Cranberry Orange Rum Cocktail

Summer is in full swing and so is my hammock. In honor of National Hammock Day, I’ve mixed up something extra special. I call it the Sunset Rummy. With splashes of cranberry and orange, this delicious rum cocktail is fresh, zippy and just what you need as you’re relaxing in your hammock.

I developed this cocktail one evening while my husband was working overtime. The kids were in bed, the sun was about to set and I had my hammock ready to go. Sometimes when I’m in a rush, I come up with my best recipes. I don’t have time to overthink it so I just look around in the kitchen to see what I have and then I just get to work.

I don’t like wasting expensive liquor and I also don’t like getting drunk (especially home alone with the littles) so when I create a cocktail, I start off with really small portions to get the ratio right. 

My method is basically to mix everything without the liquor and when it tastes good, I add the wine or spirit that makes the most sense and then increase the amounts until I have enough for a single drink.

Voila! We have the Sunset Rummy.

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Ingredients:

Cranberry Juice and Orange Juice

You can use any store bought juice that you like. I prefer the Simply brand because they don’t have a ton of added sugar or other unnecessary ingredients. They just have the best flavor. We don’t do much juice in our house and our kids rarely drink it, but when we do have it, I want to have the healthiest juice we can get. I’m sure there’s healthier options, but as far as something that’s widely available, we could do worse.

Agave Syrup

I use this a lot in my house. Yes, it’s still a source of sugar, but I do try to eliminate processed sugar – especially high fructose corn syrup – wherever I can. 

A lot of cocktail recipes call for simple syrup, which is made with white granulated sugar and water. Agave is a slightly better alternative. The only downside is that it has color to it, where simple syrup does not. So if you have a recipe for a drink that should be clear, keep in mind that agave will turn it a pale yellow/tan color. I think it’s worth it.

Rum

Liquor can be tricky. You don’t always get a better product when you spend more money on the bottle. The white rum we like a lot is called Sammy’s Beach bar Rum. It’s a lot smoother than cheaper rum like Malibu. Honestly, Malibu would still be fine, but a smoother rum would taste better. Use what you have or whatever works for your budget.

Serving Suggestions:

Slice up a clementine orange and run it around the rim of your glass. Dip the glass in sugar for a little extra sweetness. Plus it makes the drink look pretty! Garnish with an orange wedge.