...But why is the rum gone?!

Rum; there is something about this sugarcane based drink which pulls me in to it's West Indies roots...

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"Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum", a famous quote is it not?  I suppose this spirit has always had exotic and adventurous connotations, not to mention it's famous association with the outlaw pirate Jack Sparrow (or should that be Captain Jack Sparrow?).

Maybe I'm meant to be a pirate...

The Mojito

Yes, rum has made it's name in several famous cocktails, but I always prefer the standard classic that is the mojito (providing it is well made of course). When it comes to this cocktail, for me the amount of delicious brown sugar at the base is key, alongside lots of fresh mint sprigs.  Obviously this is commonly associated as a summer drink; as the fresh zing of the mint and lime balance out the sugary spark of the white rum. 

Here is a list of places that do this drink justice:

• Venn Street Records, Clapham Common; these guys know how to serve a cocktail, and with regular 2-4-1 offers on cocktails combined with their fantastic service I highly recommend this hidden away bar.
• Christopher's - Martini Bar, Covent Garden; if you've got some cash to splash, and appreciate a well sourced cocktail this is definitely the bar for you.  Made famous by it's wide selection of martinis, it's other cocktails are just as adventurous and delicious. A great place to go on a date, but I advise booking a table in advance.
• Mahiki, Westminster; finishing off my recommendations with the crème de la crème that is Mahiki nightclub.  If you're the kind of person who likes to party in a tropical paradise (centre of London), then this is it.  With a reputation of having multiple celebrity guests and it's famous treasure chest; if you want a mojito with that little bit extra...you'll find it here.

However, if you've always stuck to the original mojitios, I think it's time you branched out.  As an alternative I would recommend you try out a spicy ginger mojito, as they are my winter flip-side to the lively original, and if made withdark rum rather than white the spiced flavour is made even richer.  Try out this recipe for a fiery rum treat: Ginger Mojito.

Trying something new

Until recently I'd been used to sticking to the white rums such as Bacardi and Malibu, as lovely as they are I had been on the look out for something with a bit more pizazz.

Hello, Havana Club 7 year old dark rum! This has been my latest spirit crush, unfortunately it appears to be rather expensive; recently at a bar in Angel (London), I ordered a HC7Y with coke and it totaled to a whopping £9 (luckily it wasn't my bill)!  On the flip side, it is rather scrumptious and if you are a rum fan like me, I suggest you give it a try.

Any suggestions for other rums you've heard of and think I may enjoy, please feel free to leave a comment, Lauren-Eloise x