Rum Runner

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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.

Rum Runner garnished with maraschino cherries

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!

Aruba Sailing with Best Rum Runners

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.

Rum Runner — a fruity and tropical cocktail, but not in a strawberry daiquiri doesn't-do-much kind of way. This delicious Rum Runner recipe (complete with my secret ingredient!) packs a punch that can sneak up on you!

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:

  1. Add 1 part of each of the rums and 1 part of the amaretto into a glass filled with ice.
  2. Add 4 parts pineapple juice to the glass, followed by the grenadine. 
  3. 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! 

Rum Runner — a fruity and tropical cocktail, but not in a strawberry daiquiri doesn't-do-much kind of way. This delicious Rum Runner recipe (complete with my secret ingredient!) packs a punch that can sneak up on you!

Cocktail FAQs

Can I Make This Into a Pitcher Cocktail?

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!

What’s the Best Rum for a Rum Runner? 

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. 

Can the pineapple juice be substituted?

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. 

How can I control How sweet the cocktail is?

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. 

Rum Runner — a fruity and tropical cocktail, but not in a strawberry daiquiri doesn't-do-much kind of way. This delicious Rum Runner recipe (complete with my secret ingredient!) packs a punch that can sneak up on you!

What to Serve with A Rum Runner

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4.42 from 12 votes

Rum Runner

By Averie Sunshine
This Rum Runner recipe makes a fruity and tropical cocktail. Three types of rum make up this cocktail, plus my secret ingredient!
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 drink
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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

*For me, 1 part equals half of an average-sized shot glass, making this a two shot drink.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 1124kcal, Carbohydrates: 170g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 29mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 131g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Rum Cocktails: 

ALL OF MY COCKTAIL RECIPES! 

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.

4.42 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. Sounds so good, I will have to try!!! I have a ton of amaretto just sitting here waiting. When you mention Malibu rum, do you mean the coconut rum? How do you get so lucky as to spend so much time in Aruba? Lol were all pea green with envy!!!

  2. there is a bar here on cape cod called “rum runners”
    i don’t drink but i LOVE cooking with rum and cognac

  3. After the long week I’ve had, I could use one or three of these! Fortunately for me, my bar contains all of the ingredients you’ve listed above, so….I think I know how I’ll be spending my Saturday evening! :-) LOVE the addition of the Amaretto.

    1. You have a better stocked bar that I was. Get this, I walked to the corner (urban) liquor store at 11am the morning I photographed this recipe. I was buying all this booze along side some interesting characters in the middle of the day :) Enjoy the drink & LMK if you try it!

  4. It’s no wonder we get along so well, amaretto sours were (sometimes still are!) my beverage of choice- before discovering the mojito. Okay, so I kind of like all the girly, sweet cocktails. :D

    This rum runner recipe sounds perfect. Amaretto will always have a special place in my heart.

    1. Oh wow, wish we could have an amaretto sour together while listening to some Tori or vintage beats. The fun we would have!