I’ve mixed countless drinks and seen the magic rum brings to winter nights. It’s about warmth and comfort, blending beautifully with cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus. These ingredients transform rum, typically a summer hero, into the heart of winter’s best sips. My favorite part is the way these flavors mingle, creating something that not only warms your hands but your soul too. It’s straightforward—rum and winter are a match made in heaven. Check out this roundup for the best winter rum cocktails.
With a nickname like "liquid brownie batter," you can't go wrong! This cocktail is a luscious version of a timeless winter favorite. It's essentially a beautifully-crafted spiked hot chocolate. It's a simple, easy recipe with minimal ingredients. Dark brown sugar and cocoa powder elevate Hot Buttered Rum's inherent richness.
Hot Buttered Rum is ideal for keeping warm on a frigid night. It uses dark rum, nutmeg, vanilla, butter, brown sugar, and more to closely hug the senses. This drink has brought warming cheer to people for hundreds of years! This recipe makes enough to fill four mugs, making it perfect for a small gathering to watch your favorite Christmas movies or wrap gifts with friends. You can also easily tamper with the alcohol level of each drink by adding more or less hot water so each guest can customize it.
The Snow-jito is a tropical twist on the classic mojito, perfect for adding a touch of winter magic to your cocktail repertoire. Featuring a creamy blend of coconut milk, refreshing mint, and a mix of Bacardi and Malibu rums, this drink is topped with soda water for a fizzy, snow-like finish.
The Royal Mojito is a sophisticated twist on the classic mojito, adding a bubbly splash of champagne for a luxurious touch. Perfect for celebrations or any occasion that calls for a refreshing yet elegant cocktail, this drink beautifully balances zesty lime, crisp mint, and effervescent champagne.
Give your classic Old Fashioned a tropical twist with the Banana Old Fashioned. Featuring the innovative flavor of Discarded Banana Peel Rum, this cocktail balances sweetness, spice, and fruit for a truly unique sipping experience. Perfect for rum lovers or anyone seeking a creative twist on a timeless favorite.
Gingerbread Eggnog is the ultimate holiday cocktail, blending the creamy richness of eggnog with spiced rum and the cozy sweetness of gingerbread syrup. Finished with whipped cream and crushed gingerbread cookies, this festive drink is perfect for celebrating the season with warmth and cheer.
The Jolly Spiced Rum cocktail is a festive blend of spiced rum, tart cranberry juice, and a touch of cinnamon, topped with refreshing ginger beer. Perfect for holiday celebrations, this drink is beautifully garnished with sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig, bringing a touch of snowy magic to your glass.
This frosty blue cocktail is the perfect winter wonderland in a glass! With a blend of tropical pineapple, creamy coconut, and a hint of rum, the Jack Frost Winter Cocktail delivers a refreshing, festive twist. Rimmed with snowy coconut flakes, it’s a drink that captures the holiday spirit with every sip.
The Tiramisu White Russian brings the flavors of the beloved Italian dessert into a luscious cocktail. With rich coffee liqueur, smooth rum, and creamy decadence, this drink is finished with a sugared rim, cocoa powder, and a ladyfinger garnish for an indulgent treat.
Warm up with a rich and creamy Rum Hot Chocolate, a cozy drink perfect for winter nights. Made with dark rum and raw cacao, this decadent treat is finished with frothy milk and chocolate sprinkles, adding a luxurious touch to each sip. It’s a festive, grown-up twist on a classic favorite.
This Cinnamon Pear and Rum Cocktail is a warm and inviting drink that combines sweet pear nectar, rich dark rum, and a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. Perfect for cozy evenings or holiday gatherings, it’s garnished with fresh pear slices for an elegant seasonal touch.
The Blue Christmas Cocktail is a festive and tropical-inspired holiday drink. With pineapple juice, coconut cream, and a touch of Blue Curaçao, this cocktail is smooth, creamy, and beautifully blue. The optional honey and shredded coconut rim add a snowy effect, making it a perfect cocktail for winter celebrations.
This drink combines spiced rum with elements like apple and hard pear cider for a naturally sweet essence. It has mass appeal, making it excellent to break out for large holiday parties.
A Cold Night Collins embodies the crispness of winter months. It maintains the familiar base of sparkling water, citrus, and sugar but adapts to the season using sharp lime and an herbal liqueur.
If you are searching for a cozy libation to pair with fireside snuggles, look no further. The Black & Vanilla is a rich and sweet hot cocktail with the perfect amount of spice. The drink's serving temperature combines with its comforting coconut milk, amber rum, and mint flavor blend to warm you from the inside out.
The Spiced Apple Tiki Smash is the perfect drink to combat glum and dreary weather. Pineapple juice, cider, and rum come together to create a surprisingly wintery flavor with spice, lightness, and cheer. This cocktail is perfect for holiday parties. It brings interest, being a little outside the traditional winter cocktail box. Tiki Smashes also famously utilize multiple types of rum, which will surely put your guests in a festive mood.
Here is another cocktail that transforms a traditionally summery refreshment into frosty perfection. Winter spice favorites, like cinnamon, clove, and star anise, mix with spiced rum and Spanish liqueur to bring an entirely new essence to the club soda, mint, and lime juice base. The liqueur and syrup in this cocktail are heavy in vanilla and caramel flavors. Each element plays a critical role in bringing winter to Winter Mojitos.
Impress everyone at your holiday bash by serving Winter Daiquiris to guests in cocktail glasses with crumbled cinnamon sticks atop the rum, clementine, and maple concoction. This drink is as delectable as it is gorgeous. Clementines are in peak season from late fall into early winter, placing them perfectly in this Christmas-time cocktail. The Winter Daiquiri is also simple enough that green bartenders can give them a go.
Here is another welcome twist on the traditionally summery daiquiri. It uses lime with vanilla and spices to warm up the flavor and tailor it to winter months. It makes a great holiday party drink because it will catch people's attention, and you can easily alter the recipe to highlight different flavors.
Dark rum, apple juice, and spices present a nostalgic winter flavor that suits this hot drink. It's another easy and uncomplicated recipe you can throw together any chilly night for warmth and a buzz.
This steamy cocktail is ideal for nursing the blocked sinuses or sore throats that harsh winter winds can bring. It uses fresh ginger tea, nutmeg, dark rum, hot water, and honey.
Coconut milk and orange juice brighten dark winter days in a Winter Sunshine Rum. The milk gives this drink a beautiful snowy appearance, making it a jolly addition to holiday party menus.
This fun play on Sex on the Beach follows Winter Sunshine Rum with a coconut cream base that looks positively frosty. It's the ultimate holiday party drink. If the bright flavors and pretty presentation don't get your guests to smile, the name sure will!
Founder and CEO of MyBartender. Graduated from Penn State University. He always had a deep interest in the restaurant and bar industry. His restaurant experience began in 1997 at the age of 14 as a bus boy. By the time he turned 17 he was serving tables, and by 19 he was bartending/bar managing 6-7 nights a week.
In 2012, after a decade and a half of learning all facets of the industry, Paul opened his first restaurant/bar. In 2015, a second location followed, the latter being featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.