Tropical flavors like coconut, pineapple, and rum will have you dreaming of Caribbean vacations and summer’s nights when you make my easy version of pineapple rum punch! And you can add a little grenadine to the glass for a fun, layered sunset effect.
I’m getting into the summertime spirit today! Yes, there is still snow on ground around here and yes it’s still March, but the snow is melting, the sun is warm, and the days are getting longer. I can just about taste summer right now.
Especially when I have a glass of pineapple rum punch in my hand! What can I say? It helps. 😉
A few months back I bought some coconut liqueur when I was at the store. (Clement ‘Mahina Coco’ Coconut Liqueur to be exact) I don’t remember why I bought it, except that it seemed interesting and I wanted to try it. I think that’s enough of a reason, right? Right!
And then one evening sometime before Christmas I was thinking about our upcoming vacation to Bonaire and in the mood for a tropical cocktail. So I thought ‘Hey, I have coconut liqueur! And pineapple juice! And rum! Score!’ and made myself a drink. Which, as you can see, was a total score since I’m posting that drink right now.
Don’t have/Can’t find coconut liqueur?
Coconut rum is fine substitute. I have used a mix of unflavored rum and coconut rum with good results.
Also, you can move a bit in the pina colada direction and switch to cream of coconut. I made jugs of rum punch down in Bonaire using cream of coconut since that’s what I had and everyone loved the drinks.
The important parts of the drink are that you balance the sweet and the tart, have a noticeable coconut flavor, and add enough rum to give it a good kick. Oh, and have fun too! That should be the first thing. 🙂
What rum should you use in a pineapple rum punch?
First of all, as with the coconut, this is a flexible drink and generally the rum you have in the house is going to make a tasty cocktail. (If all you have is some super intense black rum or only very expensive rum, you might want to go to the store!)
However, for the best version of the punch, I like to use a golden rum. Golden rum has more character and more flavor than white rum, but not so much that it will overpower the rest of the flavors and take over. Alternatively a mix of white and dark rum can be very nice, with a little of the dark rum to add flavor and depth.
No matter what, don’t use an expensive rum in a fruity cocktail. You won’t be tasting all those subtle flavors!
More Rum Cocktails to Try:
- Strawberry Ginger Caipirinha Cocktail
- Fresh Blueberry Mojito
- Layered Frozen Strawberry and Lime Daiquiri
- My Perfect Pina Colada Recipe
If you try my recipe for pineapple rum punch, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Drinking, Annemarie
Looking for hurricane glasses or paper straws?
- Hurricane Glasses from Crate and Barrel (similar glasses are available on Amazon)
- Paper Straws in Multicolors (save the sea turtles and other ocean life!)
Coconut, Orange, and Pineapple Rum Punch
Ingredients
- 16 oz pineapple juice
- 8 oz orange juice
- 8 oz rum, either gold rum or a mix of dark and light rum
- 4 oz coconut liqueur
- 2 oz grenadine
- ice
- coarse sugar to rim the glasses
- garnishes, such as orange slices, pineapple slices, or maraschino cherries
Instructions
- In a pitcher, mix together the pineapple juice, orange juice, rum, and coconut liqueur. Add ice to chill the punch and stir well.
- Pour a few tablespoons of coarse sugar into a shallow bowl or onto a plate. Wet the rim of the glasses you are going to use and press them down into the sugar, giving them a little twist.
- Fill each glass about halfway with ice, and pour in the rum punch (you should have six servings). Then gently pour a little grenadine into each glass, giving the drink a 'sunset' effect.
- Garnish with fruit, umbrellas, and paper straws.
Notes
- I used Clement Coconut Liqueur for the drink. Other options for the coconut flavor are to use a coconut rum (such as Malibu) or to use cream of coconut (not coconut cream, but rather the sweetened creamy products designed for drinks).
- For a single drink I use: 4 oz pineapple juice, 2 oz orange juice, 2 oz rum, 1 oz coconut liqueur, and a small drizzle of grenadine into the glass.
- If you don't want to fuss with adding the grenadine to each glass, just pour the full amount into the pitcher and stir. You won't have the layered color effect, but the drink will still be a pretty, peachy color.
- Hurricane glasses from Crate and Barrel or from Amazon
- Paper Straws
Shirley says
Just got back from a week away with the family. Your rum punch was our go-to drink for the evenings! It was easy to make and everyone loved it. Thanks!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Great! I’m glad everyone enjoyed it. It is a wonderful party drink. 🙂