You can thank sugar for the creation of rum. More than four centuries ago, plantations used a process to extract sugar from sugar cane, and a byproduct of that procedure produced molasses. For many years, molasses was just a waste product of creating sugar, but someone eventually figured out that by distilling it one could create alcohol—woo-hoo! Thus, rum was born.
In celebration of the now immensely popular spirit, National Rum Day was declared on Aug. 16. So lift a glass at these rum hot spots this Wednesday and say “Cheers!” to the sweet spirit.
Cabo Wabo Cantina
I mean, it’s even in the name—Rhumbar Tropical Ultra Lounge at The Mirage. The patio here is gorgeous and offers plenty of shaded seating to enjoy a laundry list of rum cocktails like the popular, rum-packed 100 Foot Wave, a mix of Coruba dark Jamaican rum, Ron Del Barrilito 3 Star rum, El Dorado 12-Year rum, tangerine and lemon juices and a passionfruit purée.
Over at Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops, the bar and restaurant made famous by rocker Sammy Hagar celebrates the holiday with a specially created cocktail, the Sunset Dreams. It’s made with Hagar’s own brand of rum (Sammy’s Beach Bar rum), along with orange Curaçao, grenadine, Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut liqueur and orange and pineapple juices, and topped with a can of Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co. Tangerine Dream sparkling rum cocktail. The beachy venue, inspired by the town of Cabo San Lucas, stacks its menu with other signature rum cocktails that use Sammy’s Beach Bar rum. Try the super-popular Sammy’s Toasted Colada with his platinum rum, Coco Lopez and pineapple juice, served on the rocks and garnished with toasted coconut.
Stop by über-cool speakeasy The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails at The Cosmopolitan, as they offer two rum cocktails: Another Day in Paradise with Bacardi Superior rum, orgeat, lime, pineapple vinegar and Angostura bitters, served in an upside pineapple with a flambéed pineapple ring; and the Dazed & Confused with Mount Gay Black Barrel rum, Aperol, ginger honey syrup, lime juice and pineapple juice with a Pop Rocks rim.
At Crush at MGM Grand, try the pineapple coconut mojito, made with Bacardi coconut rum, pineapple and fresh mint. Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria throws its recipe into the National Rum Day ring with the Tropic Thunder cocktail, a mix of Mount Gay rum, orgeat, Fever-Tree cola and fresh lime. And Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer at The Venetian offers a delicious toasted coconut daiquiri with white rum, Clement Mahina Coco coconut rum liqueur, house-made toasted coconut syrup, pressed coconut water and lime juice.
Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
More daiquiri deliciousness can be had at another cool speakeasy, The Underground in the basement of the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas. Guests can travel back to the Prohibition era and sip on The Underground Daiquiri, made with your choice of 12-, 15-, 18- or 23-year rum, and enjoy $1 off regular pricing. Find more specialty pricing at The Tangier lobby bar at Sahara Las Vegas—50% off all rum drinks for the holiday!
If you’d like to enjoy some rum in your room before heading out on your rum-drinking adventure, stop by local favorite liquor stores Total Wine & More and Liquor World for the ready-made rum cocktails in a can, Koloa Rum Company’s Sparkling Hawaiian Rum Canned Cocktails in various bubbly flavors like guava, pineapple, mango and coconut. Just head to that ice machine down the hall from your room, fill up that ice bucket and go to town. Happy National Rum Day, everyone!
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