20 Cocktails with Cranberry Juice and Rum

Let’s look at the different types of cocktails with cranberry juice and rum, and the best type of rum to use. 

Types of Rum

The three main types of rum are white, dark, and coconut. 

White rum is sometimes called light rum and has a sweet but subtle flavor. It is aged and stored in stainless steel, which is why it remains clear. It is most often used when you want the rum to blend into the cocktail and not provide a prominent taste. 

Dark rum is also referred to as spiced rum, but there is a slight difference even though they’re often be used interchangeably in recipes. Dark rum is aged in charred barrels, giving it a sweeter taste and signature dark color. Spiced rum has spices like vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, or any botanical flavor but can also be aged in charred barrels or stainless steel. Both dark rum and spiced rum stand out in cocktails. 

Coconut rum is technically a spiced rum, though it is often considered its own category. Coconut rum is flavored light rum. In this case, it is flavored with coconut. Like dark rum and spiced rum, it stands out in cocktails. 

Coconut Rum

Below are some fantastic cocktails made with coconut rum. 

This Malibu and Cranberry recipe by Absolut Drinks is perfect if you are running short on time because it is only two ingredients and a garnish. Simply add ice cubes to a highball glass, add Malibu, and then cranberry juice. Garnish with a lime wedge for a quick and tasty cocktail. 

Make the Malibu Bay Breeze by Sugar and Soul for a sweet and tart cocktail that is as beautiful as it is tasty. Add ice to a highball glass, then add coconut rum and pineapple juice. Top it off with cranberry juice to give it the gradient perfect for presentation. Don’t forget to stir before drinking!

This Ruby Relaxer recipe by Liquor.com is a fruity combination that makes the perfect cocktail. Combine coconut rum, cranberry juice, peach schnapps, vodka, pineapple juice, and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange wheel to round out the tropical flavor. 

The Malibu Paradise recipe by Fresh Simple Home is only five ingredients but tastes like a summer day. It uses Malibu coconut rum, Tito’s vodka, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice to create a cocktail that tastes great and has a beautiful color. 

If you want a cocktail that is perfect for a hot summer day, this Caribbean Cranberry Lemonade by Drink Kings will do the trick. Combine coconut rum, lemonade, and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake and strain into a glass with fresh ice. 

White or Light Rum

Each of these cocktails has white or light rum as its spirit base. 

This Rum and Cranberry Juice Cocktail by A Couple Cooks balances sweet and sour in this recipe. It has white rum, Cointreau, which is an orange liqueur, unsweetened cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup, which, when shaken together, are a perfect cocktail. 

If you are looking for a cocktail without a lot of prep time, the Rum with Cranberry Juice recipe by InShaker is the way to go. Simply mix up white rum, cranberry juice, and lime juice for an easy cocktail. 

Bacardi uses its lime-flavored rum in its Lime & Cranberry two-ingredient cocktail recipe. Combine the two, and this easy cocktail might be one of your new favorite recipes. 

This Cranberry Rum Punch by Bon Appetit includes making your own cranberry juice, but the freshness cannot be beat. To make the juice, heat cranberries, sugar, and water on the stove. Then once the juice has chilled, mix it with freshly squeezed lime juice and white rum. It’s easier than it seems and worth the time!

The Spiced Cranberry Rum Fizz by Serious Eat does require quite a bit of prep time but is rich with flavor. It starts with making an orange ginger simple syrup and then combining it with unsweetened cranberry juice and white rum. All of that gets topped with dry sparkling wine for the perfect fizz. 

Dark or Spiced Rum

Here are a few cocktails that use dark or spiced rum. 

The Bar recipe for cranberry juice and rum uses Captain Morgan for their rum choice, which has vanilla notes and pairs perfectly with tart cranberry juice. Garnish this cocktail with a lime for a bit of citrus.

This Rum Harvest Cocktail recipe by Mantitlement transforms a classic rum and Coke into a fall cocktail. Use spiced rum, cranberry juice, lime juice, then top off with Coke for a spritz and a bit of extra sweetness. 

In the Rumberry Punch recipe by BBC Good Food, dark rum and cranberry juice are topped with ginger ale for some spice to create a nice balance of sweet vanilla, spicy ginger, and tart cranberry.

If you are looking for a cocktail to warm you up this winter, look no further than this Cranberry Rum Warmer by Taste.com. Heat cranberry juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cloves on the stove.Once at a simmer, stir in dark rum for a cocktail that will surely warm you up. 

Enjoy Captain Morgan spiced rum, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and Sprite in this Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and Cranberry Cocktail by Mr. B Cooks. It is a delicious balance between strong and sweet. You can even add a sugar rim if you want an extra sweet hint. 

Rum Combinations

If you are looking to try different rum flavors together, these rum combination cocktails are a hit.

This Cranberry Zombie Recipe by The Kitchen Magpie combines white rum, golden rum, and dark rum with sugar, cranberry juice, and lime juice for a tart cocktail with loads of flavor. Despite the name, this drink will not turn you into a zombie, we promise!

Farmwife Drinks uses light rum and dark rum with cranberry juice and pineapple juice in their Tropical Rum Punch recipe. They boast that it is great by the glass or by the bowl, and we have to agree. Just remember to drink responsibly!

This Cranberry Coconut Mojito recipe by A Full Living has a longer ingredient list than you might be used to, but they all work together to create a drink that you don’t want to miss out on. They give a few ways to make this drink, including using coconut rum, white rum, or both.

The Cranberry Pineapple Punch recipe by Real House Moms uses two rums with cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and ginger ale with a fresh fruit garnish for a combination that is perfect for a party. 

If you dream of sitting on the beach somewhere tropical, this Pirate Punch by Culinary Hill is the answer if you don’t want to buy a plane ticket. With two rums, Amaretto, and three fruit juices, this is one of those recipes that taste like an island in a glass. 

FAQs

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There are plenty of rum and cranberry juice cocktail variations to fit any taste buds. Try one of these twenty cocktails. You may just find a new favorite.