Grenadine With Rum: A Classic Taste of the Caribbean

Updated September 9, 2021
Grenadine With Rum on the beach

Grenadine with rum is a combination found in many Caribbean cocktails. However, grenadine syrup, unlike rum, does not originate from the Caribbean islands. Even so, rum-based cocktails are paired with grenadine more than any other spirit.

Planter's Punch

The origins of planter's punch are unknown, but this classic rum punch with pineapple and orange juice has been a popular drink for a long time.

Planter's Punch cocktail

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces dark rum
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 1 ounce pineapple juice
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • 1 dash angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Orange wedge and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add rum, juices, bitters, and grenadine.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into poco grande glass over fresh ice.
  4. Top with club soda.
  5. Garnish with orange wedge and cherry.

Trinidad Rum Punch

If planter's punch is too sweet for your palate, this variation might be what you are looking for.

Trinidad Rum Punch

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces dark rum
  • 1½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¼ ounce grenadine
  • 2 dashes angostura bitters
  • Club soda to top off
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a rocks glass, add ice, dark rum, lime juice, grenadine, and bitters.
  2. Stir to mix.
  3. Top off with club soda.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge.

Bahama Mama

The Bahama Mama is similar to the classic planter's punch, but it has a tantalizing twist of coconut.

Bahama Mama

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces rum
  • 1 ounce coconut rum
  • 2 ounces orange juice
  • 2 ounces pineapple juice
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • 1 dash angostura bitters
  • Ice
  • Orange peel and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice rums, juices, grenadine, and bitters.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into poco grande glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with orange peel and cherry.

Bahama Breeze

The Bahama breeze is a cocktail ladened with tempting ingredients reminiscent of the Islands, great for when you wish summer vacation had involved some jet setting or in the winter when summer feels too far away.

Bahama Breeze

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce dark rum
  • ½ ounce banana liqueur
  • ½ ounce apricot liqueur
  • ½ ounce coconut rum
  • ½ ounce lemon juice
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 1 ounce pineapple juice
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • Ice
  • Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rums, liqueurs, juices, and grenadine.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Beachcomber

The beachcomber is reminiscent of sun-drenched days spent on the beach. This cocktail offers a unique combination of flavors for the palate, great for something new.

Beachcomber

Ingredients

  • 1¾ ounces light rum
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge or peel for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, lime juice, liqueurs, and grenadine.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime.

Hurricane

The hurricane is a New Orleans creation from the heart of the French Quarter. This rum drink is popularly served in hurricane glasses or in tall, irregular-shaped cocktail glasses.

Hurricane drink

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces dark rum
  • 2 ounces light rum
  • 2 ounces passion fruit juice
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • 1 ounce orange juice
  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • Ice
  • Pineapple wedge, orange wedge, and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add rums, juices, and grenadine.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with pineapple wedge, orange wedge, and cherry.

Summer Rum Martini

This recipe is just as flavorful as its counterparts. but it doesn't rely on as many ingredients.

Summer Rum Martini

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces white rum
  • ¾ ounce grenadine
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Lime peel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, grenadine, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime peel.

Rum Runner

Rum runners are a classic tropical rum drink but they include brandy to add some additional flavor.

Rum Runner

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce light rum
  • 1 ounce dark rum
  • 1 ounce banana liqueur
  • ¾ ounce blackberry brandy
  • 1 ounce pineapple juice
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • Crushed ice
  • Lime wedge, raspberry, and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rums, liqueur, brandy, juices, grenadine, and fruits.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Do not strain, pour into rocks glass.

Shark Sighting

The only reason to be out of the water is so you can sip this drink and avoid the sharks.

Shark Sighting

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces rum
  • ¾ ounce grenadine
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wheel and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a highball glass, add ice, rum, grenadine, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
  2. Top off with club soda.
  3. Garnish with lime wheel and cherry garnish.

Summer Sunrise

Similar to the tequila sunrise, this variation is a tropical tasting riff.

Summer Sunrise

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce white rum
  • 1 ounce coconut rum
  • 4 ounces pineapple juice
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • Ice
  • Orange wheel and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a highball or cocktail glass, add ice, rums, and pineapple juice.
  2. Slowly pour in grenadine, allowing it to sink to the bottom.
  3. Do not stir.
  4. Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

About Grenadine Syrup

Grenadine syrup has been used to flavor drinks and culinary recipes since biblical times. The term "grenadine" stems from the French word "grenade," meaning pomegranate. Freshly made pomegranate syrup was traditionally made with pomegranates and honey. Occasionally, red currents were also added to the classic syrup.

These days, bartenders often use artificial grenadine syrup made with food coloring and flavor additives to flavor cocktails.

Classic Grenadine With Rum Recipes

Grenadine syrup, with its sweet flavor, complements most rum drinks, from light to dark rum as well as flavored rum cocktails, such as rum punches and spiced rum drinks. Don't limit yourself to punches, consider highballs and martinis as well. Rum and grenadine are a match made in tropical heaven. Next, why not explore some wonderful white rum cocktails?

Grenadine With Rum: A Classic Taste of the Caribbean