The frozen rum runner is an old-fashioned drink that has been around since at least the 1940s.
Though it may not be as popular today as it was decades ago, this classic cocktail is still a great option to add to your bar or party menu.
What Is The Difference Between A Frozen Rum Runner And A Regular Rum Runner?
If you’re looking for something a little different on your next hot day by the pool, then a frozen rum runner might just be what you need.
This fruity concoction can usually be found in bars across the country, but you don’t have to go out of your way to get one if you want to try it yourself.
Frozen rum runners are typically served up cold (or room temperature) and include three main ingredients: rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar syrup.
The mixture is then poured into glasses before being topped off with crushed ice.
Some recipes call for pineapple juice instead of plain lemonade, while others also use orange juice or grapefruit juice.
While there are many variations on these basic flavors, they all share one thing in common — they’re both delicious! Here’s how to make one so you can enjoy them too.
How Do You Make A Frozen Rum Runner?
A frozen rum runner can be made using different types of rums, depending on what type of flavor profile you prefer.
If you want something lighter in taste, try using white rum instead of dark rum.
Or if you’re looking for something more balanced, use a blend like Bacardi 8 or Cruzan Single Barrel Rum.
The most important thing when making a frozen rum runner is choosing the right kind of rum.
You should also know how much sugar (or simple syrup) to put into the mix.
You will need to start by adding either 2 tablespoons or 4 ounces of sugar per 1 cup of liquid.
Then follow up by stirring until everything is dissolved.
Next, pour half of the mixture into a blender bottle and then fill the rest of the mixture into another container.
After mixing both mixtures together, let them sit for about 10 minutes before serving.
Step One: Add Sugar Syrup
- Add 2 tablespoons of sugar per 1 cup of water. Stir well to dissolve all ingredients.
- Pour half of the mixture into a blender bottle and keep the other half ready in a separate container.
Step Two: Blend Ingredients Together
- Blend the two containers together until smooth.
- Let the mixture sit for about ten minutes to cool down.
Step Three: Serve Frozen Rum Runner!
- Serve chilled and garnish with fresh ice cubes, pineapple chunks, lime wedges, lemon slices, mint leaves, and/or cilantro sprigs.
This delicious tropical treat is sure to impress everyone who tries it. Here are some tips to help get you started:
What Is The Best Rum For A Frozen Rum Runner?
Frozen rum runners come in two main varieties: one where all of the ingredients are mixed together before freezing, and another where the mixture is poured into ice cube trays and then placed directly into the freezer.
The latter method yields much better results because it allows you to control the amount of alcohol in each serving.
If you’re looking for the best rum for a frozen rum runner, there isn’t just one answer.
Instead, there are several different rums that will work well depending on how sweet or dry you want your final product to be.
If you like your cocktails sweeter, try using light rum instead of dark rum.
There are also some specific types of rum that have become more popular recently due to their unique flavors and characteristics.
For example, rhum agricole can give your drinks a distinctive tropical flavor while ginseng-infused rums can help mask any harshness in other spirits.
However, these specialty brands typically aren’t readily available so they won’t be included here.
When choosing which rum to use, consider what kind of taste profile you prefer.
Light and fruity rums tend to pair well with lighter fruits such as pineapple, mango, and strawberries, but if you enjoy darker, richer flavors, you might want to choose something else.
That said, even the darkest rums don’t necessarily need to be too strong when paired with fresh fruit juices.
What Is The Best Mixer For A Frozen Rum Runner?
A good mixer will help you create the right consistency in your frozen rum runner.
The key ingredient here is simple syrup, which can be purchased online or easily made by mixing equal parts sugar and water together.
You can also use honey instead of sugar if you prefer.
Once you have all the ingredients prepared, mix them together in a shaker.
If you don’t own one, you can always ask someone who does to provide you with some ice cubes.
Once everything is combined into a fine powder, pour the mixture into a glass filled with crushed ice.
This will give you a nice frosting effect on top of the liquid.
Now, before serving, stir up the drink so it mixes well.
This should taste just like regular rum but without any alcohol content.
What Is The Best Way To Serve A Frozen Rum Runner?
A frozen rum runner is a delicious cocktail consisting of rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and grenadine.
The ratio between these four ingredients varies from person to person depending on their personal tastes.
Most recipes call for equal parts of each ingredient, but you can adjust the ratios if you want more or less sugar in your drinks.
You can easily find frozen rum runners online, but they are also available in many grocery stores, liquor shops, bars, and restaurants.
Frozen rum runners come in different sizes so you will have to pay attention when selecting one.
If you don’t like how thick your frozen rum runner is, you can always thaw it out before serving it.
You can even freeze the mixture ahead of time and then pour it into glasses whenever you need it.
If you decide to go with a homemade version, here are some tips to keep in mind while preparing them:
- Use fresh fruits and juices instead of canned ones. Canned fruits and vegetables lose their nutrients over time, which makes them taste bland.
- Make sure you use only 100% agave tequila, because regular brands contain additives such as corn syrup and artificial flavors. Agaves are grown naturally without chemicals, making them better tasting than other spirits.
- Toasting nuts adds flavor and texture to cocktails. To toast nuts, place them in a dry skillet or pan over medium heat until fragrant. Stir constantly so they don’t burn.
How Do You Garnish A Frozen Rum Runner?
A frozen rum runner can have many different garnishes depending on how much time you want to spend making one.
Some people like to use fresh fruits such as strawberries or peaches and others prefer to go more traditional by using ice cubes or crushed ice instead of fruit pieces.
It’s also important to note that there isn’t any hard rule about what kind of alcohol should be used in a frozen rum runner.
You can opt for either white or dark rum, but most people will choose the darker variety because they’re better suited to taste.
If you aren’t sure which type of alcohol to use, just pick up a bottle from your local liquor store.
Most brands offer both types so you won’t need to worry about whether you’ll get the right flavor profile.
Just remember that if you decide to substitute light rum for dark rum, you’ll probably need to increase the amount of sugar in order to balance out its lower proof level.
You may notice that some recipes call for “crushed” ice rather than regular ice cubes when serving a frozen rum runner.
This is because crushed ice tends to provide more surface area per volume than standard cube ice and allows the liquid ingredients to mix together faster.
If you don’t have access to crushed ice, though, regular ice cubes work fine.
What Are Some Common Variations Of The Frozen Rum Runner?
One variation of the frozen rum runner includes vodka instead of rum in its base.
Another variation replaces the grenadine used in the original recipe with cherry brandy, while another includes orange liqueur instead of lemon syrup.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to how you can customize a frozen rum runner.
You can even swap out the rum for any other spirit you prefer, such as tequila, whiskey, or bourbon.
Another common variation is adding lime juice to the mix.
This makes the drink more citrusy than sweet.
Of course, if you want something sweeter, then you could also use simple syrup (1 part sugar to 1 part water) instead of lemon syrup.
If you’re looking to go really traditional, try using fresh mint leaves along with the lime juice.
Depending on what ingredients you have available, there are many ways to customize a frozen rum runner.
For example, you might want to substitute grenadine for cherry brandy so you get a stronger flavor profile from your cocktail.
Or maybe you want to add just a touch of orange liqueur to give the drink a little extra oomph.
What Is The Origin Of The Frozen Rum Runner?
The frozen rum runner first appeared on menus across America during the early 1950s when bartenders began adding the ingredients together to create new drinks.
Rum runners were originally created by mixing the ingredients into a blender, then pouring them back into a glass filled with crushed ice.
The drink became so popular that bars would often charge customers extra money if they wanted their rum runner served up without crushed ice.
Today, you can find several different recipes online for how to mix a frozen rum runner.
Many people use fresh pineapple juice instead of orange juice because the former contains more vitamin C than the latter.
Some even prefer using lemonade over orange juice because it doesn’t contain any sugar.
Fruit juice vs. freshly squeezed juice
Not all juice is equal when it comes to creating a properly mixed frozen rum runner.
If you want your drink to taste its best, opt for freshly pressed juices rather than canned ones.
Freshly pressed fruits and vegetables have much higher levels of nutrients than those found in canned products.
In addition to being healthier, these juices also give your rum runner a fresher flavor.
You won’t get that same tang from a can of orange juice, which is what most frozen rum runners use today.
And while canned juices do work well when making other cocktails, they aren’t ideal for making a frozen rum runner.
How Many Calories Are In A Frozen Rum Runner?
Frozen rum runners typically contain between 110 and 150 calories per serving (depending on how sweet you prefer your drinks).
The exact number will vary depending on which ingredients you use.
- 110 calories if you use only 1/3 cup sugar syrup and no other additions.
- 120 calories if you use 2 tablespoons sugar syrup and no additional ingredients.
- 150 calories if you use 3 tablespoons sugar syrup and no other additions.
Here’s what each calorie count contains:
Calories from carbohydrates: 0g
Total fat: 0g
Saturated fat: 0g
Trans fat: 0g
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15%
Vitamins & minerals: 0mg sodium, 0 mg potassium
Dietary fiber: 0 g
Ingredients
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1 ounce navy-strength rum
- 1 ounce banana liqueur
- 1/2 ounce blackberry liqueur
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce grenadine
- Garnish: brandied cherry
- Garnish: pineapple wedge
Instructions
- In a shaker with ice, combine the grenadine, light rum, navy-strength rum, banana liqueur, blackberry liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, and grenadine. Shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled.
- Pour through a strainer into a hurricane glass with ice cubes.
- Add a wedge of pineapple and a brandied cherry on a skewer as garnish.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.