This Spiced Dark Rum Old Fashioned recipe is a fun twist on a classic Old Fashioned cocktail. Made with aged rum in place of whiskey along with spiced simple syrup, bitters, and an orange peel, this rum version of the classic cocktail will be loved by rum lovers and whiskey drinkers will alike.
If you like new variations and twists on classic cocktails, like this Rum Old Fashioned, you should also check out my recipes for a French 95 (bourbon version of a French 75), Bourbon Mule (variation of Moscow Mule), and a Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned. My Tequila Old Fashioned is another great option.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It requires just a few ingredients that can be found at just about any liquor or grocery store.
- The flavor of the spiced simple syrup (which is very easy to make) merries perfectly with dark, aged rum.
- Using a simple syrup over a traditional sugar cube in regular Old Fashioned cocktails allows for the sweetness to dissolve better and have a more uniform flavor.
Ingredients Notes
- Aged rum – Your Rum Old Fashioned will only taste as good as the rum you use since there are so few ingredients in this cocktail. Make sure you pick one that you enjoy the flavor of straight.
- Spiced simple syrup – I have a super simple recipe for a Chai simple syrup made with just three ingredients – brown sugar, water, and Chai tea bags. However, you can also find Chai simple syrup on Amazon.
- Orange bitters – Orange bitters go perfectly with this cocktail, but regular aromatic bitters can work well also.
- Orange peel twist – This is classic for any Old Fashioned. For extra orange flavor, you can also muddle the peel before you add your cocktail ingredients to release more orange oils and aromas into the cocktail.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the rum and the simple syrup to a double old fashioned glass filled with a large ice cube.
Step 2: Add few dashes of orange bitters.
Step 3: Stir gently in the cocktail glass.
Step 4: Garnish with the orange twist.
Recipe FAQ
A Rum Old Fashioned has flavor notes of vanilla, cinnamon, clove, allspice, and oak with a touch of of light sweetness and orange zest citrus flavor.
Your Rum Old Fashioned will only be as good as your rum. For a nice affordable option, I went with Doorly’s 8 Year Rum. Their 12 year rum would be even better. Ultimately, you should go for what you like and what you can afford.
If you’re not sure what you like or what you want to choose, I recommend seeking out a local rum distillery if you have one in your area. Most of the time, local distilleries have tasting rooms where you can sample the product straight. This will give you the best idea of what you like while avoiding investing in a bottle that you’re not sure will be to your liking.
Sure, regular aromatic bitters would work well. Chocolate bitters, mole bitters, and espresso bitters would all be great.
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Spiced Dark Rum Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces aged rum
- ½ ounce spiced simple syrup (store bought or homemade syrup)
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel twist for garnish
Instructions
- Add the rum, spiced simple syrup to a double old fashioned glass with ice.
- Add a few dashes of orange bitters and stir gently.
- Top with an orange peel for garnish.
Notes
- Seep a quality Chai tea bag in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Then add 1 cup of loosely packed brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Allow to cool completely and decant into glass jar or bottle.
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