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Pirate’s Tea has no tea in it at all. It is a rum highball built in a mason jar: spiced rum over ice, a splash of Coca-Cola, then orange juice all the way to the top, finished with a lemon wedge. The name most likely comes from the look of it. Cola and orange juice together turn a hazy amber that could pass for sweet tea on a back porch, and spiced rum is about as pirate as a bottle gets.
The flavor sits somewhere between a rum and Coke and a screwdriver. The cola brings caramel and a little fizz, the orange juice brightens things up and keeps the rum from feeling heavy, and the vanilla and baking spice in the rum tie the two together. It is a sweet, easygoing drink that suits a cookout far better than a cocktail bar, which is exactly why the mason jar works.
Glass: Mason jar | Strength: Medium | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes
Bartenders tip: The original leaves the orange juice unmeasured and simply says to fill the jar, so about 3 ounces is a good starting point in a pint jar packed with ice. Pour the cola before the juice so it mixes in on its own without much stirring. Pulp-free juice keeps the drink looking clear, and giving the lemon wedge a squeeze before you drop it in adds just enough sharpness to cut the sweetness.
Steps
- Fill a mason jar with ice and pour in the spiced rum.
- Add the Coca-Cola, then top up the jar with orange juice.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve.
