This tropical-inspired Rum Mango Cocktail is easy to make, delicious and super refreshing. The mango liqueur brings a warm flavor, but what brings this to the next level is the use of cocktail ice cubes. These cubes are essentially a pre-made mixer, but because they're frozen, the juices and other ingredients stay fresh and delicious (unlike bottled or canned juices).
I like to call this one Sunny Day because it makes me so happy! This summery drink has so many layered flavors because of all of the different ingredients in the cocktail ice cubes. As they melt in the drink, the flavors get stronger and more delicious.
Looking for more easy and fruit based drinks? This Rum and Ramazzotti cocktail is another tropical cocktail that is easy and super delicious. You can also check out this Lillet and Gin cocktail for a deliciously citrusy drink.
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Ingredients
Here is what you'll need to mix up this cocktail:
- Mixicles Cocktail Ice Cubes - I used Mixicles Orange Blossom Pomegranate ice cubes in this drink. These cubes have the flavors of orange blossom, passion fruit and pomegranate. You can purchase them on the Mixicles website (and get 10% off your purchase with the code MIXPERIENCE!) These were gifted by the brand, but I really love these cubes and would definitely purchase some myself! Within the mainland U.S., you can purchase them on the Mixicles website, or they are also available at Kroger's grocery stores in the Midwest U.S.
- White rum - I used Plantation 3 Stars White Rum, which is my favorite white rum and sells at a great price point.
- Mango liqueur - I used J.F. Haden's Mango Liqueur, which is made with real mangos and has a super fresh flavor.
- Bitters - I used Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit bitters, which are delicious and add another dimension of citrus to the finished drink. They are on the pricey side, but worth the investment if you are a grapefruit fan!
- Seltzer water - I used Topo Chico mineral water, but use whatever you have on hand. A SodaStream is great to make your own if you use sparkling water a lot.
- Fresh orange - I used a blood orange as a garnish for a little extra pop of color, but any orange will look great as a garnish here.
Substitutions
If you don't have some of the ingredients, here are some things you can do to substitute them.
- Mixicles - see this section of this post for how to make your own cocktail cubes. You can also just substitute an ounce of orange juice per Mixicle, which will give a much different flavor, but it will be delicious in its own way. One other idea is to get some store bought ice pops in a tropical flavor, and carefully cut them up into cubes.
- Mango liqueur - the mango liqueur gives it a really nice tropical flavor, but if you don't have it, you can substitute in a different fruit-flavored liqueur. Chambord is a black raspberry flavor that would go nicely in this drink.
- Rum - although this drink is kind of made for rum, you can also use vodka. Tequila would also go really well in this cocktail!
- Hopped Grapefruit Bitters - if you don't have these, any kind of citrus-based bitters can work well in this cocktail.
Equipment
To make this drink, you'll just need a jigger or small measuring cup, plus a serving glass. That's basically it! You also might want to grab a bar spoon and a knife and cutting board to make the citrus garnish.
I am kind of obsessed with the glass I used in these photos. It is this iridescent gold-rimmed glass that never fails to impress!
If you're looking for bar equipment, I really love all of the products from A Bar Above. Grab a 10% discount using my code, LKDrinks. Their bar tools are durable and dishwasher friendly (and the gold is so pretty)!
How to Make Your Own Frozen Cocktail Cubes
Although I highly recommend Mixicles, if you don't have access to them, you can try to make your own frozen cocktail cubes. They are super convenient to have on hand! All you have to do is get an ice cube tray (I love this easy release ice cube tray) and some juices or purees, plus some simple syrup.
If you use apple juice as the base, you can build off of its natural sweetness. Choose the flavors you want to include in the mixture and go from there. Usually you'll want to have something tart, like a citrus juice, plus something sweet, like a little simple syrup. Don't make these too sugary, though, or they won't freeze well.
To approximate this particular flavor, start with a cup of apple juice and add in half a teaspoon of orange blossom water. Then you'll need to experiment with adding in different fruit juices. Add some pomegranate juice, passion fruit puree, and simple syrup a little at a time until you get the flavor you like. Then fill up your ice cube tray with the mixture, freeze and then store either in the tray or in a plastic bag in the freezer.
Instructions
You won't even need ice for this drink, since the Mixicles will melt and chill the drink! Start out by adding the frozen cubes to your serving glass, so they'll have a chance to melt and release their flavor as you make the drink.
Once the cubes are in the glass, add in the mango liqueur and the rum, and then top with sparkling water.
Finally, add a slice of orange (I used blood orange because I just love the color), and finish it off with the hopped grapefruit bitters.
You can give this a quick stir using a bar spoon before serving. As you drink, the cubes will melt and give each sip a little more flavor than the last!
Hint: As a finishing touch, you can also cut a piece of orange zest and twist it on top of the drink to express the orange oils on top of the cocktail. This will give it an extra boost of orange freshness and aroma.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are certain types of cocktails that actually improve by being premade. These are usually spirit-forward cocktails, like a Negroni, that don't have any juices. With tropical, juicy drinks like this Rum Mango cocktail, using frozen fruit juice cubes (like the ones from Mixicles) is the best way to premake at least part of them and still retain a super fresh flavor.
Many bartenders will tell you that citrus juice must be used the day it is squeezed. The juice definitely changes in character as it ages, since it reacts with the oxygen in the air and oxidizes. It loses its tangy and acidic character, which some people actually prefer. If you want to store it and still retain this tanginess, freezing it in ice cube trays is really the best way. If you want to keep it in the refrigerator, it will stay good for about 2 or 3 days.
Top tip
These Rum Mango cocktails are pretty easy to make, since the ice cubes aren't going to water down the drink at all! In fact, it is better to use room temperature rum and liqueur, since using cold spirits won't melt the cubes as quickly.
📖 Recipe
Rum Mango Cocktail with Orange Blossom (Sunny Day Cocktail)
Equipment
- Knife and cutting board for garnish
Ingredients
- 2 cubes Orange Blossom Pomegranate Mixicles see Notes
- 1.5 ounces white rum
- 0.5 ounces mango liqueur
- 3 ounces sparkling water
- 2 dashes Hopped Grapefruit Bitters
- slice fresh orange For garnish. You can also use blood orange or pink grapefruit to add some color.
Instructions
- Add the two frozen Mixicles cocktail mixer cubes to your serving glass.
- Add in the white rum and mango liqueur.
- Top with sparkling water and give it a quick stir with a bar spoon.
- Add an orange slice to the rim of the glass for a garnish.
- Finish by adding two dashes of Hopped Grapefruit bitters, and serve.
Notes
- If you are in the contiguous U.S.A., you can purchase Mixicles at mixicles.com or at Kroger's grocery stores in the Midwest U.S.A. Get 10% off of a website purchase using code MIXPERIENCE.
- If you are not in the contiguous U.S.A., check out the section of this post detailing how to make your own frozen cocktail mixer cubes.
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