yes! This Rum Runner cocktail recipe is for one drink, but you can easily turn this into a pitcher cocktail. If you want to serve this to a crowd, I recommend stirring the ingredients together in a large pitcher and pouring it over ice when guests are ready to enjoy their drink. If you make the pitcher cocktail with the ice in it, your Rum Runners will become diluted as the ice melts. So, add the ice to individual glasses instead!
I used a blend of three types of rum to make this Rum Runner drink recipe: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Bacardi Light Rum, and Malibu Rum.
I’ve called for pineapple juice in this cocktail recipe, but mango or orange juice would also work nicely with the rum. Or you could do a combination of fruit juices! This is a flexible recipe, and rum pairs nicely with any tropical juice.
When adding the grenadine, drizzle in a little at a time and taste to see when it’s sweet enough for you. Grenadine can quickly overpower the rum, so I don’t like to add a lot. You want just enough to complement the rum and pineapple juice, and no more.
What to Serve with A Rum Runner
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Rum Runner
Ingredients
- 1 part Captain Morgan Spiced Rum*
- 1 part Bacardi Light Rum
- 1 part Malibu Rum
- 1 part Disaronno Amaretto
- 4 parts pineapple juice
- Grenadine, drizzled generously
- Maraschino cherries or orange wedges, for garnishing
Instructions
- In a glass over ice, add the three types of rum and the amaretto.
- Add juice to taste, and shake or stir to combine. At this stage you can add the grenadine as well. For a prettier look, stir in the grenadine (but I actually prefer the taste when the grenadine is shaken in).
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and orange wedges, as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Easy Rum Cocktails:
Tropical Strawberry Lemonade Party Punch — This Tropical Alcoholic Punchis one of my all-time favorite party drinks! Feel free to leave the alcohol out if desired, this punch tastes delicious with out without it!
Malibu Sunset — A fun, fruity, easy Malibu drink recipe!! Because there’s really no wrong way to do pineapple, orange juice, coconut rum, grenadine, and cherries!
Kiss On The Lips Cocktail — Frozen mango, rum, vodka, peach schnapps, and a KISS of drizzled grenadine!! Fruity, tropical, and they go down way too easily!!
Pomegranate Mojito – Everyone will love this fruity twist on a classic mojito recipe! The tart pomegranates and lime blend beautifully and are paired with simple syrup, mint, and white rum for a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect all year long!
Easy Piña Coladas – Learn how to make cool, creamy, refreshing, frozen piña coladas that will make you feel like you’re poolside on a fancy tropical vacation! Blender and hand-shaken options provided.
After i read the recipe, i thought it sounded more like a mai tai drink, so i googled it. A rum runner has blackberry and banana liqueurs in it. A Mai tai has two types of rum and pine apple orange juice, almond syrup (which amaretto is a sweet almond liqueur, so you could use that instead for more umph), and a splash of grenadine.
Interesting! Well, hey, I wrote down what the bartender told me and what he poured in my cup and whatever name it has…it sure tastes good! It doesn’t taste like a mai tai though. I do love mai tai’s and this doesn’t taste like one. Similar, but not exactly. I’ll have to pick his brain on my next trip there.
I have never had a rum runner… but I do love me some rum… and I do have some classy travel size bottles that I need to make use of ;) Im seeing one of these bad boys in my near future.
Perfect way to put those travel bottles to use!
I need a rum runner today. It is five degrees where I am on the coast of Maine today. Triple ick.
My favorite drink to make at home is a mojito, with lots of fresh mint and lime, a sprinkle of sugar, a shot of rum and bit of seltzer to top it off. But if I’m out, I tend to order a frozen margarita or a drink I don’t have ingredients to make at home.
The beach and crystal clear blue water sounds amazing right now. It has been thirty five and below in Seattle the past couple of days. Since, I cant afraid a plane ticket this drink will do. Maybe, Ill get drunk enough to imagine I am somewhere warm.
I actually never drink alcohol and that is ONLY because I just feel terribly if I do. But, my hubby likes to have his drinks every now and again and I bet he would enjoy this. I think that ANY drink on that gorgeous water and on a sailboat would be fantastic! :-)
The older I get, the more I really am a one and done girl :)
Oh my gosh I want to jump into those pictures! Gorgeous!
tequila. i am so a tequila girl. the beaches are killing me. i am in freezin’ cold WI.
I grew up in MN and then Chicago and I KNOW what -10F and the like feels like…ugh!
Oh yes, I do have a favorite vacation drink, it’s Brazilian… :) I want to dive into that water for a change! I need vacations, and I need one of your drinks, and Brazilian one too. :)
Brazilian. Sounds like a wax :) I am curious about this drink now!
I knew you’d think it, it came to my mind too when I first heard of it.. :) You’ve had that drink, I am sure, that’s what they serve on the beaches in Brazil, and it’s made with Cachaça with most common name being Caipirinha. :)
Averie,
I need a rum runner, a beach towel, and a front row seat to that amazing view! This girl needs a little sunshine right now!
I can only imagine how COLD it is right now up there! Another reader just wrote in from Wisc and yes, I remember those long, long, long winters up there from growing up in MN!
All of your photos are gorgeous and the drink looks delicious!
Thanks, Amber!
Those pictures are stunning! Wish I was there. I have never had a rum runner and I haven’t had a drink at all in awhile. I think a trip to the party store is in order. I’ll be making it with half shots though, I’m a bit of a lightweight. BTW, I made Rice Krispies treats in my 8 inch pan like you suggest and they were fantastic! Thanks for the tip.
I was able to buy all that liquor for the cost of 1 round at a bar out! They charge like $14 per drink, so for under $25, I can make drinks til 2015 now at home :) I’m such a lightweight that it will last me…a long time!
I am glad you love the 8×8 pan! And I hope you doubled the butter, too, like I suggested :)
Oh gosh, amaretto. I need to get me a bottle of that.
Amaretto is magic, I used to LOVE it when I drank. It was a requirement at any party!
That’s right, you don’t drink anymore. Well, I barely do. Really, am such a lightweight and am so BUSY that I cannot afford to be out of commission so to speak! Need to be operating on all cylinders!
Oh my goodness. I so want to be in that blue…that looks like a drink of I’d like to take a big gulp of! Okay, not really, but the sky, sand and sea looks heavenly!
I am not much of a fancy mixed drink person ( more red wine kind of gal :) ) but this sounds amazing. And I don’t mind a bit a little trip to Aruba in the middle of January. Even if only in my mind! Gorgeous, Averie!
My favorite vacation drink is anything with rum in it! Your Aruba pictures are just gorgeous. I was there with the family in 2006. We loved it. Have to try to get back there soon ….