What is a Rum Floater Drink?
A rum floater is a cocktail that contains a small amount of rum floating on top. The rum sits above the rest of the drink’s ingredients and is not mixed in. This allows the rum to be slowly incorporated as the drink is consumed, adding bursts of rum flavor with each sip.
Rum floaters showcase the flavor of the rum while letting the flavors of the other ingredients shine through as well. They provide an elegant and visually appealing way to enjoy a rum cocktail. The rum “floats” on top of the drink due to being less dense than the ingredients below.
Some popular rum floater cocktails are the Rum Runner, Mai Tai, Planter’s Punch, and Chi Chi. Pretty much any cocktail containing rum can be made into a rum floater. The basic technique involves pouring a small amount of rum over the finished drink. About 1/2 to 1 ounce of rum is typical for a floater.
Why Add a Rum Floater?
There are a several reasons why adding a floater of rum can enhance a cocktail:
- It provides bursts of undiluted rum flavor with each sip. The rum interacts with the palate first before the rest of the drink.
- It showcases and highlights the aroma of the rum. As you bring the drink to your lips, you smell the rum before tasting it.
- It gives a visually appealing layer effect in the cocktail glass. The rum sits elegantly on top of the colored layers beneath.
- It allows you to use a premium or overproof rum to add flavor without overwhelming the cocktail.
- It adds texture, mouthfeel, and alcohol heat that interacts with the rest of the drink.
- It provides a nice surprise element to the flavor experience.
So in short, rum floaters look beautiful, provide little bursts of rum flavor, and showcase a nice rum’s aromas and textures. The floater technique is popular both for taste and visual appeal.
Popular Rum Floaters
Here are some classic cocktails that often feature a rum floater:
Mai Tai
This iconic tiki drink contains rum, orange curacao, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. A Mai Tai will typically have 1/2 to 1 ounce of dark rum floated on top. This allows the molasses and caramel notes of the dark rum to shine through.
Rum Runner
The Rum Runner combines light and dark rum with fruit juices like pineapple, orange, and cranberry. An overproof rum makes a good floater to provide a punch of flavor and excitement.
Planter’s Punch
Planter’s Punch mixes rum with citrus and tropical fruit juices. The fruit juices are denser than the rum, allowing it to float on top for dashes of flavor in each sip.
Chi Chi
This tiki staple includes rum, orange juice, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice. A gold rum floater adds rich vanilla notes.
Piña Colada
Adding dark rum as a floater to this creamy coconut and pineapple drink provides a nice contrast to the sweetness.
Hurricane
The tropical Hurricane often features a floater of overproof rum to pack an extra punch.
How to Make a Rum Floater
Making a rum floater cocktail is a simple technique:
- First, make the cocktail portion without the rum floater. Shake or stir and strain into the glass.
- Then carefully pour the rum over the back of a barspoon or an upside down curved hand slowly. This helps it float gently on the top.
- Typically 1/2 to 1 ounce of rum is used. Overproof rum is often used but not required.
- Garnish the drink before adding the floater rum to avoid disturbing the layered effect.
The key is to pour the rum slowly and gently over an upside down spoon or back of the hand. This prevents it from sinking and dispersing into the rest of the cocktail.
Take care not to pour it directly into the drink or you’ll lose the layer effect. Gentle pouring creates that elegant float on top.
Rums for Floaters
Typically a good quality aged rum is used for floaters. Here are some recommended types:
- Aged Gold Rum – Provides rich vanilla and caramel flavors. Works well in fruity cocktails.
- Aged Dark Rum – Offers molasses, butterscotch, and spice flavors. Great for adding richness.
- Blackstrap Rum – Very bold, potsnt rum for an intense flavor pop.
- Overproof Rum – Higher alcohol content cuts through sweet drinks. Provides intensity.
- Spiced Rum – Infused rums contribute warming spice and vanilla notes on top.
Stay away from very young, harsh rums. Aged rums with some sweetness or spiciness work best. An overproof rum floated on a strong cocktail can be delightful.
Experiment with different types of rum to find your perfect floaters for various cocktails. Let your taste preferences guide you.
Cocktail Recipes With Rum Floaters
Here are some tasty rum floater cocktail recipes to mix up:
Rum Runner
Ingredients:
– 1 oz light rum
– 1 oz dark rum
– 1 oz blackberry liqueur
– 1 oz orange juice
– 1 oz pineapple juice
– 1 oz cranberry juice
– 1/2 oz overproof rum floater
Instructions:
1. Add all the ingredients except the floater rum to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled.
2. Strain into a hurricane glass filled with fresh ice.
3. Slowly pour the overproof rum over the back of a spoon to create the floater.
4. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
Mai Tai
Ingredients:
– 2 oz aged rum
– 1 oz orange curacao
– 1 oz orgeat syrup
– 1 oz fresh lime juice
– 1/2 oz dark rum floater
Instructions:
1. Add all ingredients except floater rum to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled.
2. Strain over crushed ice into an old fashioned or rocks glass.
3. Slowly pour the dark rum over the back of a spoon to float on top.
4. Garnish with lime wedge and mint.
Planter’s Punch
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz gold rum
– 2 oz orange juice
– 1 oz pineapple juice
– 1/2 oz lime juice
– 1/2 oz grenadine
– 1/2 oz blackstrap rum floater
Instructions:
1. Add all the ingredients except blackstrap rum to a shaker with ice. Shake.
2. Strain over crushed ice into a Collins or hurricane glass.
3. Slowly pour the blackstrap rum over an overturned spoon to create the floater.
4. Garnish with orange slice and cherry.
How to Drink a Rum Floater Cocktail
When drinking a rum floater cocktail, enjoy it slowly to savor the layers of flavors. Here are some tips:
– Gently stir the drink with a straw before first sipping to mix a bit of the rum layer into the underlying cocktail.
– Take small sips to let the rum floater interact with your palate before the rest of the flavors.
– You may want to spoon a bit of the floater rum over the drink as you sip to keep that layer effect going.
– Avoid drinking it quickly through a straw, which loses the separate rum flavors.
– Sip and pause to smell the aroma of the rum as you bring the glass to your lips.
– Appreciate how the rum floats above and eventually merges with the cocktail beneath.
– Add a new small rum floater if you desire more pops of rum flavor as you work your way through the drink.
Drinking a rum floater cocktail is all about taking your time to appreciate the aroma, texture, taste and visual appeal of the layered elements in the glass. Sip, savor and enjoy!
Rum Floater Cocktail FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about rum floater cocktails:
Why doesn’t the rum blend into the rest of the drink?
Rum floats on top of other liquors and ingredients because it is less dense. Alcohol floats on fruit juices and sugary mixers due to having a lower specific gravity.
Do you drink the rum layer first?
It’s a matter of personal preference! You can drink it in layers, mix it together as you sip, or spoon a bit of floater over the cocktail periodically.
Should you use aged or white rum?
Aged rum is more commonly used, as white rum won’t provide much flavor. The aging gives notes like caramel, vanilla, spice that pair nicely atop fruit cocktails.
Can I use flavored rum as a floater?
Yes, spiced or flavored rums can work wonderfully as floaters. They provide bolder, sweeter notes compared to aged rum.
How much rum do you use for a floater?
Typically 1/2 to 1 ounce is used. More than that and it’s harder to get the rum to float. Too much will sink into the drink.
What cocktails work best with rum floaters?
Fruity, tropical cocktails pair perfectly with rum floaters. Drinks like Mai Tais, Piña Coladas, Hurricanes, Planter’s Punch, Rum Runners, and more.
Conclusion
Rum floaters are an elegant way to enjoy rum cocktails! The floated rum provides aromatic depth along with textural and flavor complexity as it interacts uniquely with each sip. Visually gorgeous, technically simple, and flavorful fun – rum floaters take tropical cocktails to the next level. Sip slowly and savor the sensations as you enjoy this floating island of rum!