Our rum and orange juice recipe is an amazing formula for any successful celebration.
Formed with rum and OJ, it’s a classic that looks gorgeous and offers the best of both worlds— alcohol and bright citrus. It’ll be the life of the party!
It doesn’t matter what rum you use; we used clear white rum and freshly squeezed orange juice. Although we were skeptical, this version turned out amazing.
So, click that button above for ingredients and instructions to recreate this beauty if you’re in a rush. Or, read on to learn more about this cocktail.
Rum And Orange Juice Name
Most cocktails have names (the screwdriver, for example) while some don’t, and this cocktail belongs to the minority. If you want to have this at a bar, simply ask for a rum and orange juice cocktail.
If you would like our rum and orange juice recipe recreated, ask the bartender to add a dash of club soda. We found that a bit of fizz in the cocktail really makes the orange flavor stand out.
Do Rum And Orange Juice Go Together?
Although rum and orange juice cocktail recipes don’t have a specific name, the two do go well together.
In terms of the kind of rum, white rum is often chosen. It is aged very briefly, has a lighter fragrance, and is often used in cocktails.
Ultimately, we believe that trying new things is an interesting perk of bartending. If you happen to have different bottles of rum available, we encourage you to give them a try.
Other Rums to Combine with Orange Juice
1. Dark Rum
Unlike white rum, dark rum is aged for a long period of time and has a more developed flavor profile. It is often sipped as is, or used to make sweet treats (like tiramisu, chocolate treats, etc.).
2. Spiced Rum
Spiced rum is dark rum infused with spices like cinnamon, vanilla, or orange. Although it is often used in cocktails, we thought it would overwhelm the orange juice, so it was not our choice.
That being said, you can try it if you have a bottle lying around.
3. Malibu Rum
Malibu rum possesses a unique underlying coconut aroma and is used in many tropical cocktails, like piña coladas. Needless to say, it’d be a great pair with orange juice.
Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you have tried this version!
How To Mix
Before we start, note that this method works for most cocktails. So you can substitute alcohol in this recipe using vodka or whiskey.
Like many other cocktails, the best way to mix this drink is with a shaker.
Place ice into a shaker, pour the liquids in, close the lid and start shaking for about a minute. Strain the cocktail into a tall glass topped with ice and slowly pour the soda in for the ombre effect.
It’s important that you strain away the ice in the shaker. They’re not as cold as fresh ice and will water down your cocktail quickly.
If you do not have a shaker, place all ingredients (except the soda) into a glass and stir it well. Top it with ice and add soda.
Always pour the soda in last and never stir it vigorously. Doing so can flatten your cocktail, and it would defeat the point of adding soda.
See how we stick to this rule in our orange juice mocktail.
Is Our Recipe Healthy?
Most spirits are the final product of fermenting, distilling fruits/plants. They have little nutritional value and are advised to be consumed in moderation.
Although, some say that when the day gets dark, alcohol can be one’s bestie, a shoulder to cry on.
We agree that it can be fun and is for moderate consumption. So to promote both your mental and physical health, we recommend a fruity cocktail on the weekends. The fruit juices not only add flavor but also are laden with nutrients.
Our rum and orange juice cocktail, in particular, boasts loads of vitamin C, from the orange juice alone. It’s an immune-boosting antioxidant that fights off inflammation and protects your cells against damage from free radicals.
Besides orange juice, we add a splash of freshly juiced pineapple juice. Not only does it enhance the tropical, orangy taste of the cocktail, it also contributes more vitamin C.
For more delicious orange juice recipes, check out our most-beloved natural orange pineapple juice and this pomegranate juicing recipe with orange.
How Many Calories in This Recipe?
Obesity is a severe health problem, and it is linked to alcohol overconsumption. One gram of alcohol gives 7 empty calories, and excess calorie consumption can lead to weight gain.
While creating the rum and orange juice recipe, we took this into consideration and did not put lots of alcohol in. As a result, each serving yields 189 calories.
If it’s not boozy enough, let’s find out whether or not you can add more rum to this drink.
For more beverage ideas, have a look at our healthy juice roundup.
How Much Alcohol Should You Consume in a Day?
To give that question an answer, we turned to the dietary guidelines made by the USDA.
Regarding alcohol consumption, men (of drinking age) should not exceed two drinks per day and women can have only one. The term “one drink” is defined as “having 14 grams of pure alcohol”.
The rum we used was 80 proof, meaning there are 40 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of liquid. We crunched the numbers and 1.5 fl oz is the maximum amount we can put in each serving.
Of course, if you have cocktails at bars, it’s inconvenient to keep track of the grams. No one really wants to deal with numbers while having fun.
We’re suggesting doing as the guideline says in regards to one or two drinks. You may have more alcohol than what’s recommended, but it’s better than no monitoring at all.
If you enjoy these healthy orange juice combinations, you can try mixing orange juice and milk or view all our recipes with orange here.
With that said, let’s dive into this rum and orange juice recipe.
Rum and Orange Juice Recipe
This rum and orange juice recipe is tasty, quick to make, and follows our healthy guidelines.
- prep TIME 5 mins
- total TIME 5 mins
- COURSE Beverage
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 189 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 3/4 cup 80-proof white rum
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice
- 3/4 cup pineapple juice (from 16 oz pineapple)
- 8 tsp sugar (optional)
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 mint leaves (for garnish)
- 3/4 cup club soda
INSTRUCTIONS
In a pitcher, stir sugar to your taste (maximum 8 tsp) with 1 1/2 cups orange juice until the sugar is dissolved.
Add 3/4 cup white rum and 3/4 cup pineapple juice. Stir to combine.
Top the glasses with ice. Portion the juice into each glass. Slowly pour the soda on top and serve.
Garnish with mint leaves and orange wedges (if desired). Enjoy!
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer
- Leona Chapman
I used malibu, and it tasted surprisingly good. The cocktail has a hinge of coconut undertone, a really interesting cocktail.