Rum and Coke is a pretty heavy drink, and filled with caffeine (unless you use the inferior caffeine-free Coke, which just doesn’t taste as good). The cola’s deep caramel sweetness and the molasses base of dark rum pull in the same direction, which is why the combination works so well but also why it can feel dense after two or three.

Rum and Sprite is the lighter, non-caffeinated version I prefer. The lemon-lime brightness of Sprite lifts the rum rather than amplifying its richness. It’s way more refreshing and more tropical, especially when you use a white rum, which I’d highly recommend.

Which rum is the best to use?

White rum will give you a clean, light profile that lets the citrus notes of Sprite come through. The combination tastes a bit more tropical, which is perfect for summer sipping.

Coconut rum, like Malibu, adds sweetness and a coconut flavor, making it a great beach drink. Just remember that this drink will taste sweeter than white rum. You can balance that sweetness with a squeeze of lime if it gets to be too much.

Dark rum makes a richer version because the molasses notes add depth underneath the Sprite’s citrus sweetness. If you want your Rum and Sprite to have a little more character, try the dark rum; just avoid a spiced rum.

Sprite vs. alternatives

Standard Sprite is the best, but a lemon-lime sparkling water like Spindrift Lemon or a Mexican Sprite with less sweetness makes a slightly drier, more citrus-forward version.

Ratio

2 oz rum to 4 oz Sprite. White rum at this ratio produces a light, easy drink. Pull back to 3 oz of Sprite and add a squeeze of lime if you want the rum flavor to show up more.

Garnish

A lime wedge squeezed in before serving is the most important addition to this drink. The citrus acidity cuts through the sweetness of the Sprite and makes the rum more distinct.

Without it, the drink can run too sweet. Grab more in my cocktail garnishes guide.

3-Ingredient Upgrade: Adding lime juice

Add half an ounce of fresh lime juice before topping with Sprite. The citrus balances the sweetness of both the soda and the rum, making the drink taste more like a proper cocktail. It may seem weird to add more lime into a lemon-lime soda, but it does work.

A citrus juicer makes the fresh lime quick and easy,

For a coconut rum version, add fresh lime and a coconut flake rim. Run a lime wedge around the glass and dip in shredded coconut before building the drink. The coconut rim adds a tropical flare that makes it more fun, and obviously, we always want our cocktails to be fun.

Mocktail Version

Make a mocktail with Sprite, fresh lime juice, and a splash of pineapple juice. The pineapple adds a tropical note that mimics some of what rum brings into the glass. My kids love it.

Glassware and ice

A highball glass with clear ice keeps the drink colder longer without diluting the Sprite. Grab a long cocktail stirrer and mix your drink without killing the carbonation (keep those bubbles fresh!).

Other rum cocktails to try:

• Orange Blossom Mojito
• Guava Spritz
• Pineapple Thyme Punch

More 2-Ingredient Rum Cocktails:

• Dark ’n Stormy
• Rum & Coke
• Rum & Soda
• Rum Guava
• Rum Iced Coffee
• Rum Lemonade
• Rum Mango
• Rum Pineapple
• Rum Sprite
• Rum Tonic
• Rum Watermelon

Rum and Sprite

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 oz white rum (or dark rum)
• 4 oz Sprite or lemon-lime soda
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add rum.
3. Top with Sprite and stir gently.
4. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and drop it in.

Lime Addition (3-Ingredient Version)

Ingredients

• 2 oz white or dark rum
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• 4 oz Sprite
• Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add rum and lime juice.
3. Top with Sprite and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.