Pussers Rum sounds like such a naughty name, but it’s more than just a strong drink!
It’s a major component of the ever-so refreshing Painkiller.
While we can’t say for sure that this boozy cocktail can help that nasty hangover, what we do know is that it’s a delicious drink thanks to the addition of sweet juices and that Pussers Rum!
And hey, maybe it’s worth trying this cocktail or Pussers Rum itself to see if that old “hair of the dog” trick works.
But what if your liqueur store has none of this rum?
There may be a few alternatives you can use!
Read on as we help you find the best Pussers rum substitute.
The Best Pussers Rum Substitute
The Pussers Rum is a popular alcoholic beverage in the Virgin Islands. When you head to the area, you’ll find a lot of versions of the drink. It’s one of the more popular summer drinks, though we can find locals enjoying it during winter as they dream of hotter days.
- Fun fact: The Pussers Rum resembles a drink popular in the 1980s from the famous Soggy Dollar Bar at White Bay, located on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands!
You can use any type of rum as a Pussers rum substitute, really. The Pussers Rum company also creates other varieties of rum you can use in replacement of the original one. Here are the top three we recommend:
1. Pussers Rum Gunpowder Proof
Pussers Rum Gunpower Proof is one of the original varieties. It’s the recreation of the popular high-proof rum served on Royal Navy ships for over 300 years.
The Pussers Rum Gunpowder Proof is a combination of Trinidad and Guyana rums, carrying a No Age Statement. It smells like dark sugar and molasses with a creamy, buttery aroma. There are also hints of vanilla and dried fruits with hints of tropical spices like clove, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and pepper.
We appreciate this beverage’s taste as it’s sweet and fruity, reminding you of melon and banana flavors with notes of dates, prunes, and orange peels. Given its strength, you might find it peppery with hints of anise, licorice, and coffee. After taking in all those flavors, you’ll get a caramel finish lingering in the mouth with a bitter, peppery taste.
2. British Navy Pussers Rum
The British Navy is an entry-level rum coming with a milder flavor. It’s based on the original Pussers rum blend, but there’s less alcohol. This beverage has a scent similar to brown sugar and molasses.
You’ll even sense a hint of tropical scents like a banana. However, you’ll probably detect a bit of furniture polish scents that linger around for a while.
This Pussers Rum variety is sweet and peppery, though not as much as the Gunpowder. It’s more tropical and custard-like with a sweet, peppery, and long finish with notes of tropics and fruitiness.
3. Pussers Rum Original Admiralty
The Original Admiralty is an excellent mixture of rums from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Around 50% of the rum’s blend is crafted from wooden pots.
As such, expect a drier smell to the beverage with more evident hints of spice notes like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
You’ll also get a long finish with some peppery and tropical spice notes, along with a bit of bitterness and sweetness from dried fruits.
4. Any Dark Rum
If you have no Pussers Rum products available in your area, you can always go for other dark rum types.
It may not completely embody the original taste of Pussers Rum, but it will do when making cocktails like the Painkiller.
We recommend looking for high-quality rum without any additives. That way, you get a more natural taste, which Pussers Rum is known for.
How Do You Make a Painkiller Cocktail?
We can thank the Painkiller cocktail for the creation of Pussers Rum! It continues to be one of the more popular cocktails around, especially for those who love the tropics. Follow this recipe to make your own Painkiller:
Get recipe: gogogogourmet.com
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces of pineapple juice
- 3 ounces of cream of coconut
- 3 ounces of pulp-free orange juice
- One bottle of dark rum (Pussers Rum is best)
- Nutmeg, whole or grates
- Ice to fill about ¾ per cocktail glass
Directions:
- Mix pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and orange juice.
- Fill your glass with ¾ of ice, then transfer it to a cup to make your drink.
- Pour about 2 ounces of Pussers rum over ice. No need to be too precise with this.
- Shake your pineapple, coconut, and orange juice mix. Afterward, pour it over your rum until it covers the ice.
- Pour the entire mix into your drinking cup and back to the mixing cup a few times to mix.
- Finally, pour your Painkiller into your drinking cup. Sprinkle your nutmeg over the drink. Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve got more in store for you; check out these frequently asked questions to learn about Pussers rum!
Pussers Rum is Royal Navy rum and is known as one of the most traditional and historic rums available up to now.
You get a rich flavor from this rum as no added colorings or flavors are added. This is compared to other rum brands that include flavoring agents and sugar to make their drinks taste smoother and with more body.
Fun fact: The name Pusser is actually Royal Navy slang for purser aboard ships. Pursers are responsible for the ship’s rum store, supervising the doling out of daily rum tot. (*)
Yes, Pussers rum is a spiced rum. It’s made with a blend of Caribbean rums and infused with natural spices, including cinnamon, clove, and allspice. This gives the rum its distinctive flavor and aroma.
The kind of rum you use for pain killers is up to you. However, we would recommend a dark rum since it has a higher alcohol content and will be more effective in numbing the pain.
Alternatively, you could use vodka which also has a high alcohol content. However, we would avoid using bourbon or scotch since they have lower alcohol contents and may not be as effective in providing relief from pain.
Wrapping It Up
While you can find Pussers Rum in liqueur stores, online shops, or significant supermarkets, it may not be readily available. That’s alright because you can always use a Pussers Rum substitute, whether it’s other brand name varieties or other forms of dark spiced rum.
Did you like our article on the best Pussers Rum substitute? If you did, let us know in the comments section below and check out more of what we offer in our other blog posts!
Up Next: The Best Rum Substitutes
