Rum Old Fashioned: Change up your drink
Today is National Rum Day and it seems the perfect time to share this recipe with you.
Rum is a favourite in cocktails. The iconic bottle of Bacardi is what many of us think of when we hear mention of rum and most of us have tried a Cuba Libre, or a Pina Colada, a Mai Tai, a Dark & Stormy or even a Daiquiri. Most of these carry with them the sense of a summer evening whiled away on a beach.
But rum is more than just a sun-soaked escape – though I’m sure it would happily be that. The craft which goes into creating some rum rivals the work of whiskies and tequilas and puts aged rums can be beautiful sipping drinks in their own right.
Rum brands to try out: Mount Gay Rum, Havana Club, Flor de Cana, Diplomatico, Wild Tiger
So, in an attempt to give rum a different spin, let me introduce you to the Rum Old Fashioned.
The classic Old Fashioned is made with bourbon whiskey and both versions require a bit of patience to do properly, but they are worth it. I first discovered the Rum Old Fashioned thanks to a gentleman named Gautom Menon, who is the brains behind Wild Tiger Rum. This Indian spiced rum comes in an eye-catching tiger-striped bottle and the brand gives a portion of its profits to tiger conservation work in India.
Gautom is the brains and driving force behind this brand, which is both his creation and his passion. He was working to launch it in the duty free market when I met him at an event in Singapore. He thrust a Rum Old Fashioned into my hand and insisted I try it.
It is a fresh and lively take on the original – which remains a stone cold classic and one of my favourites. But, if you are looking for something summery and new, this might just be for you. Here is Gautom's preferred recipe.
Rum Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Double shot of dark rum
Bar spoon of sugar syrup (or 1/2 tsp of sugar)
Angostura bitters
Orange bitters
Orange peel
Slice of orange & a maraschino cherry for garnish, if you wish
Method
Take a rocks glass and twist the orange skin into it to squeeze out the oils
Add the sugar syrup and a couple of dashes of Angostura & orange bitters.
Mix the sugar and the bitters, muddling them around the empty glass
Add ice and mix again
Pour the rum over the ice and continue to mix until cooled and all the ingredients have blended
Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry