This tropical drink was invented in the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar, Florida. The story goes that the bar had an excess of rum, along with dribs and drabs of other spirits. So ‘Tiki John’ the Bar manager John Elber (Tiki John) was anticipating a big delivery, so he put all the bits together to make the heady combination still served there today.
The Florida Keys were once an important stop for literal rum runners, who picked up cheap rum in the Bahamas and dropped it off in the US, where prohibition had made spirits scarce.
What is in a rum runner? What is a rum runner made of? The exact ingredients and amount of each ingredient in a rum runner can greatly vary depending on the recipe.
However, most recipes include rum, banana liqueur, and grenadine. Other ingredients that can be incorporated include – coconut rum, blackberry liqueur, pineapple juice and orange juice.
How to make the best rum runner? To make the best rum runner recipe, make sure you alter the ingredients to suit your individual taste!
Can’t find banana liqueur? Skip it or make your own by combining sliced bananas with white rum and allowing the mixture to soak, at least overnight.
If you like a strong cocktail, try floating an extra shot of Welsh Soul Rum on top and if you’re a sucker for authenticity, whip out the hurricane glass!
Summertime tip - Make a frozen Rum Runner. Just add all ingredients to a blender, top up with ice and blend. Perfect on a hot day garnished with fruit.
Serves 1
Ingredients
25ml - Welsh Soul Rum
25ml - White Rum
25ml - Crème de Banana Liqueur
12.5ml - Blackberry Liqueur (or Crème de Cassis)
25ml - Orange Juice
25ml - Pineapple Juice
A squeeze of Lime Juice
A splash of Grenadine
Method
Add all ingredients to a shaker. Fill with ice.
Shake vigorously and strain into a glass filled with ice.
Garnish as desired. Enjoy!