We examine rum cocktail food pairings with sweet, savory, or acidic meals for a sumptuous way to enjoy your next dining experience.

With summer in full swing, it’s time to pair your favorite rum recipes with delicious, sweet, or spicy foods. Rum is a versatile spirit and pairs well with certain foods, but balance is critical. Create your rum cocktail food pairings menu by following some basic rules, and your guests will make sure you’re never stuck with leftovers. Now let’s get started!

Rum Rules for Food Pairings

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating your summer rum pairings. Rum is a smooth but intense drink, so the food you pair it with needs to stand up to the beverage. Many rum cocktails are sweet, which offers a superb balance with spicy foods, so keep that in mind as well. When creating your menu, the last thing to keep in mind is citrus; its brightness cuts through the heavy richness of certain dishes providing plenty of opportunities for tasty food and rum pairings. Let’s get into the details.

Rum & Coke

This staple is potentially the most popular rum cocktail out there, making it the perfect drink to pair with food. The sweetness of the sugar in coke requires a robust pairing that will stand up to the sugar.  One way to find a balance is by pairing rum & coke with pulled pork. Its tangy and salty flavors will stand up to the sweetness of the drink. If you really want to bring the balance, try adding some spice; the heat will tame the sugar and provide an excellent experience for all of your guests. Add some sumptuous side dishes like fried okra, polenta, and a salad, and you’ll impress yourself!

Daiquiri

This iconic rum cocktail is a refreshing, bright, tangy drink and is wildly popular during the summer as it’s frequently served frozen. According to Wikipedia, it is one of the six basic drinks listed in David A. Embury’s classic The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.

Because the daiquiri is tangy, pair it with something rich that will balance the flavors. There’s an adage that says, “if it grows together, it goes together.” With the origins of rum in the Caribbean, try something like empanadas. The lime in the drink will offset the richness of the empanadas. Top it off with your favorite salsa, and you’ll be doing summer in style.

Mojito

This traditional Cuban beverage is citrus-forward. To make it, combine white rum, sugar, or simple syrup, lime juice, and herbaceous mint that’s been freshly muddled to release its essential oils and brighten the drink. Never shred the mint as its oil release naturally during the muddling process.  It’s a trendy summer drink topped off with sparkling soda for plenty of fizz. It’s also considered the most popular rum-based highball drink.

To intensify the freshness of the mojito, pair it with ceviche. The citrus and fresh herbs from the raw fish preparation are a refreshing pairing with the brightness of the cocktail.

That’s it, we hope you enjoyed it! Send us your favorite food pairings! We might just share it!