What ingredients are in a Rum Cooler?

2 oz light or dark Rum, 4 oz Lemon-lime soda, 1 Lemon

What glass do you use for a Rum Cooler?

A Rum Cooler is traditionally served in a Collins glass.

How strong is a Rum Cooler?

A Rum Cooler has an estimated ABV of 8,91%.

How many calories are in a Rum Cooler?

A Rum Cooler contains approximately 195 calories per serving.

What ingredients are in a Rum Cooler?

A Rum Cooler is a simple, refreshing highball-style drink made with light or dark rum and lemon-lime soda such as Sprite or 7-Up. The rum provides the alcoholic base and characteristic molasses or tropical notes, while the lemon-lime soda adds sweetness, citrus brightness, and effervescence. Some variations include a squeeze of fresh lime juice for added acidity.

How is a Rum Cooler served?

Build the Rum Cooler directly in a tall highball or Collins glass filled with ice by pouring rum over the ice, then topping with lemon-lime soda. Stir gently once to combine without losing carbonation. A lime wedge or mint sprig garnish is common, and the drink should be served immediately while the soda is still bubbly and fresh.

What type of rum works best in a Rum Cooler?

Light rum is the most common choice for a Rum Cooler as its mild, clean flavor blends seamlessly with the delicate lemon-lime soda without overpowering it. Dark rum creates a richer, more molasses-forward version with greater depth and caramel notes. Both styles work well depending on preference, with light rum producing a more refreshing summer drink and dark rum delivering a more complex, warming cooler.

Light or dark rum and lemon-lime soda, poured over ice in a tall collins glass and finished with a lemon wedge, make up the Rum Cooler, among the most approachable of rum drinks. The soda lengthens and sweetens the spirit while the lemon adds a final note of citrus, and the choice between light and dark rum shifts the drink's depth without changing its easy structure. Built directly in the glass and stirred, it requires almost no preparation. At roughly 9 percent alcohol by volume, it serves as a default for warm-weather entertaining, its low effort and refreshing profile suiting casual occasions where simplicity is the point.

Rum Cooler

Copa Collins glass

Dificultad Easy

Calorías ~195 kcal

ABV 8,91%

Ingredientes

Rum 2 oz light or dark
Lemon-lime soda 4 oz
Lemon 1

Instrucciones

Pour the rum and soda into a collins glass almost filled with ice cubes. Stir well and garnish with the lemon wedge.

Refreshing Strong

El Rum Cooler es una bebida de verano donde el sabor del ron y la refrescante sensación de frescor se armonizan. Con ron, al que se añaden agua con gas o ginger ale y zumo de frutas, es una bebida ideal para refrescarse en un día caluroso.

History & Origins

Coolers as a cocktail category have roots in 19th-century American bartending, generally defined as a spirit lengthened with a carbonated soft drink and garnished with citrus. The Rum Cooler is a logical extension of this tradition that gained popularity in the mid-20th century as rum became widely available across North America. Its precise origin is disputed, but it is firmly embedded in the canon of simple rum drinks.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light rum's subtle sweetness and citrus peel from the lemon garnish, lifted by the effervescence of lemon-lime soda. Palate: Sweet and lightly citrusy, with the rum providing a gentle alcoholic warmth and the soda delivering refreshing carbonation. Finish: Clean, effervescent, and mildly sweet with a brief lemon zest note.

sweet citrus refreshing light effervescent

Pro Tip

Use a chilled collins glass and pour the soda slowly down the side to preserve carbonation and avoid a flat drink.

Data verified septiembre 2017

Información nutricional →

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