Spiced Rum and Wine Cocktail Recipe

This Spiced Rum and Wine Cocktail with White Zinfandel is fruity with a hint of cinnamon and it’s one of my favorite wine cocktails to make at home! 

It’s the perfect poolside drink. It tastes like a vacation in a glass and looks like a pretty sunset. It’s the best summer cocktail that you can drink all year long.

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The spiced rum for this post was provided by Captain Morgan 1671 Spiced Rum. All opinions, images, etc. are my own.  

I found this recipe on the Captain Morgan site. They called it Tortuga Nights. This was originally posted August 7, 2014 and I’ve updated it to include better images and instructions.

Try this White Zinfandel Cocktail now

Yes. This cocktail combination sounds bonkers. Spiced rum and white zinfandel? Together? In a drink recipe? YES!

Trust me, you’re going to love it!

The ingredients give it a tropical flavor making it amazing to drink during summer. But it’s perfectly acceptable to drink at any time. And you’ll want to.

No matter the occasion, it’s a beautiful drink with a bit of spice that will wake up your tastebuds.

I was super surprised to find that this is a delicious wine and rum cocktail. It’s one I’ve made several times since, for all different types of crowds. 

And everyone always loves it. And I pretty much force it on everyone. Mostly because when I tell them what’s in it, they feel like they are being pranked.

What to mix with white zinfandel

I’m not a white zinfandel expert. I love rosé but white zin is a bit different.

It’s made from white wine, that has sat with some Zinfandel grape skins to give it that blush color. They are typically on the sweet side and are a fairly light wine. 

Turns out it’s a decent mixer for cocktails. I think you can probably substitute it for white wine in any wine cocktail recipe without changing up the flavor too much. 

Spiced rum has proven to be a delicious pairing. (And you can also use it to make a tasty Moscow Mule with Rum.

How to make a white zinfandel cocktail with spiced rum

Scroll down to the end of the post for a printable recipe card with full measurements and more detailed instructions.

I know. This list of ingredients is weird. But the result is SO tasty! 

Ingredients

• Spiced Rum
• White Zinfandel
• Pineapple juice
• Lemon-lime soda
• Cherries, fresh or maraschino
• Fresh lime slices

With notes of vanilla and dried fruit. I am a big fan of this spiced rum. And it pairs really well with white zinfandel.

Captain Morgan 1671 is a commemorative blend, that in my opinion, you need to track down. But if you can’t find it, you can use any other spiced rum. And then also use it to make a Rum Cake.

If you don’t have spiced rum, you can still try make this drink. You can try to make spiced rum at home, but that will take a while and lots of ingredients.

Instead, I would use white or dark rum and then use a bit of vanilla extract and ground cinnamon.

You could also make this Cinnamon Vanilla simple syrup. This will give the drink a lot more flavor but it will also sweeten it up.

The original recipe called for fresh cherries but using Luxardo doesn’t change the flavor much at all. It’s mostly for the color I think.

And if you don’t have white zinfandel, you could also try to make this with a sweeter white wine like reisling or moscato. I also think sauvignon blanc would be quite tasty.

Instructions

First, you’ll prepare your serving glass.

The original recipe called for a footed glass (or wine glass) but I think any type would work.

Use the back of a spoon or muddler to press the lime slices and cherries so they release juices.

Then set aside for a minute.

In a tall ice-filled glass, add Captain Morgan spiced rum, wine zinfandel, pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda.

Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients together in the tall glass then using a strainer, strain over fresh ice in your prepared cocktail glass.

Garnish with another slice of lime and serve.

What?! How is all that supposed to work together in harmony in my mouth? Somehow it works! And you’ll want to make this over and over.

What happens when all these ingredients come together is purely magical. I would have never dreamed that mixing rum and wine, especially white zinfandel, would tast this good.

It’s tropical and fruity without being too sweet. It’s pretty to look at and super smooth to drink.

And your guests will most likely not have tried it before so you can be their hero. You definitely need to pin this recipe. 

More Cocktail Recipes

• Spiced Daiquiri: I know in the post I say this Spiced Daiquiri is perfect for winter. But with that fresh citrus, this yummy drink, which also uses spiced rum, is just as delicious when the weather is warm.
• White Wine Spritzer: If you love wine and cocktails like I do, you’ll love this White Wine Spritzer! It’s a great way to use wine that has been open a little too long, it makes that bottle stretch a little farther and it’s a just plain refreshing (with a little less alcohol so it’s perfect for day drinking).
• Red Wine Smoothie: You might not typically think of alcoholic smoothies, but you should! I’m not a red wine drinker but this Red Wine Smoothie is a great way to finish up a bottle that I’ve opened for a recipe.

Or see my collections of: Easy Cocktails, Moscow Mule Variations, and Vodka Cocktails.

How quick are you going to try this spiced rum and wine cocktail with white zinfandel? It’s full of tropical flavor that you’re going to crave. 

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