Did you know that rum offers health benefits to people, often related to muscle pain, stress, and bone density?
Although you shouldn’t pick up the bottle to cure your problems, you don’t have to feel guilty about having a drink this summer. Rum is perfect year-round, but it tends to shine in the summer. This liquor is distilled from sugar, which creates a smooth and toasted sweet taste.
If you’ve got a bottle in the cabinet, but don’t know what to drink with rum cocktails, read below for the tastiest ideas!
Mint Pesto
One of the best pairings with rum cocktails is a mint pesto.
You can serve homemade pesto that’s vibrant and refreshing with pita chips or crackers. Feta cheese and prosciutto can help balance the flavors and add a savory component.
Mint pesto is made by blending basil, mint, and garlic. You need to add pinenuts or walnuts and some fresh olive oil to help it come to a smooth consistency. This pesto will impress your friends and offer essential protein and nutrients to everyone’s diet.
It’s important to make nutritional sides as cocktail pairings since they can help prevent hangovers. There might not be a hangover cure, but with water and healthy snacks, you can reduce the symptoms.
Fruit Bowls
Now that you’ve found your perfect summer drink for 2023, you need a refreshing snack to have while sipping.
If you prefer silver or light rum, which is the most popular, you want to pair beverages with fruit. Whether you’re having drinks with your partner at the pool or throwing a party, a fruit salad is easy to make and safe for all diets.
Watermelon, strawberries, and bananas are perfect for silver rum. If you buy watermelon, you can replenish your body with electrolytes and hydration after sitting in the sun.
Vanilla & Lemon Cookies
Spiced rum and silver rum pair well with vanilla and lemon cookies.
Vanilla and butter help make a rich pairing while lemon and rum are vibrant. Mixing flavor combinations can add depth to your dishes and prevent ingredients from getting masked by other flavors. Depending on the recipe, you can even add a splash of rum to your cookies and cake mixture for an extra punch!
Cookies are a fun snack for entertaining guests because they are relatively easy to make and serve. You can make these snacks ahead of time so you aren’t overwhelmed with serving guests and pouring drinks.
Pineapple Salsa & Guac
If you’re like many other people and are wondering what goes with Malibu rum, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Since Malibu is a coconut rum, it has a light and vibrant flavor. Pineapples and other fruits pair well with this rum because they add acidity to the alcohol, which can be a bit sweet on its own. Mixing in fresh fruit and veggies in salsa and guac will offer the perfect poolside snack on hot days.
People learning what to eat with rum cocktails often create desserts and get overwhelmed with sugar. The peppers, onion, and avocado will cut the sweetness and balance out your palette.
Coconut Shrimp
Just because you’re making a snack doesn’t mean it needs to include crackers.
Coconut shrimp is a perfect summer snack since it offers protein, calories, and flavor.
Coconut breading will taste delicious alongside Malibu cocktails and even gold rum beverages. If you prefer Coke and rum, this snack will offer more depth to your day.
If you don’t want to cook shrimp or have children that are picky eaters, there are alternatives. Coconut chicken nuggets and tenders are just as easy to make and more people will take a bite!
Chicken & Waffle Sliders
Spiced rum adds a lot of rich flavors, if you want to use it, chicken is a great way to do so!
You can add spiced rum to your maple syrup sauce, use it in a chicken marinade, or the waffle mix. Rum is a versatile ingredient, but if you plan to put it over a flame, be careful. This savory snack will satisfy guests without going through all of the food in the house.
Chicken and waffle sliders are easy to eat.
You can keep some of the sliders separated for picky-eater guests and children too! For example, if your kids don’t like sliders, they might still eat the waffles or nuggets on their own.
Ice Cream
Not only can you sip on your rum, but you can also get it in a creamy, cold bite.
Ice cream is a wonderful pairing for rum since it’s creamy and smooth. Vanilla, pineapple, and chocolate ice cream will taste best with spiced, dark, and coconut rum.
Waffle cones and bowls can make your snack more filling or you can DIY ice pops.
Everyone loves ice cream in the summer, which makes this a safe snack for friends and family. If you know someone with dietary restrictions, don’t be afraid to try ice cream made with coconut or almond milk!
What Will You Pair with Your Rum Cocktails?
When it comes to entertaining in the summer, you need good food pairings with rum cocktails.
The fear of hosting an event will disappear once you get some snacks and rum in the cabinets. Fortunately, rum has a sweet flavor since it’s made from sugar cane and it goes well with acidic, sweet, and rich flavors.
Make sure you read our blog for more information about healthy snack ideas and entertaining guests!