Food

Rum and Root Beer Float Cocktail Recipe

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jul 29, 2023 • 1 min read

No need to leave the mighty root beer float in the annals of childhood: one small adaptation and it’s transformed it into a thoroughly adult indulgence.

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Learn About Root Beer Cocktails

There’s plenty of alcoholic root beer out there—think root beer schnapps in a Pirate’s Float, or “root beer” beers infused with vanilla, sassafras, and sugar—but a root beer cocktail like the rum float, which builds on the spicy, savory, sweet flavors of the classic caramel-hued soda with a moody complementary spirit like rum is far more interesting.

A float isn’t a float without a cold, creamy component nudging it into milkshake territory: Go classic with vanilla ice cream, on-theme with a rum ice cream, or swap it out for a few ounces of either Rumchata, a spiced rum and heavy cream liqueur, the coffee liqueur Kahlua, or Bailey’s Irish Cream over ice.

Rum and Root Beer Float Recipe

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makes

1 cocktail

prep time

2 min

total time

2 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Add crushed ice or ice cubes to a tall glass. Add rum and top with the root beer, leaving an inch or two of space from the rim of the glass. Stir to combine.

  2. 2

    Float the ice cream on top. Serve with a straw and spoon.

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