Tomorrow (August 16) marks the annual passing of National Rum Day, a holiday with an impressive longevity in comparison to other spirit-inspired festive occasions. Here are a few cocktails we pre-tested over this past weekend and which received our stamp of approval. Bear in mind: All of these cocktails are best served without listening to Jimmy Buffett.

East India Negroni
2 parts Banks 5 Island rum
1 part Campari
1 part Lustau East India sherry
orange peel (for garnish)

Add all the ingredients but the garnish to a mixing glass, then add ice. Stir and strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube. Garnish with the orange peel.

Mount Gay Rum’s Barbadian Rum Punch
1 part sour (lime juice)
2 parts sweet (simple syrup)
3 parts strong (Mount Gay Black Barrel rum)
4 parts weak (water or unsweetened iced tea) (Note: we used iced tea)

Combine all elements and stir. Let sit in fridge for 20-30 minutes. Serve.

Rum Babalu
2 parts Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Old Rum
¾ part fresh lime juice
½ part maple syrup
1 part ginger beer
1 dash of Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients in a shaker except ginger beer, add ice and shake well until chilled. Strain over fresh ice, top with ginger beer and garnish with an orange peel.

Pineapple Mojito
(Recipe and photo by Cocina 214)
6 leaves of mint (no stems)
1 oz pineapple chunks
1.5 oz pineapple juice
1 oz simple syrup
.75 oz Malibu Pineapple Rum
.75 oz Bacardi Rum Coconut
1 oz soda water
0.5 oz diluted lime juice

Muddle mint, pineapple, diluted lime and simple syrup. Add ice. Then add Bacardi and pineapple rum. Shake well. Pour contents into a 16oz glass. Garnish with pineapple leaf.

Neo White Negroni
2 parts Facundo Neo rum
1 part Cocchi White Americano
dash of Maraschino liqueur
Lemon twist

Combine ingredients with ice. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Cruzan Hint of Spice
(Recipe by Christian Guillén)
2 parts Cruzan Aged Light Rum
1 part D&D Shrubs & Syrups Co. Spiced Pecan Orgeat
1/2 part Allspice Liqueur
3/4 part fresh lime juice
5 dashes Angostura Bitters

In a cocktail shaker, combine rum, spiced pecan orgeat, allspice liqueur, and fresh lime juice. Shake and strain into a Collins Glass over crushed ice. Top with bitters and garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel.