The 13 Best Sodas For Pairing With Rum, Beyond Cola

Many rum cocktails require quite a few ingredients to pull off, like a Mai Tai or a Painkiller, so often, novice home bartenders just steer clear of making them. However, rum is flavorful enough and versatile enough that you don't have to get fancy with it. In fact, simply mixing it with soda can lead to a delicious, refreshing drink. The classic Cuba Libre (rum and coke with a squeeze of lime) is proof of that. Even so, the flavor of soda and the type of rum you use can either set you up for success or take you down a path of regret. No need to fret, though, because I compiled a list of the best sodas to pair with the spirit, beyond cola — most of us already know it is a viable option — so the next time a simple rum drink is in order, you know exactly where to start.

I was a bartender and server for two decades, so it's fair to say I know a thing or two about the spirit and how to pair it with soda flavors in a way that leads to a tasty, balanced highball. Stick with me, and you'll be doing the same in no time.

One of my all-time favorite flavors to pair with rum is pineapple, and luckily for us, you can find a handful of pineapple-flavored sodas that are more than up to the job. Jarritos makes my favorite pineapple soda — the flavor is sweet without going too far, and it tastes like real fruit — but Sunkist, Fanta, and even some store brands, such as Great Value and Signature Select make their own versions, and they'll all work with rum. Regardless of the brand, not only does pineapple soda add a fruity goodness that pairs exceptionally well with rum, but they also come with bubbles, something that makes the resulting drink light and effervescent instead of heavy.

As for the flavor pairing, pineapple has a delicious sweetness, a subtle tartness, and lots of tropical flair, all things that rum revels in. Whether we're talking dark, spiced, aged, or white rum, you get a good amount of vanilla and caramel, and depending on the iteration, some warming spices like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, and guess what? They all complement pineapple perfectly. If you want to take this combo a step further, you could also add a splash of coconut cream to make a fizzy, lighter version of a piña colada or go for a coconut rum.

Guava has a uniquely pleasing flavor that brings sweetness, tang, and a touch of floral essence to the table. Its complexity makes it a fantastic flavor for whipping up simple, tropical-inspired drinks. Case in point: Guava soda and rum are all you need to make a delicious drink with flavors that add up to much more than the sum of their parts. As far as spirits are concerned, rum has a sweet flavor profile, and that helps balance out the tartness of guava while also accentuating the fruit's floral and saccharine elements.

As you probably could have guessed, guava isn't a common type of soda that you can find at any convenience or grocery store. Despite this, it's a flavor worth seeking out if you need a tasty rum mixer. Regardless, Jarritos makes a yummy guava soda that's prime for the job. You may also be able to find some more boutique options at places like Whole Foods Market or World Market, so it's not unattainable. You may just have to look a bit more. That's okay, though. It'll be well worth it.

If you are looking to make a rum highball with all the oomph of a more involved cocktail, ginger beer is a pro pick. It boasts a potent ginger flavor backed up by a good dose of spice and sugar that takes to the spirit like a charm. When combined with spiced, white, aged, or dark rum, it not only enhances the taste of the booze, but also shines through with bold elements that ensure the drink is expertly balanced.

In fact, dark rum and ginger beer plus fresh lime juice is a cocktail many are already acquainted with: the dark and stormy. Even without the addition of lime, though, it's a tasty rum and soda mix that almost anyone can love. Actually, one of ginger beer's biggest draws in the world of mixology is that it has what it takes to make a mean drink with almost any type of spirit. Rum and ginger beer are a no-brainer.

With all that said, ginger beer can be a bit too intense for some people. If you fall into that camp, you can achieve much of the same complementary flavor in a dialed-down format by mixing rum with ginger ale. Just like with its more intense counterpart, the ginger and sugar notes both accentuate the inherent taste of different types of rum in expert fashion. That's right, it's another soda that pairs wonderfully with all types of the spirit, spiced, dark, white, or aged.

If you love an extra-sweet drink, cream soda makes a fantastic mixer for rum. It features a sugary, vanilla flavor that combines with rum's vanilla notes to create a saccharine-forward drink with lots of appeal. The smooth yet fizzy mouthfeel is also a major draw. Best of all, you can mix cream soda with almost any type of rum you have. For the most part, they all contain the signature vanilla flavor. Dark rums also get another boost in sweetness from a molasses taste, which further amplifies the sugary soda's palate. Even so, spiced rum is my top pick for cream soda. It adds elements of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg to the mix, all of which balance out the vanilla while adding depth to the drink.

The especially sweet flavor profile of rum and cream soda may not be for everyone. I, for one, am not a fan of extra-sweet drinks, but it is a great choice for new drinkers who aren't accustomed to boozy flavored cocktails just yet. Cream soda's potent taste easily masks the less-than-desirable traits of lower-quality rums as well. So, if you want a drink that doesn't necessarily pack a mean punch in the alcohol department, look no further.

Citrus sodas span a broad range of flavors, but for our purposes — mixing them with rum — I want to focus on three: grapefruit, lemon-lime, and orange or mandarin. Of these, grapefruit soda is my favorite. It has a sweet, tart flavor that balances out the sugary, vanilla flavor of many rums, like it was made for it. Instead of relying solely on sweetness, something that easily masks the spirit, it allows rum to shine through. I don't know about you, but I want my cocktail to taste like alcohol and mixer, not just the latter. If you agree, grapefruit soda won't let you down. Add a squeeze of lime, and it only gets more appealing. As for which type of grapefruit soda to pick, Jarritos is your best bet. It has an authentic fruit-forward flavor that many love, and, of course, mixes with rum beautifully.

Lemon-lime soda, whether it is Sprite, 7 Up, or another brand, is another flavor of soda that allows rum's tasting notes to play a leading role when made into a highball. The citrus elements are particularly well-suited for white rums, which also boast a light citrusy element. However, if you'd rather enjoy a bolder, sugary mix, orange and mandarin soda are the way to go. The flavors also combine exceptionally well with white rums, and are ideal for anyone who wants the mixer to stand out above all else.

Dr Pepper is one of those sodas that brings a whole mess of things to savor. I mean, the can boldly states 23 flavors, and it isn't lying. It's also one of the top 10 most popular sodas in the U.S., but I digress. Dr Pepper features a mix of sweetness, cherry, vanilla, warm spices, and more that's hard to put your finger on. Even so, the prominent elements we all pick up on are eerily similar to the tasting notes of rum. Yup, the same spicy, vanilla, and caramel notes can be found in the spirit, and when mixed together, you wind up with a drink that contains way more flavor than you'd expect from one made with just a simple mixer.

When making Dr Pepper and rum highballs, steer clear of flavored rums. Something like coconut would be okay, but it's not ideal. Sticking to a straight-up rum is your best bet. Thanks to the rich, dark flavors of the soda, white, spiced, dark, and aged rums all fit the bill, too. If you like an extra-spicy bite, though, I'd reach for a spiced rum like Bumbu or Kraken Black.

There's a good chance many of you haven't had a strawberry soda in a long time. Even so, I'm here to tell you it makes a wonderful mixer for white rum. Spiced rum could also add a bit of warmth to the equation, but white is where it's at for this drink. Regardless, strawberry soda is a great rum mixer.

Let's face it: For the most part, strawberry soda tastes more like candy than the fruit for which it is named, so it won't remind you of a strawberry daiquiri. Still, it is sweet enough to cover up any sub-par traits in a cheap rum but also yummy enough to make a drink with plenty of appeal, especially if sugar-forward bevies are your thing. In addition, a squeeze of lime will easily lift the overall flavor and add a brightness that the soda alone won't provide.

Whether you know it or not, strawberry isn't a super elusive soda flavor, either. Sunkist, Slice, Crush, Fanta, Jarritos, and several grocery store brands are available and easy to find. Once again, my favorite is Jarritos because of the fresh, real flavors the brand boasts, but feel free to play around until you find the one that speaks to you.

As a tropical fruit overflowing with juicy sweetness, mango is a shoo-in for mixing with rum. After all, rum is a tropical spirit at its core, and, as you might expect, this makes them a wonderful pair. Opting for mango soda, in particular, when mixing up rum drinks leads to a lovely, fizzy recipe with mass appeal for days. The brightness of mango soda lifts the sweeter notes of white and spiced rums while amplifying the trait throughout.

Even so, it isn't a mix that tastes like straight-up candy, something that can't be said for a couple of the other soda flavors we've discussed thus far. Instead, you get lots of tropical vibes and a balanced, refreshing drink that's perfect for sipping on a hot day.

Despite how wonderful mango soda and rum taste together, this is another flavor of pop that won't be the easiest to track down. Have no fear, though. Jarritos is here for the win again. It makes a drool-worthy mango soda, and it shouldn't be too challenging to find at a store near you. Jumex — known first and foremost as a juice brand — also makes a sparkling mango soda that's extra-juicy and delicious. If you want even more flavors in the mix, Mountain Dew makes a Mango Pineapple Punch that leads to tasty results. After all, pineapple is another flavor on this list, so why not have both?

If you like sour beers but are in the mood for something stronger, rum and passion fruit soda could be your new favorite highball. Sweet, tangy, effervescent, and aromatic all at once, passion fruit soda is just what you need to both enhance and balance white rum. A dark rum could work, as well, but the last time I tried that, the color was fairly off-putting. Since our eyes eat first, I can't wholeheartedly recommend the pair. Still, passion fruit's inherent taste brings white rum's sweet vanilla flavors to the forefront while simultaneously giving your palate something to ponder on the back end. Instead of being sweet and that's it, the mix leaves you with a tart finish that always brings me back for more.

Regrettably, there are not a ton of passion fruit soda brands lining store shelves, but once again, Jarritos has your back. There are a couple of other options that might be able to fill the void, but they aren't widely available. Whatever you do, though, don't pick up Passion Fruit Lacroix and think it'll do the trick. It won't. The namesake flavor is seriously lacking. Actually, it's more like someone simply wafted the flavor over the top of the soda instead of infusing it. No, thanks.

Watermelon is a delectable fruit all by itself, but add some bubbles and rum to the mix, and you have the makings for a yummy yet simple cocktail. White rums are particularly suited for the mixer, but more subtle spiced rums can be used as well. Either way, the juicy sweetness of watermelon highlights the saccharine taste of rum while also accentuating the vanilla and caramel undertones in spectacular fashion. There's no denying the mix would be a perfect drink for sipping by the pool, either.

Similar to several other soda options on our list, watermelon-flavored ones aren't the most readily available. However, Crush and Jarritos feature the recipe in their lineups. At this point, I bet you can guess which one is my favorite: Jarritos. I know, I keep saying it, but the brand's watermelon soda brings lots of the namesake flavor, and it doesn't just taste like candy. You can tell the real fruit is present, and that makes a big difference with mixed drinks, so it is my top recommendation. There are also a few prebiotic sodas that make a watermelon flavor, but I wouldn't go down that path. They may be "good for your gut," but they often don't exactly hit the mark when creating tasty cocktails in my opinion. I say leave them on the shelf and reach for Jarritos or Crush, instead.

Tamarind is a widely popular flavor South of the border, but here in the United States it is still trying to win over the market. Actually, McCormick named it the flavor of the year in 2024, but that doesn't mean you've heard of it or can pin down its taste, at least not until now. No need to worry, though. I'll help you out. Tamarind is a tangy mix of sweet and sour that keeps your palate intrigued with every interaction. With this in mind, tamarind soda more than has what it takes to create a delicious, balanced rum highball.

The sweetness complements the spirit, while the sour notes also add another layer of flavor that keeps things interesting. Suffice it to say, the mix is far from a one-trick pony. You don't have to stick to white rum, either. Spiced, aged, and dark rums also taste great in tamarind soda, and they add even more nuanced complexity in the form of warm spices.

I've only ever come across two brands that make tamarind soda: Goya and Jarritos. Shocker, but Jarritos can have my money every time. It hasn't let me down yet. Still, whatever you manage to find will lead to a yummy rum highball that excites the palate.

Grape is another one of those soda flavors that typically appeals to children, but that doesn't mean they're the only ones who can enjoy it. After all, it tastes great and offers lots of nostalgic appeal. However, if you want to cement its appeal in the adult world, I recommend giving it an upgrade in the form of rum. Grape soda doesn't actually taste like grapes, no surprises there. However, it does feature an intensely sweet flavor that easily pairs with various styles of rum. The caramel and vanilla notes of the spirit fit into the equation seamlessly. Even so, this is one instance where I would avoid spiced rums because the warming spice notes can clash with grape soda.

Grape soda is an excellent pick when you want to cover up lower-quality rums, which tend to lack nuanced flavors and often offer little more than an intense burn. It also excels when you are making cocktails for people who prefer extra-sweet drinks or aren't so inclined to favor a booze-forward drink. You can even buy a fancy vintage-esque classic grape soda from Cracker Barrel the next time you're there.

Last but not least on our list of sodas to mix with rum is none other than root beer. It isn't normally a top pick for stirring up cocktails, but when it comes to rum, it makes for a surprisingly yummy pick. For starters, root beer's tasting notes include vanilla and caramel, plus some earthy spices, like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. If you've been paying attention (like I'm sure you have been), those are the same flavors found in many rums. As a result, their complementary aspects are undeniable. That goes for aged, spiced, white, and dark rums, too. You won't get the benefit of an additional flavor, other than added sweetness, but the mix results in a drink so palatable that it is sure to go down quickly. Actually, be careful, or you may forget you are drinking booze in the first place. You could even make your own homemade root beer if you want to get crafty with it.

There are lots of things to know about rum, but now that you have simple soda mixers under wraps, you are several steps ahead of most people. Now, go forth and use your newfound mixology knowledge to wow both your own palate and maybe some friends', too. Cheers!