The Perfect Summer Drink: Rum Soda

This week it’s gotten up in the 90s here in Austin, and the only way I’ve found to beat the baffling heat is to put on some short-shorts and water the garden with a tasty beverage in hand. So by request from my friend and fellow gardener Daniel Nadeau, here’s my very own, very secret recipe for Rum Soda. I know it sounds weird, and the name is still in Beta, but this little drink packs a serious punch – this is the adult Coca-Cola! It’s extra fizzy, spicy and sweet (but not too sweet), with a tangy zing of citrus to finish it off. Finished with a special maraschino cherry, this cocktail is a refreshing spirit-booster and desert all in one.

What You’ll Need

• 1 part Kracken or Black Spiced Rum
• 2 parts club soda
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 2 Luxardo cherries and juice
• Lime rind
• Big ice cubes

In a glass of your choice, first add the ice and the rum, then shake a few drops of orange bitters over the ice. Add the soda and spoon in two cherries and a drop of the cherry juice. Slice a piece of the lime’s rind off with a sharp knife and twist it between your fingers to release the aromatic oils, and drop it into the drink. Stir with a straw and enjoy!