Consciously or subconsciously, we tend to associate spirits with seasons and circumstances. A hearty rye whiskey may sound appealing as frigid temperatures set in while the botanical bouquet of gin seems the proper way to greet the springtime. On this note, what do you associate with rum? Summer? Beach vacation? Tropical rainforest?

This got me thinking – can I craft a rum drink that suits wintertime in the Midwest? A challenge, indeed.

I started with Mezan Chiriqui, a delicious Panamanian rum aged in bourbon and Moscatel sherry casks. This is a great mixing rum as it’s well-balanced, affordable, and unsweetened (many rums will add sugar). It also has great warm spice notes, making it fun to build off of in cocktails.

Going from there, my mind instantly went to one of my favorite ingredients to play with: tart cherry concentrate. I’ve sung the praises for tart cherry concentrate before, so I’ll just do a quick recap of why I love it so –

It’s incredibly potent in flavor and won’t water down your cocktail (but you can dilute as needed)
It has an excellent shelf life when stored in the fridge
It’s actually quite good for you in that it’s packed with antioxidants and known to reduce inflammation

I chose to make a simple syrup with coconut sugar to complement the richness of the cherry. Coconut sugar has a deep caramel flavor, making it a perfect option to pair with an aged spirit or simply add some depth along with sweetness.

While the cherry concentrate was already quite tart, I amped it up with some fresh lime. The icing on the cake was a bit of Jamaican No.2 bitters from Bittercube – a blend of grapefruit, hibiscus, warm island spices and vanilla. These bitters emphasized the spice notes in the rum beautifully.

The resulting cocktail is the perfect solution for when you want a daiquiri in the middle of winter. It’s rich, warming, pleasantly tart and remarkably festive in appearance.

Season of Rum

1.5 oz aged Mezan Chiriqui rum
0.75 oz tart cherry concentrate
0.5 oz fresh lime juice
0.5 oz coconut sugar simple syrup (1:1 ratio with water)
1 dropper Jamaican No.2 bitters
Lime wheel and cocktail cherries, for garnish

Add all ingredients other than garnish items to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a coupe glass. Make a slice in the middle of a lime wheel and twist. String onto a cocktail pick along with cocktail cherries. Enjoy near your favorite houseplant.