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Bushwacker


Bushwacker’s. Oh my. I sampled my first Bushwacker atop Paradise Point in St. Thomas many, many years ago and was pretty much hooked. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Chocolate, rum and the amazing overlook of Charlotte Amalie – wow, paradise.
(Jump to Recipe)

Our most recent tropical encounter with the Bushwacker took place at Ivan’s Stress Free Bar on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke. Not only do they make a mean Bushwacker, but they will also add a floater of rum on the top if requested. Not that you need that extra floater, mind you. A Bushwacker without the floater can knock you on your bum, because in addition to that wonderful chocolate and rum, Bushwackers contain vodka, Kahlua, Amaretto and Bailey’s – oh, and don’t forget a little coconut cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg! So like our recipe below aptly describes it, if you want a virgin Bushwacker – you might as well just suck on ice!

This recipe will make about 3 tall glasses depending on the amount of ice used. We like them thick and frozen, so we blend about 3 cups of ice with this recipe. Enjoy – but watch out! These might taste like a milkshake but they are potent!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Bushwacker

With the taste of chocolate, rum, Kahlua and Amaretto - it's definitely a smooth and creamy adult milkshake!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 3
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Drizzle chocolate syrup in a glass.
  • Combine all ingredients (except the whipped cream and nutmeg) in a blender, blend with ice, pour in the glass.
  • Add a dollop of whipped cream, sprinkle with nutmeg, add a biodegradeable straw and enjoy!

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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Railean Distillers – San Leon, Texas

We are always interested in finding out more about individuals who, like us, have hung up their suits and ties and are “making their obsession their profession” – especially a company that makes rum! That’s why we were very interested in finding out more about Railean Distillers in San Leon, Texas, when we were informed of them by Rum Therapy FB friend Paradise Cocktails.

Now, we haven’t been lucky enough to sample Railean Rum as it’s not available in our state yet, but are confident we will in the near future (maybe a road trip to tour the facility in San Leon for research purposes only, of course!) and I’m pretty sure we’re gonna love it!

photos courtesy of Railean Distillers

I contacted Kelly Railean, the founder of Railean Distillers and asked if I could interview her about the Railean Distillery and this is what we learned.

1. How did you come to start your own rum company?  I spent over 10 years in the wine business; I sold wine for a large distributing company here in Texas.  I have a Level 1 Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers.  My husband & I learned to sail in the late 1990’s and we purchased a Hunter 29.5 in 2000.  When we caught the sailing bug we started collecting and drinking rum & learning all about pirates and the island lifestyle.  One day while hanging out at The Buccaneer Bar in San Leon, Texas; we had this great idea to make our own rum.  It made perfect sense, my husband (Matt) is a Chemical Engineer, and I had the industry experience and a great palate for wine & spirits.

2. Tell us about Railean Rum and how it differs from other rums? My products are handcrafted; we ferment a high grade sugarcane molasses & blue agave nectar, distill, age and bottle everything at our distillery – by hand.  I am one of the few woman Master Distillers in the world – and yes, I really do distill and make all the rum & blue agave!  We are family owned & operated, we use the best possible ingredients in our products, and we do not add any colors, flavors or other additives to any of our products.  Our El Perico Blue Agave Spirit is the first and only Blue Agave Spirit to be made in Texas, our aged rums (Reserve XO and Small Cask Reserve) were the first aged spirits made in Texas, and our Railean Texas White rum is double distilled for the smoothest possible flavor.

3. What is your vision for the future of Railean Rum? An expansion of the distillery and increased distribution within the United States.  Our products are fantastic, and I believe Railean could someday be the number one premium & domestic made rum and blue agave in the United States.

4. Where is Railean Rum rum available? We are available in Texas, California and Arkansas.  We are distributed through Republic National Beverage in Texas, Western States Beverages in California, and Central Distributors in Arkansas.  Depending on individual state laws, folks may be able to purchase our products online from www.specsonline.com.

5. Do you have rum factory tours? Tours & tastings are by appointment.  Tours are typically Monday – Saturday and usually between the hours of 9AM and 2PM.  During the hot summer months, tours are only offered in the AM since this is a working distillery and it is too hot in the afternoon to tour.

6. What else would you like us to know about Railean Rum? I make three different rums:  Railean Texas White (retail $17.99), Railean Reserve XO Dark (retail $18.99), Railean Small Cask Reserve Aged (retail $29.99).  I also just released the first & only 100% Blue Agave Spirit made in Texas for those of you who love your Tequila.  The El Perico Blue Agave Spirit retails for $29.99.  El Perico is Spanish for “the parakeet” which is the logo on all of the Railean labels.  The parakeet or Monk Parrot is our mascot; there are hundreds (possibly more) of the little green guys all around the distillery, along the gulf & our marinas, and even at our home!

7. We have in common a love for sailing and tropical islands. Do you have a favorite island or place to sail? I love to sail the British Virgin Islands and we have sailed there many times.  Most of my sailing though has been in Galveston Bay and around Galveston Island, TX.  I have also sailed the Bahamas, St. Martin, St. Barts, Jamaica, and Cozumel.  One of the most beautiful islands I have ever been to was Manihi, Tahiti; and that was the best scuba diving I have ever done in my life!

Kelly, thanks for the interview! Maybe we’ll run into you while sailing in the tropics sometime and share a little “Rum Therapy!” You bring the rum!

To find out more about Railean Distillers:
Website
Facebook 

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Banana Mango Tango

Memorial Day is traditionally the kick-off for summer so with that we thought we should spend some time this weekend concocting some new summertime rum drinks.  We assessed the array of bottles in the liquor cabinet, went to the store and purchased a few more, then set out to create a new summertime favorite.

Jump to Recipe

After a few less than stellar entries, we came up with what we felt was a winner that we’ll enjoy and  serve to some of our guests this summertime! We felt the banana and mango “tangoed” nicely together in this light and refreshing drink. So now, we introduce to you the Rum Therapy Banana Mango Tango!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Banana Mango Tango

The banana and mango “tango” nicely together in this light and refreshing drink. A new summertime favorite!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. Cruzan Mango Rum
  • 1/2 c. Pineapple Juice
  • 1/4 Peeled Mango
  • 1/2 Large Banana
  • 1/2 oz. Cruzan Black Strap Rum

Instructions

  • Blend the mango, banana, pineapple juice and Cruzan Mango Rum in a blender.
  • Add approximately 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth.
  • Pour into glasses.
  • Float 1/4 oz. Cruzan Black Strap Rum on top of each drink and garnish with banana slices.

Copyright©2013, 2014 Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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Frozen Rum Runners

Yum. As summer approaches my mind drifts to frozen concoctions and enjoying the warm sunshine with a frosty glass in hand. One of my favorite frozen concoctions happens to be a Rum Runner. Kind of like an icee with a really good kick!

Jump to Recipe

Everyone seems to have a little different recipe for Rum Runners and I’ve only sampled one that I didn’t care for (I think it may have been a really cheap rum). We’ve sampled them frozen and on the rocks. Some have a reddish hue and some (like the picture below) are more orange in color. Regardless, sipping one of these may make your mind take a short vacation to a place with a hammock swaying in a tropical breeze on the coast of somewhere beautiful….

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Frozen Rum Runner

Kind of like an icee with a really good kick!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. Gold Rum
  • 1/4 oz. Blackberry Liqueur
  • 1/4 oz. Creme De Banana Liqueur
  • 2 oz. Orange Juice
  • 1/2 oz. Grenadine
  • 8 oz. Crushed Ice
  • 1/2 oz. Dark or 151-Proof Rum (the floater)

Instructions

  • Add gold rum, blackberry liqueur, creme de banana liqueur, orange juice, grenadine and crushed ice in a blender.
  •  Blend until slushy and pour into glass.
  • Float with 1/2 oz. dark or 151 proof rum.

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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The Rum Conundrum

rum conundrum [ruhm kəˈnəndrəm] – noun

1. A confusing and difficult problem or question regarding rum such as “It’s only Saturday – why is the rum gone?” 

photo: Pamela Ott

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Painkiller

We took our very first trip to St. John in the mid 90′s and knew nothing about the island before we went. Little did we know that it would become one of our very favorite destinations in the Caribbean!
(Jump to Recipe)

We were traveling to the Virgin Islands for the first time via a cruise ship and wanted to see everything we could. Our first stop was in St. Thomas and we had heard that we should try to get to St. John. We were sure to ask around to find out what to see and do while on the island and most suggested spending time on one of St. John’s beautiful beaches. One person, however, recommended making a stop at Pusser’s before catching the ferry in Cruz Bay, to try a Painkiller. The Pusser’s Bar is no longer on St. John, but we’ll always have fond memories of our first Painkiller experience.

Our waiter that day eagerly obliged when we ordered our first Painkiller and asked if we wanted that with 2, 3 or 4 shots of rum. What – 4 shots of rum??? In each drink??? We wussed out and ordered our Painkillers with a measly 2 shots each (hee, hee) knowing that we had to be able to find our way back to the ship or else risk being stranded on this beautiful piece of paradise – Hmmm. No – we really had to get back to the ship….

One taste and voilà! We were hooked! These things truly could kill the pain! Slightly sunburned and in no pain at all, we caught the ferry back to St. Thomas just in time to catch our ship. We knew we’d be back to St. John someday and knew that the “Painkiller” had become one of our new favorite rum drinks!

Since that day we’ve enjoyed a few Painkillers (and it’s cousin the “Nilla Killa”) in Paradise – most notably on Jost Van Dyke at the Soggy Dollar Bar – not that you really need to kill much pain in a paradise like White Bay…

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes! 

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Painkiller

By far one of the most popular rum drinks in the Virgin Islands, this delicious concoction will put you in the "island" state of mind.
Course: Drinks
Servings: 1
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Shake or stir all ingredients (except for the nutmeg) and pour over ice in a tall glass.
  • Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg.
  • Put your feet up and enjoy the taste of paradise!

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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The Equator Shooter

I haven’t been able to concentrate very well lately – my mind keeps wandering to an island in the sun. In fact, in just a few days my toes will be happily wiggling in some warm sand. As we head in the direction of the equator we will celebrate the beginning of a tropical holiday with one (or possible two!) of these yummy concoctions. Maybe you would like one too?

The Equator Shooter

1/2 oz peach schnapps
1/2 oz white rum
Grenadine syrup

Layer ingredients in the exact order. Grenadine should sit on top for a little bit before sliding down the inside of the shot glass.

photo: Pamela Ott

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Nilla Killa

Visiting White Bay on Jost Van Dyke for the first time was a trip. Our boat pulled up to this incredibly beyond believable gorgeous white crescent of sand as we “rapped” I’m on the Boat (very badly I admit).

As we anchored, Captain Darrel told us that we should visit Soggy Dollar Bar and order a “Nilla Killa”. Don’t think we even asked what was in it – it sounded good. “Wicked good” said Darrel. Darrel asked if we wanted to dinghy in. Dinghy in???? This is the home of the Soggy Dollar Bar – we had to swim in with our soggy dollars to get the full effect – right?

Anyway – great day, great drink. Soggy Dollar’s Nilla Killa recipe is TOP secret according to Mic – the bartender at Soggy at the time, so of course we set out to re-create when we got home (although it’s basically a Painkiller with vanilla rum). If only it came with that incredible view! Enjoy!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Nilla Killa

Similar to a Painkiller, this rum cocktail is also a popular offering at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke.
Course: Drinks
Servings: 2
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Blend vanilla rum, orange juice, pineapple juice and cream of coconut, pour over ice, and sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg

Find more rum recipes here:

Rum Recipe Picture Directory

Rum Recipes  by Category

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC 

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Piña Colada

The official drink of Puerto Rico, the Piña Colada has long been a favorite vacation drink of mine. The taste just reminds me of digging my toes in the warm sand and basking in the tropical sunshine…

Here’s an easy and tasty recipe for this delicious tropical beverage. (Check out an even more decadent Piña Colada Recipe here!) Enjoy!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Piña Colada

An easy and tasty recipe for this delicious tropical beverage!
Course: Drinks
Servings: 2
Author: Rum Therapy

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pour pineapple juice, cream of coconut and rum into a blender with the crushed ice and blend until smooth. Add more ice if needed to thicken. Pour into a glass, add a biodegradeable straw, sprinkle with nutmeg and garnish with a slice of orange or pineapple.

Other recipes you might be interested in:

The Best Piña Colada Recipe
Skinny Piña Colada

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Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC

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Caribbean Rum Punch

Rum Punch is a refreshing rum based beverage that we’ve had the pleasure of sampling in many different tropical locations, from the Caribbean to Hawaii. Each island seems to have their own distinct twist, from the type of rum used to the combination of juices. Experiment with different tropical fruit juices (mango, papaya, pineapple, etc.) until you find your perfect combination!

Our favorite Rum Punch experience happened on a sailing trip in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We were lucky enough to explore the deserted island of Petit Tabac – an island used in filming Pirates of the Caribbean. Our captain and cook concocted a huge container of Rum Punch that the 6 of us enjoyed as we hiked and explored the beautiful island. We tried to recreate the flavor of that Rum Punch upon returning home and the following recipe about nails it – sorry we can’t include the island!!

*We love bringing you amazing rum recipes! Our recipes may contain affiliate links to products that we use. If you click the link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support in helping us to continue providing rumlicious, tropical recipes!

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Caribbean Rum Punch

Inspired by our favorite Rum Punch experience, on a sailing trip in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Course: Drinks
Servings: 2

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix ingredients together, pour over ice and sprinkle with nutmeg and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Add a biodegradeable straw and enjoy!

You might also like:
Authentic Rum Punch Recipe

Copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC