Frozen Rum Runner
The Florida Keys rum runner made frozen: rum, banana liqueur, blackberry brandy, grenadine, orange and pineapple juice.
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The Rum Runner is the signature drink of the Florida Keys, invented to use up surplus rum, banana and blackberry liqueurs. Frozen, it becomes a fruity slush with layers of flavor.
It totals 3½ ounces of liquid per drink — very close to the manual margarita — so it behaves predictably in every machine.
Rum Runner recipe
Ingredients (1 drink)
- 1 oz light rum
- ½ oz crème de banane (banana liqueur)
- ½ oz blackberry brandy or liqueur
- ½ oz grenadine (paid link)
- ½ oz orange juice
- ½ oz pineapple juice
- ¼ oz overproof rum float (optional)
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Orange slice and cherry. Glass: Hurricane glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add everything except the float to the jar.
- Run the cycle and pour.
- Gently float the overproof rum on top if using.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| light rum | 2¾ oz | 3¾ oz | 2½ oz | 3¼ oz | 6¼ oz |
| crème de banane (banana liqueur) | 1⅓ oz | 1¾ oz | 1¼ oz | 1½ oz | 3¼ oz |
| blackberry brandy or liqueur | 1⅓ oz | 1¾ oz | 1¼ oz | 1½ oz | 3¼ oz |
| grenadine | 1⅓ oz | 1¾ oz | 1¼ oz | 1½ oz | 3¼ oz |
| orange juice | 1⅓ oz | 1¾ oz | 1¼ oz | 1½ oz | 3¼ oz |
| pineapple juice | 1⅓ oz | 1¾ oz | 1¼ oz | 1½ oz | 3¼ oz |
| overproof rum float (optional) | ⅔ oz | 1 oz | ⅔ oz | ¾ oz | 1½ oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- This recipe includes fruit. On the Fiji, Tahiti and Bali, choose the Daiquiris (or Smoothies) program so the cycle blends longer; on the Bahamas and Key West, hold Blend Only for a few extra seconds after the automatic cycle if you see chunks. Fruit adds volume, so keep an eye on the jar’s maximum line.
- The ingredient list is written for a single 12 oz drink, which matches the 1-drink setting on Key West and Fiji dials. Multiply by 2 or 3 and set the Number of Drinks dial to match.
- This batch uses about 3.5 fl oz of liquid for 1 drink. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Banana and blackberry liqueurs supply sweetness and depth; grenadine adds color; the juices keep it light.
About coladas, tiki & rum drinks
Tropical rum drinks lean on pineapple, coconut, passion fruit and citrus. Cream of coconut is the secret to a smooth colada; it adds fat that keeps shaved ice silky. Most of these recipes include two or more juices, which makes them lower in alcohol per ounce than they taste — but the rum still adds up across a batch.
Tips for the best texture
- Bacardi 151 (in the original recipe) was discontinued in 2016 — use any overproof rum, sparingly.
- Never ignite a float on a frozen drink.
- Shake grenadine before measuring.
- Use frozen pineapple chunks as garnish.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with orange slice and cherry and serve in a hurricane glass. Tropical drinks shine with big garnishes — pineapple wedges, orange wheels, cherries on a pick and a paper umbrella. Hurricane glasses or tiki mugs hold the larger pours. For a crowd, a Tahiti lets you run a colada, a rum punch-style drink and a virgin version side by side.
Variations
- Dark & stormy runner: Use dark rum instead of light.
- No-liqueur: Replace banana liqueur with ¼ banana and blackberry with blackberry syrup. Try: 1883 Maison Routin Blackberry Syrup (paid link)
- Spiced: Use spiced rum.
Mocktail swap
Replace the spirits with 1 oz pineapple, ½ oz blackberry syrup and ¼ of a banana per drink.
Shop the ingredients
- Rose's Grenadine Syrup (paid link)
- Libbey Cool Cocktails Island Hurricane Glasses, 15 oz, set of 6 (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Rum Runner come from?
It’s widely credited to the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida Keys, in the 1970s.
Is blackberry brandy required?
Blackberry liqueur or syrup works.
Is the float necessary?
No — it’s optional and very strong.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
What we changed
Fixed broken links to this page, noted the discontinued 151 rum, added batch sizes.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
