Freshly grated nutmeg hits the nose before the first sip, followed by molasses-rich rum and a clean lemon edge. It is short, warming and simple, the kind of drink sailors and colonists mixed long before anyone said cocktail.
2 oz
dark rume.g. Gosling's · Myers's · Captain Morgan · Bacardi · Kraken
¾ oz
lemon juice freshly squeezed
¼ oz
grenadine
¼ oz
simple syrup adjust to taste
1 pinch of
nutmeg
Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg · Ice: Served up, no ice
Bumbo
Rich and spiced with a bright lemon finish. Moderately strong, with the rum clearly in front.
Bumbo, also spelled bombo or bumboo, was a common drink in the 18th century British Atlantic world: in the Caribbean, in the North American colonies and aboard ships. In its basic form it was rum, water, sugar and nutmeg, sometimes with citrus, and it sits in the same family as grog and punch.
The drink was cheap to make because rum was plentiful where sugar was produced, and nutmeg added a touch of luxury. Recipes were never fixed. This modern version shakes the rum with lemon and a little grenadine and serves it chilled, which keeps the old spice and sugar profile but gives it the balance of a sour. Like a toddy, it can also be served hot with water.
A historic rum drink of rum, water or citrus, sugar and nutmeg that was popular with sailors and colonists in the 18th century.
Yes. Top the rum, sugar and lemon with hot water in a mug and grate nutmeg on top, like a toddy.
A flavorful dark rum from Jamaica or Guyana. Light rum works, but the drink loses much of its depth.
The perfect sound
Rum rations below deck on an old sailing ship.
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