Looking for a peppy predinner potation to start your summer evenings? This delightful combo of white rum, dry vermouth, and pineapple juice (with a hint of grenadine to add flavor and color) is just the drink.
Its fruity, snappy flavor will wake up your tastebuds. So share it with your friends and enjoy their delight, too.
Because into each life some sun should shine.
There are several cocktails called the “Sunshine” (or some variation thereof). We learned about this version from cocktail historian extraordinaire David Wondrich, and we think it’s the best.
You’ll need pineapple juice for this drink. You can try juicing your own, but it’s easier just to buy unsweetened juice in cans or bottles. We usually buy mini cans, which are intended for cocktail use.
This recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare and serves 1.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- ½ ounce dry (French) vermouth
- 1 ounce unsweetened pineapple juice (canned is OK)
- 1 dash grenadine (preferably Homemade)
Procedure
- Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the contents are well chilled (20 seconds or so).
- Strain into a cocktail glass, preferably one that has been chilled. Serve and enjoy.
- We don’t garnish this drink, but you may prefer to. The logical garnish would be a chunk of pineapple, natch.
- Many good-quality brands of white rum and dry vermouth are available. So just use your favorites.
- And for grenadine? We suggest either making your own or buying a grenadine that’s made from pomegranate. The bottled brand that you see most often in grocery and liquor stores has wonderful electric color, but its flavor isn’t anything like real grenadine (and it doesn’t contain pomegranate).
- We’d like to give you some history on this drink. But, alas, we don’t know what the backstory is. No matter – it still tastes and drinks great.
- We think the sunny flavor of this cocktail makes it perfect for summer drinking. Particularly in July and August, when summer peaks in our part of the world.
- Speaking of July: In the US, we’re about to enjoy a long holiday weekend for Independence Day. So relax and enjoy one (or more) of these. And have a safe and happy 4th!
“Delectable drink!” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “Like being on the beach at sunset.”
“Indeed,” I said. “Kinda blows my mind.”
“I feel a 60s vibe coming on,” said Mrs K R.
“Yup, ‘Superman or Green Lantern ain’t got a-nothin’ on me,’” I said.
“Hold on, let me get my love beads,” said Mrs K R.
“Ah, this drink makes me want to break out in song!” I said.
“Please don’t,” said Mrs K R. “Remember what happened last time you tried to sing.”
Right, gotta stay groovy. Guess I should a-change my ways.
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44 comments:
This sounds like the perfect cocktail for porch sitting after a night swim. Thanks!
Hi Anne, this does sound like a terrific porch pleaser. :-) Thanks for the comment.
wow, John, I love the champagne colour of this beautiful cocktail! And it reminds me of sweet juicy summer peaches..
Hi Angie, neat color, isn't it? That dash of grenadine goes a LONG way towards coloring this. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Mr. Kitchen Riff, no matter what is going on in my life I can rely upon you to provide a smile and a great recipe.
You make me want some pineapple juice! I’ll skip the rum, thanks.
I thought the little cans were for lunchboxes. Shows what I know.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Benadette, glad to be of service. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Hi Mae, probably the little cans were intended for lunch boxes, but we found a better use. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Well, I think I need a dose of sunshine. There isn't much of it in the Pacific Northwest this summer.
Hi Dahn, just think of this drink as your own portable source of sunshine. :-) Thanks for the comment.
The perfect summertime treat.
Hi Pam, it is! :-) Thanks for the comment.
4 easy ingredients! Now that is our kind of cocktail. Pretty pink too. Thinking about starting the weekend a little early. On our way to make a glass right now. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday ahead.
Hi Bobbi, easy and tasty, hard to beat! You'll enjoy the flavor of this. :-) Have a great holiday, and thanks for the comment.
Sounds like the perfect cocktail for the summer. I love the pineapple juice in this one with the other ingredients.
Hi Dawn, pineapple juice is terrific with rum! :-) Thanks for the comment.
Always enjoy these excellent cocktail posts. Have you ever tried adding hibiscus flowers to the homemade grenadine once the sugar dissolves? It’s in the recipe for this syrup in Mix, Shake, Stir that collects the Danny Myers restaurant’s cocktails and it makes a lovely grenadine.
Hi Liz, haven't tried hibiscus. Often will add some rose water or orange blossom water to grenadine, though. Thanks for the comment.
One of the best drinks to celebrate summer!
Hi Denise, it's good. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Summer is the perfect time for cocktails made with rum! This looks delicious and I love the beautiful color too.
Hi Judee, we do like rum in a cocktail -- such a nice flavor. Particularly nice in this one! :-) Thanks for the comment.
I think I know the brand of "grenadine" you're talking about. Very disappointing. This is the only drink I've seen that calls for dry vermouth with rum. I'm intrigued! Love the dialogue with Mrs KR, complete with Donovan.
Hi Jean, I'm sure you know the brand of grenadine we're talking about. :-) One of the reasons we wanted to talk about this drink is because it combines dry vermouth with rum. Really unusual, but it works. And yeah, we had fun with that ending. :-) Thanks for the comment.
It sounds really nice for the summer times. Presentation photos look great.
Hi B&S, it IS really nice. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Just in time for the HOT holiday weekend! This beautiful cocktail will hit the spot!
I love the color, and the flavors sound great. I have a lot of cocktails to catch up on this summer!
Hi Liz, it's going to be a scorcher. Need to cool off with one of these. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Hi David, we're always looking for new ones that are worthy blogging about. :-) Thanks for the comment.
making your own grenadine? how fascinating. i made my own pomegranate molasses once. sounds like a great drink KR!
A perfect cocktail for our long weekend too as we celebrated Canada 🇨🇦 day on Friday. Happy Fourth of July to you too!
Éva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com/
Hi Sherry, we've made pom molasses too. It's easier to make grenadine. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Hi Eva, hope you had a terrific celebration! We're looking forward to ours. :-) Thanks for the comment.
After the past two and a half years, who couldn't use more sunshine in their lives? Cheers to that! ;)
Hi Carolyn, cheers indeed! :-) Thanks for the comment.
I am always a fan of a good cocktail. The Sunshine Cocktail for the Sunshine State "Florida" where I live.
Have a happy 4th of July!
Velva
Hi Velva, this is a great cocktail for Florida! :-) Thanks for the comment.
Anything with pineapple juice gets my vote. Simple and tasty I'm sure.
Hi MJ, yeah, we really like pineapple in drinks too. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Love the name and the drink! Beautiful. :-) ~Valentina
Hi Valentina, the flavor of this is quite nice. :-) Thanks for the comment.
Anything with pineapple juice I am in.
Hi Raymund, pineapple is so nice in cocktails, isn't it? Or anything, really. :-) Thanks for the comment.
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