Rum Runner
A fruity, tropical tiki cocktail born in the Florida Keys, combining rum with banana, blackberry, and tropical juices for a taste of island paradise.
- 1 ozdark rum
- 1 ozwhite rum
- ½ ozbanana liqueur
- ½ ozcreme de mure
- 1 ozpineapple juice
- 1 ozorange juice
- ½ ozfresh lime juice
- ¼ ozgrenadine
- Orange slice, cherry, paper umbrellagarnish
- 1Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- 2Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until well chilled.
- 3Strain into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice.
- 4Garnish with an orange slice, cherry, and paper umbrella.
- 5Serve immediately with a straw.
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The Rum Runner was born at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida Keys, around 1972. According to local legend, bar manager John Elbert, known as "Tiki John," created the drink to use up surplus inventory before a new shipment arrived. He combined excess rum with banana liqueur and blackberry liqueur, added tropical juices, and named his creation after the prohibition-era smugglers who once used the Florida Keys as their base of operations. The drink became an instant hit with tourists and locals alike, cementing its place as a Florida Keys classic. Today, variations abound, but the original spirit of tropical indulgence remains at the heart of every Rum Runner.
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