Name: Rum Runner
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 drink
Ingredients: 1 ounce white rum; 1 ounce dark rum; 1 ounce blackberry brandy; 1 ounce banana liqueur; 1 ounce orange juice; 1 ounce pineapple juice; 1/2 ounce grenadine

Woman's hand holding a glass filled with a rum runner cocktail garnished with orange, pineapple, and cherry.

A Sweet Summer Sip

This Rum Runner Recipe is a fresh and fruity drink you can enjoy through the dog days of summer. Homemade Grenadine adds a sweet finish to this tropical drink recipe. You can add Blackberry Simple Syrup for an even stronger fruit flavor!

If you’re a fan of Rum Punch or rum mixed drinks in general, this tiki bar staple is a must. Rums, flavored liqueurs, and fruit juices make this Rum Runner Cocktail bold and exotic. It’s a delicious way to taste the tropics no matter where you live!

Photo of a rum runner cocktail with another drink and bottles of liqueur behind it.

Rum Runner Ingredients

White Rum
Dark Rum
Blackberry Brandy
Banana Liqueur
Orange Juice
Pineapple Juice
Grenadine

How To Make A Rum Runner Cocktail

1. Add the rum to a glass 3/4 filled with ice.
2. Pour in the banana liqueur.
3. Add blackberry brandy.
4. Pour in the juice.
5. Stir with a bar spoon.
6. Top with a splash of grenadine.

Step-by-step photo collage of a rum runner cocktail being mixed.

Where was the Rum Runner Invented?

This island-inspired drink was concocted at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar, a tiki bar in Islamorada, Florida, in the 1950s.

However, the name of this beverage goes a bit farther back.

During the prohibition, in which alcohol was outlawed in the US between 1920-1933, rum runners (aka bootleggers) would smuggle liquor into the country. Rum was often shipped from the Caribbean to Florida and illegally served in local speakeasies.

So in light of its tropical flavors and scandalous history, it’s no wonder that the Rum Runner Drink originated in the Florida Keys!

Rum Runner cocktail on a white table with slices of fruit and ice cubes scattered around it.

More Delicious Drink Recipes

Blue Hawaiian – The prettiest drink ever!
Pina Colada – A delicious classic!
Mai Tai – One of my all-time favorite fruity drinks!
Tequila Sunrise – Such pretty layers in this drink!
Dirty Banana – This is basically a boozy milkshake!

This post was originally published in February 2014 and was updated in August 2019.

Ingredients

1 drink

1 ounce white rum
1 ounce dark rum
1 ounce blackberry brandy
1 ounce banana liqueur
1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce grenadine

Steps

Fill a tall glass about 3/4 of the way with ice.
Pour light rum, dark rum, brandy, liqueur, and juices over ice and stir with a bar spoon.
Top with a splash of grenadine and enjoy.

Notes

Homemade Grenadine adds a sweet finish to this tropical drink recipe.
Try adding Blackberry Simple Syrup for an even stronger fruit flavor.
You can also replace banana liqueur with blackberry liqueur if you prefer the taste of berries to bananas.
Don’t have orange-pineapple juice? Just add 1 oz of plain orange juice and 1 oz of pineapple juice instead.
Spiced Rum can also be used in place of dark rum for a warmer flavor. Or, try coconut rum for a beachy kick.
Use fresh Blood Orange Juice for a slightly different flavor.

Nutrition

Calories367
Carbs27g
Protein1g
Fat1g
Saturated fat1g
Sugar23g
Sodium6mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.

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