5 Best Rums for Cocktails

This week, we bring you the rum cocktail edition of our Ultimate Beverage Challenge series. Nine rums were tasted in three classic cocktail recipes, the Daiquiri, the Mojito and the Mai Tai, with only five earning finalist positions. Read on for the results and the classic cocktail recipes.

For more Ultimate Beverage Challenge information, see our full competition coverage. To learn more about the challenges, see the UBC website.

Photo courtesy vivoandando via Flickr/CC

Daiquiri

2 ounces rum
¾ ounce simple syrup
¾ ounce fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a small cocktail glass. Garnish with lime wheel.

Photo courtesy Kenn Wilson via Flickr/CC

Chairman's Trophy: Banks 5 Island White Rum

Chairman's Trophy: Banks 5 Island White Rum West Indies, 93pts
Finalist: DonQ Cristal Rum Puerto Rico, 90pts

Mojito

2 ounces rum
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup
8 mint leaves plus 1 sprig (use tender, young mint sprigs)
1 ounce club soda

Gently muddle the mint leaves with the simple syrup and the lime juice in the bottom of the serving glass. Add the rum and the ice; shake and strain in Collins glass and top with club soda. Garnish with the mint sprig.

Photo courtesy .imelda via Flickr/CC

Chairman's Trophy: Banks 5 Island White Rum

Chairman's Trophy: Banks 5 Island White Rum West Indies, 97pts
Finalist: Holey Dollar Silver Coin Premium Rum Australia, 93pts
Finalist: Cruzan Aged Light Rum St. Croix, USVI, 91pts
Finalist: Plantation Vintage 2000 Jamaica Rum France, 91pts

Mai Tai

2 ounces rum
½ ounce orange curaçao
1 ounce fresh lime juice
½ ounce orgeat syrup

Shake well with ice and strain into a double old-fashioned glass filled with ice. No garnish.

Photo courtesy Sarah_Ackerman via Flickr/CC

Chairman's Trophy: Holey Dollar Silver Coin Premium Rum

Chairman's Trophy: Holey Dollar Silver Coin Premium Rum Australia, 92pts
Finalist: Plantation Vintage 2000 Jamaica Rum France, 90pts

Want to Learn More?

Ultimate Cocktails Challenge Results
UBC Cocktail Categories
UBC Methods & Procedures
Meet the Ultimate Spirits Challenge Judges

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Comments

opinionate-
dalchemist

506734 22

I am depressed! There is the "Ultimate Cocktail Challenge" and the cocktails are far from being on par with modern mixology!

Shaken Mojito??? A Mai Tai with ice cubes [no crushed ice mentioned]? Or a Daiquiri which is far too sweet?

At least it became a bit better than the last one [when bitter orange liqueurs were tested] - well marginal better...

Nov 14, 2011 at 8:07 AM
willit63

1020114 15

The ingredients in your mojito recipe are correct, but there is no need to strain the mixture if you're serving over ice. If you’d like a demonstration of the proper way to make a mojito, stop by Havana Central in New York City for happy hour. The otherwise slender bartenders with Popeye forearms will be happy to muddle one up for you.

Jan 19, 2012 at 9:33 PM