Rum Swizzle Cocktail Recipe

Nothing says island escape quite like a glass of Rum Swizzle. I love how this tropical cocktail brings together bright citrus, smooth rum, and just the right amount of sweetness—it genuinely feels like a mini vacation in a glass.

The Rum Swizzle is a simple cocktail recipe that blends rum, fruit juice, and a bit of bitters for a refreshing, balanced flavor.

You don’t need any fancy tools or rare ingredients for this one. Just a few easy steps and you’ll have a drink that looks impressive and honestly tastes even better.

I’ll walk you through how to mix it, what makes it special, and how to bring a bit of the tropics to your own kitchen.

Rum Swizzle Cocktail Recipe

What I love about the Rum Swizzle is how it layers tropical fruit flavors with both light and dark rum, plus a little spicy kick. It’s colorful, super refreshing, and honestly pretty easy to make once you’ve got the right tools and ingredients.

A little patience with the swizzling goes a long way, but it’s worth it.

Equipment

• Mixing glass or shaker – I use this to get everything blended before swizzling.
• Swizzle stick – The classic wooden kind works best for chilling and mixing.
• Jigger – Helps me measure things so the drink isn’t too sweet or too tart.
• Bar spoon – Handy if I can’t find my swizzle stick.
• Strainer – Keeps ice chunks out of the final drink.
• Highball or Collins glass – Tall glasses show off those beautiful color layers.
• Ice crusher or mallet – Crushed ice gives it that signature frosty texture.

I like to have everything set out before I start. Staying organized makes the whole process smoother and keeps the drink nice and cold.

Ingredients

• 1½ oz dark rum
• 1½ oz light rum
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• ½ oz lime juice (fresh squeezed is best)
• ¼ oz falernum or velvet falernum
• ¼ oz grenadine
• ¼ oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Crushed ice (enough to fill your glass)

Fresh juices really do make a difference here—they just brighten up the whole drink. Using both light and dark rum gives it more depth, and falernum adds this subtle spice and sweetness that I really like.

Instructions

• Fill a mixing glass halfway with crushed ice.
• Add the dark rum, light rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice, falernum, grenadine, and simple syrup.
• Pop in the swizzle stick and roll it between your palms until the glass frosts up.
• Add more crushed ice to your serving glass.
• Strain the mixture over the fresh ice.
• Dash 2 drops of Angostura bitters on top.
• If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with a lime wheel or pineapple slice.

Swizzling chills everything evenly and gives the top a light foam. I usually stop once the outside of the glass is icy cold—you’ll know when you feel it.

Notes

Honestly, the Rum Swizzle is at its best right after you make it since the crushed ice melts pretty quickly. If you can find Velvet Falernum, it gives a smoother spice note than regular falernum.

Want it a little stronger? Add a splash more dark rum. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, a touch more simple syrup or grenadine does the trick.

Sometimes I skip the garnish if I’m in a hurry, but even a small fruit slice adds a nice touch and a whiff of fresh aroma.

Tasting Notes

The Rum Swizzle hits me with a bright, fruity aroma the second I pick up the glass. There’s this tropical fruit scent—maybe pineapple?—with just a whisper of spice.

It’s refreshing, honestly, and not overly sweet or heavy like some other cocktails can be. That balance is what pulls me in.

First sip, and I’m tasting rum front and center, with citrus right behind and a little bitters sneaking in. The flavor shifts from sweet to just a bit tart, which keeps things interesting.

Crushed ice does its job, keeping everything cool and crisp. On a hot day, this would disappear fast, I’m sure.

The combination of ingredients brings a soft, almost silky texture. Rum’s warmth blends nicely with the tang of lime and whatever mix of pineapple or orange juice you’ve got.

I get why it’s such a staple at the Swizzle Inn in Bermuda—there’s something special about it.

If there’s a hint of quararibea turbinata in there (that’s the tree behind the famous swizzle stick), it gives this subtle woody note. It doesn’t take over, but it does add a gentle earthiness.

Watching the colors swirl together before settling into this golden-orange shade is part of the fun. It looks bright and inviting, kind of unpretentious, and just classic enough.