5 Fruit Juices You Should Be Pairing With Spiced Rum

Spiced rum isn't just the perfect taster to enjoy with your next pirate cosplay; it's also a shockingly sophisticated base for fruity, refreshing cocktails. Distilled from a base of juicy, sweet sugarcane, spiced rum offers additional nuances of flavor from the addition of — predictably — spices. Though experts have differing opinions on which spices produce the best spiced rum, there are a few tasting notes distilleries turn to again and again. Even Captain Morgan reveals that the closely-guarded formula for their Original Spiced Gold contains hints of vanilla and brown sugar, flavors practically begging to be paired with the tangy sweetness of fruit juice.

Fruit juice gently softens the rum's harsh edges while simultaneously elevating its natural sweetness and — if you play your cards right — bringing the flavors of the spices to the surface. Of course, your rum may be seasoned with a wide range of spices and botanicals, from warm and cozy ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and star anise to more astringent mace, citrus peels, and peppercorns.

To discover what flavors to expect in your rum, you can either spice it up yourself or do some sleuthing on your favorite brand's website before choosing a bottle. Knowing what spices are in your rum will help you pair it with the best complementary fruit. After all, choosing the right rum is the secret to making better rum-based cocktails. Once you've picked your bottle, you'll know whether to go tart and tangy, sweet and sugary, or somewhere in between.

Rum is a tropical spirit, so it makes sense that pairing it with pineapple would be a match made in heaven. In fact, Captain Morgan suggests simply pouring them together over ice for a refreshing and tasty sipper perfect for enjoying beachside, poolside, or even inside if you're fonder of air conditioning than summer sunshine. This is also an easy drink to make in batches; try chilling it with frozen pineapple chunks to preserve the flavor.

This super simple cocktail works because the acidity of the pineapple helps cancel out the burn from the rum, giving the drink a lush smoothness. Meanwhile, pineapple's syrupy sweetness also enhances the aroma and flavor of the spices, especially aromatics like vanilla and clove. Mixed correctly, the rum should have almost no burn and the pineapple should be sweet but not cloying, resulting in a beautifully balanced beverage.

If you're looking for a slightly more complex cocktail, something like a classic piña colada may be more your speed, with earthy notes of coconut to help marry the other ingredients. If you're a fan of bold flavor, a pineapple rum punch with a splash of freshly juiced ginger root or bubbly ginger ale may be your next summer favorite. Try muddling a little fresh mint or rosemary in the bottom of the glass to bring just a touch of sharpness that makes these simple cocktails feel artisanal.

Wild, earthy, and floral, blueberries offer a refreshingly sophisticated springtime mixer for your favorite spiced rum. When it comes to flavor pairings, blueberries are a bit of a chameleon. They mix beautifully with other fruits, offering a tart counterpoint to sweeter flavors while simultaneously bringing sweetness to citrus. Blueberries also offer a gorgeous counterpoint to spices, making it a versatile choice for spiced rum cocktails.

The key to building a good blueberry rum drink is properly balancing the flavors. Since blueberries are less sweet than other fruits, simply pouring blueberry juice and rum over ice likely won't cut it unless your juice is fortified with added sugar. Instead, consider drizzling in a little wildflower honey or sweet lavender simple syrup to intensify the flavors of the juice and the rum's spices while adding a touch of interest. Just use a gentle hand to prevent any one flavor from dominating the rest.

You can also use blueberries' aforementioned chameleon nature to your advantage by creating a blueberry rum punch or smash-style beverage undercut by bold flavors such as orange infused simple syrup, a splash of ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime. Create a blueberry pie cocktail with a touch of vanilla paste and a splash of cinnamon liqueur. Think of it as a blueberry-forward take on rumchata. You can also add coffee liqueur and a tiny splash of half and half or even coconut cream to create a spiked version of your favorite seasonal blueberry latte.

Spiced rum drinks aren't just for summer sippin'. They can also keep you cozy all autumn long, especially blended with the right fruity flavor. When you compare the warm and delicious spices that complement apple pie are largely the same as  many of the seasonings in spiced rum, combining the two is an absolute no-brainer. Tart, honey-like apple juice tames the rum's acidity just enough to create a crisp cocktail that's perfect for enjoying in early fall, just as the leaves are starting to turn.

If you're not ready to let go of summer, both apples and spiced rum pair delightfully with citrus and fresh herbs to create elevated libations that easily bridge the gap between the seasons. Add a squeeze of lime and a sprig of mint to create an apple mojito or go with lemon and ginger beer to create an early-autumn apple mule. A splash of orange juice and a drop of vanilla adds refreshing warmth.

As autumn's chill creeps in, this combination easily advances with the season, as it's just as delicious gently warmed as it is over ice. Heating it blooms the spices, enhancing their flavor and aroma, while the apple juice goes from tart to succulently sweet. The result is something akin to a spiced apple cider, but cleaner and fresher without the cloying undertones of brown sugar. Of course, if you've got a sweet tooth, feel free to add a squeeze of caramel sauce or syrup to turn this beverage into a spiked dessert.

Lush with a punch of almond-tinged juiciness, cherry juice may just be spiced rum's best friend. Cherries have a soft depth of flavor that can skew sweet or savory, tropical or wintry, spicy or sour — so, no matter what your usual preferences, cherries have your back. Plus, their jammy sweetness creates a rich, sophisticated beverage when mixed with spiced rum all on their own. That means cherry juice may offer the widest variety of options when it comes to this kind of cocktail.

First, let's stick with some classic warm-weather flavor profiles. Cherry limeade is a tasty favorite featuring flavors that just so happen to blend easily with the aromatic burn of spiced rum. You can stick with straight up tart cherry juice and a squeeze of lime or make things bubbly and sweet with a glug of lemon-lime soda and a touch of grenadine. If you're loving the latest trend in spicy mixed drinks, muddle a slice or two of jalapeño in the bottom of the glass to give your cocktail a little extra zing.

Similarly, if you love cherry cola and rum and coke in equal measure, why not have the best of both worlds by enjoying them all in the same glass? You can also give this drink a spooky makeover for Halloween with black cherry juice and a syrupy Amarena cherry garnish for a deliciously dark-red beverage. For a cozy cherry pie vibe, swap the coke for vanilla soda and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

The peach may be queen of the stone fruits. Honey-sweet and succulently juicy with golden flesh, they're an indulgent addition to everything from cobbler to peach-glazed baked chicken. They're also bold enough to form a tasty partnership with a range of spices, yet nuanced enough to create a balanced rum drink that's not too cloying. Since peaches are a so beloved that you can often find evergreen peach juice all year round, they pair nicely with a wide range of seasonal flavors, giving you a lot of leeway to customize this spirited combination to your liking.

In a similar fashion to apple juice, peach juice stands up nicely to herbs like basil and mint, making them an excellent choice for an elevated mojito or peachy-keen daiquiri infused with basil simple syrup. They're also a key ingredient in a Cuban peach cocktail, a drink that combines the sweetness of fresh peaches and flavored schnapps with a squeeze of lemon, and — of course — an ounce or two of spiced rum.

If you prefer winter warmers over summer sippers, peach cider is not only a thing, but is also just as delicious and versatile as the apple version. Enjoy it chilled with a splash of ice-cold spiced rum and garnished with a thin slice of green apple or lemon. Gently warmed, however, this cider takes on the comforting flavors of peach pie, which are only enhanced with the addition of a vanilla-forward spiced rum. Heat a quart or two in your slow cooker to make enough for an age-appropriate crowd.