The holidays  may look a little different this year, but here are some innovative cocktails featuring Don Papa Rum that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Inspired by Don Papa’s home island of Negros, Phillipines, known locally as Sugarlandia, each cocktail carefully balances traditional winter flavors like mulled wine, eggnog and spiced syrup, with fresh, tropical ingredients. Enhanced by the nuanced, signature sweet style of Don Papa Rum, these recipes are a true depiction of a Winter in Sugarlandia.

Enjoy the cocktails below, crafted by NYC Mixologists Ben Rojo (Black Emperor, Angel’s Share) and Peter Ruppert (Short Stories, Lucien).

The Don’s Midwinter Dream (above)
Warming and deliciously old fashioned. For a languid night spent by a well-tended fire. Don’t forget the cherries.

In a mixing glass, add 50ml Don Papa Rum, 20ml Berry Grenadine, 1 Dash Ginger bitters, stirred

Strain into chilled rocks glass with one large cube

Warm 5-10ml of Overproof Rum, light on fire, and gently pour over the cocktail

Garnish with skewered Maraschino Cherries (Served cold)

Rumpapapumpum
A twist on a classic, reimagined by the Don. Nutmeg falls like snowflakes onto frothy eggnog. Curiously sweet, unexpectedly magical.

Combine 45ml Don Papa 7, 5ml Overproof Rum, 20ml Brown Simple Syrup, 15ml Cream, and 135ml of Nut mixture and freeze

Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving

Shake to “wake up” the cocktail, pour eggnog mix into milk jar

Garnish with grated nutmeg and striped paper straw. (Served cold / frozen).

Negrense Tropics 

The Don’s Daiquiri for Winter. Tropical, fresh and festive. Here, even the orchids bloom.

In a shaker add 50ml Don Papa 7, 25ml Lime Juice, 20ml Spiced Sugar Syrup

Add ice, shake hard

Double strain into chilled cocktail coupe

Garnish with a mini candy cane, and orchid flower

Mulling over Sugarlandia 

The glowing heart of Sugarlandia in Winter. Spiced, tart and resplendently red. Warmed by a blanket of torched cinnamon.

In a shaker add 30ml Don Papa 7, 20ml Lemon Juice, 15ml Brown Sugar Syrup, 20ml Mulled Wine and 20ml egg white, dry shake

Add ice and shake hard

Double strain into chilled fizz or fizzio glass

Torch cinnamon dusting for garnish, along with a rosemary sprig