Taste the tropics with an easy 5 ingredient Rum Runner cocktail. It’s the perfect drink for summer fun with a light fruity taste.
Jump to RecipeIn the summertime, I like a nice cool, refreshing, tropical drink if I’m going to have a cocktail. Who am I kidding, even when it isn’t summer I always ask for a fruity rum drink the few times I have an alcoholic beverage!
A rum runner is the perfect tropical cocktail in my opinion. It has all of the flavors I love, including pineapple, orange, banana, and cherry. Personally, I prefer white rum or coconut rum for this drink, although you could also make it with dark rum. Using coconut rum adds some extra tropical vibes to the classic cocktail.
Growing up in Florida, drinks like this always make me think of beach days and pool days, especially down in the Florida Keys. We went there many times to camp when I was growing up. A few years ago, Justin and I went on a Caribbean cruise with some friends. We stopped in Key West and enjoyed some drinks, found a few geocaches, and hit up the 6-Toed-Cat for some delicious Key Lime Pie.
You’ll want to start with your fruit juices cold if possible. Otherwise, when you shake the drink, you may need to have a few ice cubes in the shaker to cool the drink down. If you do, strain the drink without the ice cubes, though, as you don’t want to water down your delicious fruity cocktails with ice.
My original recipe below is for a single-serving drink. For those looking to make it for a crowd, increase the amounts in equal parts, other than the grenadine. Mix up all of the main ingredients and pour them into a large pitcher. Pour enough for a serving into a tall glass and add the splash of grenadine at the end.
Origins of the Rum Runner Drink
Just a little back story for those of you who aren’t familiar with the origins of the rum runner cocktail drink. Again, as a South Floridian, I thought some of this was just common knowledge. The drink is said to have started in the late 1950’s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in the Florida Keys. The owner, John Ebert (also known as “Tiki John”), had an excess of rum and other alcohol such as banana liquor and decided to mix up a new drink to help make space for new inventory coming in. It was named after the actual rum runners in the early 1900s who would stop over at the Florida Keys as they smuggled rum by water.
The rum runner served in the Keys oftentimes includes blackberry brandy or blackberry liqueur, and though I love blackberries, brandy is not my drink of choice.
Rum Runner Cocktail Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice, cold
- 1/2 cup orange juice, no pulp
- 1 oz creme de banana (banana liqueur)
- 1 oz light rum (or coconut rum)
- Splash of grenadine
Preparation
Combine pineapple juice, orange juice, creme de banana, and rum in a cocktail shaker.
Shake and pour into a hurricane glass.
Gently pour the grenadine over the drink.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge, orange slice, or a maraschino cherry.
Rum Runner Cocktail Leftovers
Storage: Store remaining rum runner in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. Make sure to stir well before serving again.
Recipe
Originally Published On: June 12, 2023
Last Updated On: June 28, 2023
Rum Runner Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (cold)
- 1/2 cup orange juice (no pulp)
- 1 oz crème de banana (or banana liqueur)
- 1 oz light rum (or coconut rum)
- 1 splash grenadine
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Combine pineapple juice, orange juice, crème de banana, and rum in a cocktail shaker
- Shake and pour into a hurricane glass
- Gently pour the grenadine over the drink
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge, orange slice, or a maraschino cherry
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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Pineapple Recipes to try
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Other Summer Recipes
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- Amaretto Punch Slush
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- Strawberry Cobbler
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Sweet Baked Plantains
- Simple Strawberry Lemonade
- Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
- Pineapple Bread Casserole
- Simple Classic Coleslaw Recipe
- Fresh Caprese Salad
What an easy drink recipe! It also looks so refreshing especially now that the heat is here to stay! I don’t drink but I will pass this recipe to the hubs!
Oh wow, that looks absolutely refreshing! I’d love to have this rum runner cocktail on Father’s Day. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Fruity drinks are my favorite! I am so looking forward to this one! Delicious!
Great suggestion as always! I am not a fan of cocktails but I could definitely surprise my wife with something like this. Thanks again! Cheers!
I love trying new cocktails! We tend to stick to what we know but branch out when we find a good recipe like this. And we just so happen to have unused rum in the cupboard!
Wow, this is one of the easiest cocktails I can make. The best thing about this is it just needs 5 ingredients.
Awesome instructions to make a 5 ingredient Rum Runner cocktail. I also appreciate the backstory of the drinks origins. I love fun facts – especially when it comes with a delicious adult beverage to try!
Hihi….no lie there when you say that these drinks remind you of the beach. We are together on that front! This could be a really good drink for me, minus the rum, of course.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a rum runner before. This looks delicious! Such a pretty drink, too!
It looks like four seasons! I haven’t tried making cocktails around here. We have a house warming coming up soon, this may be a good idea to serve.
found it fascinating to learn about its origins. It’s always interesting to learn about the stories behind the drinks we enjoy. For some reason, the first thing that came to mind about your 5 ingredient rum runner cocktail recipe is that it reminds me of Key West. It makes sense now!
I love the look of the cocktail it’s so pretty and summer. The flavours are lovely and tropical making this a great cocktail to share with friends this summer. This is perfect as I had some rum and had planned to find some recipes to use it in. This is perfectly timed as I’ve got guests coming over in a few days!!!
My sister would really love this for sure! This looks absolutely delicious and tasty I would really love to try this out
Your 5-ingredient rum runner cocktail recipe is a game-changer! It’s simple, delicious, and perfect for any occasion. The combination of flavors is spot on, and the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe with us!
This 5 ingredient Rum Runner cocktail was like a tropical getaway in a glass! With its delightful fruity flavors, it was the perfect companion for summer adventures and beach vibes. Cheers to the taste of the tropics! 🍹🌴
I like the color of the cocktail. Pretty sure it’s for the summer. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
OK my husband is newly very into rum. He’s been dying to find more rum cocktails to make at home. Just sent him this!