Home-Spiced Rum for the Holidays

The warm, enticing spice flavors of the holidays like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, vanilla and pepper make delicious additions to seasonally inspired cocktails, as do citrus zest and fresh herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme.

The mellow notes of a good quality rum make it a natural choice for "spicing," and the makers of Flor de Caña have shared some of their easy cocktail recipes and inspiring ideas for preparing your own custom spiced rums.

All you need to start are a few whole spices, a couple of glass jars and a bottle of Flor de Caña 7 Year Old Rum.

To make your own spiced rum blends, thoroughly wash and dry several small glass jars with lids, add 2 or 3 ounces of rum to each jar, then add your favorite spice combinations.

Cover tightly and let sit for 24 hours. The next day, taste the rum and either let it go another day or two or use as is. How long you let your rum steep will depend not only on your personal tastes, but how strong your spices are and what combinations you choose.

Suggested Spice Combinations ~

• 1 stick cinnamon, 3 cloves
• 1 split vanilla bean, some grated nutmeg, 1 stick cinnamon
• 1 stick cinnamon, 3 cloves, strips of orange peel
• 1 slice of fresh ginger, strips of lemon peel, several sage leaves
• 1 sprig of rosemary, strips of lemon peel, strips of orange peel
• 1 split vanilla bean, 8 black peppercorns

Custom-Spiced Rum Cocktails ~

Here are a few seasonal cocktail recipes using custom-spiced Flor de Caña.

Caña Spiced Cider

Sugar and cinnamon for dusting rim
1-1/4 ounces home-spiced Flor de Caña (spice recommendation: clove and cinnamon)
5 ounces apple cider, heated

Rim glass with sugar and cinnamon. Add hot cider and rum.

Spiced Rum Toddy

3 ounces boiling water 
1-1/2 ounces home-spiced Flor de Caña (spice recommendation: vanilla bean, nutmeg, cinnamon)
1/2 teaspoon of butter
1 cinnamon stick
Fresh nutmeg for garnish

Combine the boiling water and rum in an Irish coffee mug. Top with a small chunk of butter. Stir with cinnamon stick and garnish with fresh nutmeg.

Pineapple Spiced Punch

1 ounce fresh lime juice 
4 sugar cubes
1 ounce home-spiced Flor de Caña (spice recommendation: fresh lemon peel, sage, ginger)
2 ounces pineapple juice
Pineapple wedge for garnish

Muddle sugar cubes with fresh lime juice. Add all other ingredients and stir until cold. Pour into a highball glass. Garnish with a lime slice and a pineapple wedge.

Handcrafted rum from Nicaragua ~

Flor de Caña 7-Year Old Grand Reserve Rum is a full-bodied, dark rum that is ideal for sipping, serving on the rocks or in simple cocktails. Notes of vanilla, dark caramel and roasted nuts on the palate give way to a smooth finish. Alcohol by Volume: 40%

Photos & recipes courtesy Flor de Caña

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