What are some safe "go-to" rum drinks at a bar?

[Dave in the basement]

Hello all,

We'll be heading to my work Christmas party on Saturday, and a few of us will be heading to a bar beforehand to ease our way into the festivities. I rarely go to bars, so I would appreciate your suggestions on some nice rum drinks that the bar should be able to make. The bar is in a Marriot Hotel, so I am guessing it should be fairly decent.

So far all I can think of are:
Mojitos
Rum & Coke
Cuba Libre
Maybe a rum fizz or a rum swizzle?

As always, your suggestions and ideas are most appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply!

Dave

[RonJames]

With crappy bar rum I will...

Myers and OJ
Mt. Gay and Cola
Bacardi in a cube libre

I know...but these are the desperation moves. Never touch Malibu or the Capt., both of them I'd rather drink water. Occasionally bars might have sailor jerry in which case you're in pretty good shape.

[lperry]

Unfortunately, mojitos are no longer safe. I've had two really bad ones in the past few months - both were shaken with the mint, and it was not clear if the mint was even fresh. They tasted vegetal and bitter with gelatinous clumps of green stuff. Awful. Stay simple. Simple is safe.

[leisure master]

I agree with lperry - tread cautiously with mojitos if you're in a place that doesn't make them full time, such as a Cuban restaurant. Sour mix, sprite, bottled lime juice, bad house rum, old mint - there's just too many ways for this to go very wrong.

Ask how they make their manhattans and old fashioneds.

If what they say sounds good to you, have them make one with rum instead of rye or bourbon - something like Mount Gay, Bacardi 8 or the like. Chances are you'll be teaching the bartender a new trick.

If they have an agricole (sometimes you'll see a Clement or Neisson up there) - there's always a Ti Punch.

If you want to challenge them (a bit) - try an impromptu Suffering Bastard - equal parts Rum, Gin and Lime, a couple dashes bitters and top with ginger ale equal to what's already in the glass - they can build it in the glass with ice and give it a quick shake. Good to go.

If the bar's really bad, sometimes the best rum drink is a beer.

[Edoc]

In my part of the country (NY NJ), bars will often have Mt. Gay and sometimes 10 Cane. When that's the case, I'll order one of those on the rocks with lime, and maybe ask to top it with a spritz of 7Up.

[D.B.Cooper]

Most bars today use the pre mix stuff and it is usually made with the well liquor. Not Good!

Take leisure master's advice and find out what rums they have that you'd like and order a rum old fashioned. That's my go to cocktail and I've even had it with light rum and it was good. Try making it at home to see if it'll be something you'd like.

[Rum Balls]

Good ol' rum and Coke is my emergency back-up, and I always ask for a lime wedge to squeeze into the drink if I think it needs it.

I've better luck with Manhattans than Old Fashioneds at bars, but you know, I've never asked to sub in rum. I've made rum-hattans and OFs at home...don't know why I haven't thought of that when I'm at a bar.

P.S. Dave in the Basement: love the Calvin/Stupendous Man pic! Ka-PWING!

[Dave in the basement]

Thank you for the suggestions, everyone!

They just threw me a curve ball and told me that the "bar" is instead an Irish Pub. Go figure, since we are all of 2 miles from Notre Dame. So I am not exactly sure if they will have a full bar or not. They have a number of whiskys listed on their site...as well as the ever generic margaritas, sangria, and a frozen daiquiri.

The thought of drinking a frozen drink while it is snowing outside doesn't thrill me, but I may have to settle for that. But I hope not!

Good call on avoiding the mojitos. I find them to be very hit or miss around here, with many more misses than hits.

Now I am all thirsty and stuff! LOL I have never had a rum old fashioned, but I am going to try to track down a recipe as that sounds intriguing. A Suffering Bastard sounds good to, and I can't believe I forgot to mention Ti Punch. I love that drink, even though I haven't had it with official agricole. (But they called it Ti Punch, and it sure was good!).

Man, I am rambling today. Thanks again for the suggestions; I'll report back on Monday if anything exciting happens.

Dave

P.S. Thanks, Rum Balls, I love Calvin and Hobbes, and that Stupendous Man pic is one of my favorites.