Can you Mix Vodka and Rum?(All you Need to Know)

by Michael
Vodka and Rum cocktail

Both vodka and rum are common alcoholic ingredients in a variety of cocktails. Vodka has a neutral flavor while rum has a rather potent flavor. But they can both change the final taste of a cocktail significantly. Should you mix vodka with rum, though?

You can definitely mix vodka and rum in some cocktails. But it is not something you should do without following a recipe because the quantities you mix as well as the rest of the ingredients will make a big difference. 

In this article we will talk about everything you need to know, before mixing these two types of alcohol in your next drink.

Can I mix vodka with white rum?

While you can mix vodka with rum in different cocktails, there are other ingredients you will add to the mix in order to get a tasty drink.

But what about white rum? White rum is rum that was not allowed to age. Also, rum can be white if the color of it is removed through a process known as charcoal filtration.

White rum is also known as light rum and it is a distilled alcoholic drink that looks just like vodka as it has a clear color as well.

It contains about between 5% and 80% alcohol, while vodka has between 40% and 50% alcohol. The exact amount of alcohol will depend on the brand you choose and it is specified on the bottle so, you will not have to guess.

Combining white rum with vodka is generally a safe mix, as long as you don’t exaggerate the quantities. There are several cocktails, especially tropical and fruity ones, where these two types of alcohol can be found as ingredients, in different numbers of dashes.

What alcohol can you not mix with vodka?

While vodka and rum can go great together, there are some alcohol beverages that you shouldn’t combine with vodka.

Whiskey and vodka

Mixing whiskey and vodka might seem as a good idea until you actually try it. While combining these two types of alcohol will not necessarily make you sick, although that could happen as well, they will not taste good together. 

Whiskey comes with an alcohol content of 40% to 50% which is similar to the alcohol you find in vodka. However, whiskey also has a potent taste that vodka doesn’t. So, by adding vodka to whiskey, you will simply dilute the taste and increase the alcohol content in your drink.

Plus, whiskey can be enjoyed plain, with a few ice cubes, while vodka is mostly used as an alcoholic ingredient in various drinks.

Vodka and beer

Another set of drinks that have no business together is beer and vodka. The chance of getting an irritating hangover from mixing beer with vodka is very high and you will most likely not like the taste either. This combination will get you intoxicated rather fast and there will be nothing pleasant about it.

Vodka and red wine

Even if you might find this combination in extravagant cocktails, in most cases is not what you want to experience. Both red wine and vodka will dehydrate you which is bad enough to begin with, and the taste of this mix will not be so good to make it worth it.

There is a cocktail that combines red wine and vodka and it is known as the “Brutal Hammer”. This cocktail involves mixing 200 g or 7 oz of vodka with 150 g or 5 oz of red wine and drink it in one sip.

What alcohol can you mix with rum?

Besides vodka, rum goes great with other alcoholic drinks as well. Keep in mind that you want to mix two different types of alcohol in moderation so you don’t end up with a drink that is too strong or that will give you a hangover the next day!

Vermouth

Sweet Vermouth can be a success every time you combine it with rum. Vermouth is a fortified wine, spiced with herbs that enrich its flavor as well as the flavor of every cocktail you add it to.

Sweet Vermouth can taste great in cocktails such as Manhattan or Negroni and it will not disappoint you if you mix it with rum either.

When you combine rum with sweet Vermouth, you get a sweet and tasty combination that could be just what you need to get the night going.

You can also add a dash or two of orange bitters to this mix for a more intense taste. Don’t forget the ice cubes and you are set for an easy to make, simple yet delicious cocktail with just enough alcohol to put you in a great mood.

Root beer

Root beer is low in alcohol, as the traditional recipe only contains about 2% ABV. You can use root beer in a variety of cocktails, including those that contain rum.

In spite of its low alcohol content, this type of beer has a rich flavor that can be sweet and even minty, depending on the recipe followed and the brand you choose.

Spiced rum will compliment the taste of root beer much better, but ultimately you can use any type of rum and the result will be just as satisfying. If you want to keep your drink simple, add equal parts of rum and root beer, along with some ice cubes and enjoy!

Amaretto

Amaretto is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks, dating back to 1800s. it comes in different alcohol levels from 21% to 28% and it is one of the best drinks to mix with rum of all kinds.

The almond flavor of Amaretto will mix perfectly with the taste of rum and you can add other non alcoholic ingredients as well such as your favorite soda. As a matter of fact, many people find Amaretto and rum, with no other ingredients to be too intense. But if you like both their flavors, you can enjoy them plain, with just a few ice cubes.

If you choose to combine Amaretto and rum, it is best to choose a low alcoholic Amaretto to reduce the overall alcohol content of your drink but maintain the flavor of it.  

Tequila

Tequila and rum can very well be enjoyed as single drinks, but nothing should stop you from mixing them together if you want a more intense experience. And even if you can simply add some rum to your Tequila, along with two or three ice cubes and call it a drink,k we recommend trying more complex cocktails with these two ingredients.

The Tequila pineapple punch cocktail is one of the most successful combinations. To make this cocktail you need Tequila, rum but also pineapple juice, lemon juice and a dash of unflavored seltzer. It will taste even better if you use coconut rum instead of plain rum as it will add a tropical flavor to the entire drink.

Caribbean painkiller cocktails recipe

A Caribbean painkiller cocktail could bring summer to you every time you enjoy it. And you will be pleased to discover that it is very easy to make as well.

To make this cocktail you will need 2 oz of rum, 2 oz of pineapple juice, 1 oz of orange juice, 1 oz of coconut cream, ice cubes and a slice of fresh fruit for decoration.

Optional, you can also add 1 oz of vodka to your cocktail since it will empower the taste of rum. You will also need a shaker cocktail cup so you can mix all the ingredients perfectly.

Note that these ingredients are enough for one cocktail. If you want to make two of them at once, simply double the quantities.

Add ingredients to the shaker 

Get your shaker cup and add all the ingredients in it, one by one. The only ingredient you want to leave out is the fruit garnish that you will use at the end of your preparation process.

Shake all the ingredients for five to ten seconds.

Pour the cocktail in your glass

Once your cocktail is well mixed, pour it in your favorite cocktail glass. Add the fruit slice on the edge of the glass and enjoy!

This is a great cocktail to enjoy all year round and it can make you feel better almost instantly. Not to mention that you can prepare it in less than two minutes as long as you have all the ingredients available!

Final thoughts

As you can see, not only that you can mix rum with vodka and have a fast drink, but you can also mix both rum and vodka with different other alcoholic beverages.

The Caribbean painkiller cocktail is one recipe that you should absolutely try if you like to experience with different drinks. But also other types of drinks that contain rum and vodka are not going to disappoint you.

Keep in mind that vodka has a neutral flavor while rum can come in a variety of flavors that you can enjoy in your drinks!  

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