There’s a common misconception that premium aged rum should only ever be drunk neat. While we’re certainly not going to argue against sipping our Australia 9 Year Bourbon Cask straight — it’s an extraordinary experience — great rum can also be the star of exceptional cocktails. The key is choosing recipes that complement and highlight the rum’s character rather than masking it.
Recipe 1: The Navigator’s Old Fashioned
Our take on the classic Old Fashioned, built around the Dead Reckoning Barbados PX.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Dead Reckoning Barbados PX
- 1 tsp raw sugar syrup (2:1 sugar to water)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Orange peel to garnish
- Large ice cube
Method: Add sugar syrup and bitters to a rocks glass. Add a large ice cube. Pour over the rum. Stir gently for 20 seconds. Express the orange peel over the glass and use as garnish. The PX’s natural sweetness means you need less sugar than a traditional Old Fashioned — let the rum do the work.
Recipe 2: The Dead Reckoning Daiquiri
A classic Daiquiri elevated by our Navigate New Waters expression.
Ingredients:
- 60ml Dead Reckoning Navigate New Waters
- 25ml fresh lime juice
- 15ml simple syrup
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. The complex, multi-regional character of Navigate New Waters adds layers to this simple cocktail that a basic rum can never achieve.
Recipe 3: The South Australian Sour
An original Dead Reckoning creation using the Gecko Raider.
Ingredients:
- 50ml Dead Reckoning Gecko Raider Rum
- 20ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml honey syrup (equal parts honey and hot water)
- 1 egg white
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Method: Dry shake all ingredients without ice for 10 seconds. Add ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Add bitters on top of the foam. The Gecko Raider’s bold tropical character holds up beautifully against the citrus and honey.