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Overview
Get out of your onesie and give Netflix a rest. Bacardi Rum Month is giving you a reason to celebrate July instead of sleeping Sydney’s coldest month away. This month-long spirit celebration is dedicated to the world’s most popular rum cocktails and brought to you by an institution committed to inspiring top bartenders to add their own twist on tradition.
At 150 years old, Bacardi lays claim to rum as we know it, with the modern production process developed by founder Don Facundo. His legacy transformed rum from a stereotypically piratey libation to a favoured spirit of cocktail conoisseurs. Bacardi, still family owned and operated, continues to define rum cocktail culture as we know it today.
Speaking of cocktails, let's head to the bar. Alongside Barcadi Rum Month, July 11 is officially International Mojito Day, celebrating the timeless rum-based cocktail worldwide. The mojito or 'little soul' has similarly evolved over time, starting as a drink for locals and eventually becoming a go-to for Americans vacationing in Cuba during prohibition. To help you properly celebrate on July 11, we’ve picked the top spots to get your mojito fix by some of Australia’s best bartenders.
COHIBAR
An underrated Darling Harbour favourite, this swanky bar exudes Cubano attitude. On its clearly island-inspired cocktail menu sits the passionfruit mojito, a refreshing version of the classic. The Bacardi 8 really makes this cocktail, and the fresh passionfruit puree adds a tangy sweetness that takes the drink to a new level. This type of reinvention is exactly the reason Bacardi promotes Rum Month and inspires Sydney’s bartenders to put their spin on the favourite. Cohibar’s gorgeous rooftop views only make this deal sweeter.
Shop 359, Harbourside, Darling Harbour
THE SWINGING CAT
This CBD basement bar's plush lounges and gaslit lamps are reminiscent of the jazz bars of old, a sophisticated take on New Orleans-style drinking. Teaming with the theme, the bartenders pay homage to classic NOLA cocktails without the glitz of Mardi Gras. Things are a little more subdued here. While their signatures may be the sazerac and Hurricane, the mojito is the go-to for Bacardi Rum Month; with date-infused Bacardi 8-year and cinnamon sugar, it’s a wintery spin on this warm weather Cuban cocktail.
44 King Street, Sydney
HOTEL STEYNE
Winter or not, it’s impossible to take the beach out of Manly’s bar scene. Hotel Steyne is keeping the summery vibes alive with its Beach Bar Mojito — on tap. A concoction of Bacardi Carta Blanca and De Kuyper passionfruit liqueur and puree, the almond and vanilla notes of the Bacardi blends well with its fruity counterpart in this cocktail, mixing flavours from both seasons. This drink will make you want to close your eyes and float away to your own little tropical happy place.
75 The Corso, Manly