Rum Cocktails from Around the World + 10 Cool Rum Facts

August is here and you know what that means? National Rum Month is here! All hail those fabulous fruity rum cocktails like the Mai Tai, Mojito, Pina Colada, Hurricane and my personal favorite, the Dark and Stormy. You have our permission to celebrate the entire month of August but especially on August 16th, National Rum Day! Here are a few delicious rum libations at vacation spots around the world, plus a few cool facts about rum:

Corazón Naranja
Hotel Zamora, Zamora, Spain
Slip away to summer in the Mediterranean with a signature Corazón Naranja from The Hotel Zamora’s Spanish influenced Castile Restaurant. Made with Havana Club rum, blood orange liqueur, Tahitian vanilla, and piña, this brightly colored cocktail transports guests to the rocky hills of Zamora, Spain, where the owner’s ancestors are from.


Basil & Honey Rum Daiquiri
Grand Cayman Marriott, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Sip on the Basil & Honey Rum Daiquiri from Grand Cayman Marriott’s creative apothecary mixology team at Anchor & Den. With a simple yet refreshing concoction of natural ingredients, this drink combines fresh lime, honey, basil leaves, and Bacardi Light, which goes perfectly with a relaxing day on the Seven Mile Beach.

Xocomil
Casa Palopo, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Named after the strong, and very sudden midday winds that occur on Lake Atitlan, Casa Palopo’s Xocomil (pronounced cho-co-meel) celebrates one of Guatemala’s most coveted exports: rum. This specialty cocktail is made with native ingredients like hibiscus extract and rum distilled in the Guatemalan highlands. Topped off with a splash of lemon lime soda, the refreshing Xocomil perfectly complements the boutique hotel’s breathtaking views of the lake and volcanoes across the shore.

Beyond Good and Evil
The Local House, Miami, Florida
Beyond Good & Evil, is a rum infused cocktail that combines sweet Caribbean flavors with the perfect blend of Bacardi Silver Rum, triple sec, lime, passion fruit with a jalapeño infused twist for that extra kick. You can find it at The Local House – a Mediterranean-inspired open-air restaurant at Miami Beach’s chic Sense Beach House.

Ten Cool Historical Rum Facts

1. The largest rum distillery in the world is the Bacardi Distillery, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

2. The first rum production dates back to the 17th century on Caribbean sugarcane plantations.

3. To ward off scurvy, The British Navy—less than 50 years ago—still gave rations of rum to its sailors. Truth be told, it was actually the dash of lime added to the rum that kept the scurvy at bay.

4. Virtually every country has their rum (even India), but 80% of the world’s rum is produced in the Caribbean (mostly in Puerto Rico). Nearly every island in the Caribbean produces its own distinct rum style.

5. The infamous Admiral Nelson that died in the Battle of Tralfager in 1805 had his body preserved in a cask of rum before it was laid to rest. As a result, one of the nicknames for rum is Nelson’s Blood.

6. When running for a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758, George Washington gave out 28 gallons of rum and 50 gallons of rum punch, as well as wine, beer and cider — to 391 voters. It cost his campaign £50, but he won his seat.

7. Twelve million gallons of rum were consumed annually by early American colonists. Today, Americans (and there’s a lot more of us) consume only 30 million gallons of rum a year.

8. Founded in 1705, Mount Gay Rum is the oldest rum company in the world.

9. Jamaica’s Wray & Nephew Overproof rum is the world’s highest proof rum at 63%.

10. Fun rum nicknames include: rumbullion, pirate’s drink, navy neaters, kill-devil and grog.

Cocktail photos courtesy of each hotel or restaurant.