The Rum Barrel is a classic and iconic cocktail in the tiki community. It is a time-consuming cocktail to prepare, but it is well worth the effort. The Rum Barrel is a balanced drink with a combination of lime, grapefruit, orange, and pineapple, creating a sweet and sour flavor. It typically contains rum and tropical juices, and it is often served in a signature ceramic Rum Barrel mug, which adds to the presentation and experience of the drink.
Variations of the Rum Barrel
The Rum Barrel has been offered at various Polynesian tiki bars, each with its own unique version of the drink. For example, Don the Beachcomber invented the Beachcomber’s Rum Barrel, while Steven Crane offered Steve’s Rum Barrel. The Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale also has its own version called the Barrel O’ Rum. Other Polynesian tiki bars such as Aku Aku, Latitude 20, The Warehouse, and the Hawaiian Village also offered their own versions of the Rum Barrel, each with professionally made ceramic Rum Barrel mugs specially designed for the drink. These mugs have become highly collectible within the tiki community and can fetch a good amount of money on eBay.
Rum Barrel Recipes
The Rum Barrel has been enjoyed by tiki enthusiasts for decades, and there are several recipes available for making it at home. Here are some examples of Rum Barrel recipes:
1. Beachcomber’s Rum Barrel:
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice
- 1 oz Honey Mix
- 1 oz Light Puerto Rican Rum
- 1 oz Gold Jamaican Rum
- 2 oz Demerara Rum
- 1 tsp Falernum
- 1 tsp Pimento Dram
- 6 drops Pernod
- 6 drops Grenadine
- Dash Angostura Bitters
- 8 oz Crushed Ice
Pour ingredients into a blender, blend at high speed for 5 seconds, and pour into a ceramic rum barrel mug.
2. Steve’s Rum Barrel:
- 3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 3/4 oz Orange Juice
- 3/4 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 3/4 oz Unsweetened Pineapple Juice
- 1/2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
- 1/2 oz Honey Mix
- 2 oz Dark Jamaican Rum
- 2 oz Light Puerto Rican Rum
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 6 drops Pernod
- 3 drops Almond Extract
- 4 oz Crushed Ice
Pour ingredients into a blender, blend at high speed for 5 seconds, and pour into a ceramic rum barrel mug.
3. Mai-Kai Barrel O’ Rum:
- 2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 oz Orange Juice
- 2 oz White Grapefruit Juice
- 2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
- 1 tsp Honey Mix
- 2 oz Light Puerto Rican Rum
- 2 oz Dark Jamaican Rum
- 6 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 4 oz Crushed Ice
Pour ingredients into a blender, blend at high speed for 5 seconds, and pour into a ceramic rum barrel mug.
4. The Poison Float Rum Barrel:
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 oz Pineapple Juice
- 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
- 1/2 oz Passion Fruit Syrup
- 1/2 oz Honey Mix
- 1 oz Club Soda
- 1 oz Denizen Aged White Rum
- 1 oz Don Q Añejo Rum
- 2 oz Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum
- 1/4 oz Falernum
- 1/4 oz St Elizabeth Pimento Dram
- 1/4 oz Grenadine
- 1 Dash Angostura Bitters
- 8 oz Crushed Ice
Pour ingredients into a blender, blend at high speed for 5 seconds, and pour into a ceramic rum barrel mug.
The Rum Barrel Experience
These recipes showcase the variety and creativity that goes into making the Rum Barrel, and they allow enthusiasts to recreate this classic tiki drink at home. The Rum Barrel is not only about the taste but also about the experience and presentation, especially when served in vintage ceramic Rum Barrel mugs, which have become highly collectible within the tiki community.
