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    Home » Other Spirits

    Published Apr 26, 2019 · Updated Jan 21, 2023 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Daiquiri & Grog Simple Rum Cocktails

    Jump to Reviews
    Daiquiri in glass closeup Pinterest banner

    Rum is nice to sip or mix into Daiquiri & Grog cocktails. It's Passover friendly, being grain-free. Make a cocktail today, no beach required!

    Daiquiri in glass on a table. this …

    Why these recipe works

    • Simple to make with just a few ingredients
    • The flavors are light and fresh
    • You can control the sweetness of the cocktails

    The Jewish holiday of Passover challenges the creativity of many a baker.

    During Passover, observant Jews will eat an unleavened bread called matzo (literally, the "Bread of Affliction"), a bland cracker-like flatbread.

    Flourless Chocolate Walnut cookies are one solution to the challenge, i.e. not using barley, oats, rye, spelt, or wheat as ingredients.

    Those same grains feature prominently for whisky and bourbon expressions. So what’s a trying-to-follow-Passover-whisky-reviewer to do?

    How about review something that does fall under the ok-for-Passover umbrella…rum! A product of sugar cane (and a cousin to molasses), rum is a spirit that’s fine for the holiday.

    I've reviewed Bully Boy rum, so now we'll compare two rum expressions…Bacardi Superior white rum and Brugal Añejo Superior dark rum.

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    Sign up for my weekly featured recipe and you'll get two recipes, Extra-Tangy Sourdough Bread and Mint Chocolate Chunk Scones!

    Then, just for grins & giggles, I'll make simple rum cocktails from them and review those as well.

    Good times!

    Jump to:
    • Why these recipe works
    • Using rum in cocktails
    • Tasting comparison between a Daiquiri and Grog
    • Related Tasting Notes

    Bacardi and Brugal Rums

    At home, April 22, 2019

    Bacardi Superior

    40%ABV, developed in white oak barrels
    Type: Bermudan

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: light white sugar, light citrus, hint of almond
    • Taste: sweet white pepper, hint of almondin the middle, light vanilla
    • Finish: alcohol warmth lingers with white sugar and a touch of almonds
    • Comments: great as a mixer; alone, flavors are muted

    Brugal Añejo Superior

    37.5%ABV
    A blend of rums aged 3 to 5 years in used American white Oak barrels that previously held whiskey and bourbon. 
    Type: Dominican

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: dark brown sugar, oak, hint of lemon, light caramel
    • Taste: strong sugar cane taste (unrefined sugar syrufollowed by dark woody notes, like chewing on a piece of sugar cane, light body
    • Finish: cane notes linger along with a hint of baking spices
    • Comments: I didn’t know what to expect, so the contrast between the dark sugar cane influence and a woody darkness is striking
    Collage of Bacardi Rum & Brugal Rum bottles on a table.
    Just what I had lying around...

    Using rum in cocktails

    The tasting notes above are a good start, but most of the time rum is used as a mixer rather than straight.

    In looking for recipes for simple rum cocktails, I came across Supercall.com’s 8 Easiest Rum Drinks. Two looked especially enticing to me, a classic Daiquiri, and Grog.

    Say it with me now in your best pirate voice. “Arrrgh!”

    Both Daiquiri and Grog cocktails use the same three ingredients, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, so comparing the differences between the Bacardi white rum and the Brugal dark rum will be easier.

    Let's start with our simple syrup, shall we?

    Step 1: Make a molasses-flavored simple syrup

    Both these Daiquiri and Grog recipes use Demerara Syrup rather than simple syrup in their preparations.

    Why? The benefit of using a raw sugar syrup is that it brings an undertone of molasses to the syrup, allowing it to really enhance the rum flavors in the cocktails.

    Just to remind you, simple syrup is just equal parts water and granulated sugar boiled together until the sugar is completely dissolved.

    Demerara Syrup is just made with brown demerara sugar instead of granulated sugar.

    Demerara sugar is similar to turbinado sugar (or coarse sugar) like Sugar in the Raw. Both have a coarse grain texture, golden brown color, and subtle molasses flavor. For our purposes, you can substitute turbinado sugar for the demarara in the syrup. If neither are available, use brown sugar instead.

    By the way, a 1 : 1 recipe ratio of equal parts water and sugar is standard for simple syrups, but it's not set in stone. Like with chocolate ganache, you can alter the ratio to make it heavier (more sugar) or lighter (more water) as required by a recipe or for personal taste.

    simple rum cocktails ingredients with lime on a table.
    Simple rum cocktails only require simple ingredients
    simple rum cocktails ingredients

    Turbinado Simple Syrup

    Tammy Spencer
    Simple syrup made with raw coarse sugar takes on a deep molasses flavor. Give it a try!
    Adapted from Supercall
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course DIY ingredients
    Cuisine General
    Servings 16 tablespoon
    Calories 25 kcal

    Equipment

    • small saucepan
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup turbinado sugar, like Sugar in the Raw, see Recipe Notes
    • ½ cup water

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir until sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Immediately take the saucepan off the heat.
    • Let cool, then pour into a container (something clear to show off your nice golden syrup) and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

    Notes

    You can substitute demerara sugar or brown sugar for the turbinado sugar.
    A 1 : 1 recipe ratio of equal parts water and sugar is standard for simple syrups, but it's not set in stone. Like with chocolate ganache, you can alter the ratio to make it heavier (more sugar) or lighter (more water) as required by a recipe or for personal taste.

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 tablespoonCalories: 25 kcalCarbohydrates: 6 gSodium: 1 mgSugar: 6 gCalcium: 1 mgIron: 1 mg
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    Step 2: How to make a Daiquiri cocktail

    Now that we have our molasses sugar syrup, let's make a Daiquiri and a Grog.

    The method for both a Daiquiri and Grog are very simple. Put all the ingredients in a shaker and...well...shake, shake, shake!

    We'll make the Daiquiri cocktail recipe first.

    Daiquiri in glass with Bacardi Rum and lime on a table.
    Clean, crisp, and quite delish
    Daiquiri ingredients with Bacardi Rum

    Daiquiri

    Tammy Spencer
    A light, sweet drink that shows off it's rum flavor balance with a hint of lime, a Daiquiri is a tropical classic!
    Adapted from Supercall
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Total Time 3 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Caribbean
    Servings 1 drink
    Calories 186 kcal

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker
    • fine mesh strainer
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 ounces white rum, like Bacardi white rum
    • ¾ ounce turbinado syrup
    • ¾ ounce lime juice

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a martini shaker filled with ice, shake 20 to 30 seconds.
    • Strain through a fine mesh strainer (to remove any ice particles) into a chilled lowball glass.
    • Serve garnished with a slice of lime. Enjoy!

    Notes

    For a slightly less sweet, more citrus forward drink, use just ½ ounce of the syrup.
    For a Strawberry Daiquiri, muddle fresh strawberries in your shaker tin (prior to shaking) or cut the syrup ratio to half an ounce and add half an ounce of Massenez Wild Strawberry Liqueur.

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 drinkCalories: 186 kcalCarbohydrates: 14 gProtein: 1 gFat: 1 gSodium: 3 mgSugar: 12 gVitamin C: 6 mgCalcium: 2 mgIron: 2 mg
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    Step 2: How to make a Grog cocktail

    Making Grog is similar to the Daiquiri, except with less simple syrup and the addition of water.

    Grog in a glass with Brugal Rum and lime on a table.
    Refreshing with dark undertones...quite interesting
    Grog ingredients with Brugal Rum

    Grog

    Tammy Spencer
    A darkly sweet rum drink that calls to mind sailors and pirates, it's flavorful and fun. Arrrgh!
    Adapted from Supercall
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    0 mins
    Total Time 3 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine British
    Servings 1 drink
    Calories 161 kcal

    Equipment

    • cocktail shaker
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 ounces dark rum, like Brugal Añejo
    • ¾ ounce lime juice
    • ½ ounce turbinado syrup
    • 1 ounce water

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a martini shaker filled with ice and shake 20 to 30 seconds.
    • Pour into a lowball glass and enjoy. Yo-ho-ho!

    Notes

    Grog can also be served with hot water, sans ice. You can even use a tiki-mug if you’re feeling adventerous!

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 glassCalories: 161 kcalCarbohydrates: 8 gProtein: 1 gFat: 1 gSodium: 3 mgSugar: 6 gVitamin C: 6 mgCalcium: 1 mgIron: 1 mg
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    Tasting comparison between a Daiquiri and Grog

    I thought I’d like the Brugal and Grog over the Bacardi and Daiquiri (given it’s aged, like scotch), so I was surprised that the Daiquiri won out for me. I really enjoyed the clean crispness of the Daiquiri and the clean rum flavor this time.

    That’s not to say that if a tiki-mug filled with Grog were handed to me that I’d turn it away, not by a long shot.

    Both of these simple rum cocktails would be lovely to sip on a summer evening...on a beach…with swaying palms…sorry, got carried away for a moment.

    Arrrgh!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Tasting Notes

    Besides, scotch, whiskey, and bourbon, I've occasionally tried other spirits. Here's how I liked them and how I've used them.

    • Other Spirits

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    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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