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Boston's Best Bars With Great Rum Selections

You may not realize it, but rum plays a large part in Boston's history. The first distillery in the area was established in 1667, a time when the spirit was a thriving industry in Colonial New England. To this day, some of the best bars in town pay homage to rum with large selections, signature cocktails and even in-house blends.

rumba
Photo Credit: Rumba

RumBa
510 Atlantic Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 217-5148
www.intercontinentalboston.com

Hours: Mon to Sun 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Located in the InterContinental Hotel, RumBa is a rum and champagne bar featuring Latin and Caribbean music in a chic atmosphere. Boasting a collection of distilled and vintage rums, the bar offers some of the best cocktails in town. The menu includes classics like mojitos with 10 Cane Rum, fresh mint and lime for $13, Appleton Reserve Mai Tais for $14, or the Caribbean Swizzle with Gosling's Black Seal Rum, juices, bitters and ginger beer for $12. Another popular RumBa drink is its Platinum Punch with Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum, passion fruit nectar, Falernum and lime juice for $11.

Scholars American Bistro & Cocktail Lounge
Photo Credit: Scholars American Bistro & Cocktail Lounge

Scholars American Bistro & Cocktail Lounge
25 School St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 248-0025
www.scholarsboston.com

Hours: Mon to Sun 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Scholars, located in the heart of Downtown Crossing, carries a wide variety of beers and an even better selection of rums. Options include Depaz, Rhum J.M, Ron Zacapa, Pyrat, Rhum Barbancourt, Brugal, Sailor Jerry and Triple-8 Hurricane. The lounge even infuses its own spiced rum in-house and offers a number of specialty rum cocktails like the Painkiller for $10, featuring a house seven-spiced rum, coconut cream, juices, toasted coconut and nutmeg. At $10 a glass or $40 per pitcher, try the GM's own recipe for Kati's Weissen-gria with Captain Morgan, peach liqueur, triple sec, lemon juice, fresh fruit and Allagash White.

eastern standard kitchen
Photo Credit: Eastern Standard Kitchen

Eastern Standard Kitchen
528 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 532-9100
www.easternstandardboston.com

Hours: Mon to Sun 7 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Kenmore Square's Eastern Standard is loved by locals for its cuisine, which appeals to the most sophisticated palates with dishes like foie gras and bone marrow. But it's the cocktails that really appeal to the masses. Rum makes an appearance in many of the signature cocktails, including Don's Zombie Circa 1934 for $16, which is so potent that guests are only recommended two. The cocktail is a mixture of five rums, lime, cinnamon, Falernum and absinthe, creating an unforgettable combination. When it's cold outside, consider a house-spiced cider with rum or the hot buttered rum with Old Monk Rum, house butter batter and nutmeg for $10.

Related: Boston's Best Top Shelf Bars

Woodward
Photo Credit: Woodward

Woodward
1 Court St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 979-8200
www.woodwardatames.com

Hours: Dinner Daily 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., Bar Sun to Wed 5 p.m. - 12 a.m., Thurs to Sat 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Located within the Ames Hotel, Woodward serves an upscale crowd with cocktails and seasonal specialties, all in an intimate setting. Lounge by the fireplace with business associates, friends or loved ones over drinks such as the One Court, featuring Ron Zacapa 23-year-old rum, honey syrup and fresh lime for $12. Over the holidays, Woodward has been known to serve up egg nog with Sailor Jerry Rum, Tuaca, whole eggs, cream, ground cinnamon and nutmeg.

Storyville Boston
Photo Credit: Storyville

Storyville
90 Exeter St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 236-1134
www.StoryvilleBoston.com

Hours: Wed to Sat 5 p.m. - 2 a.m., Sun 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Newcomer to the Boston nightlife scene, Storyville offers the perfect place for dinner, drinks and dancing. Featuring an extensive cocktail program highlighting both classics and modern creations, it offers many rum drinks worth sampling. For $12, you can enjoy Storyville's version of a Mai Tai, styled after Trader Vic's recipe of rum, almond, orange and lime. If you're going for something a bit stronger, the Test Pilot includes house-blended rums, citrus and absinthe. Likewise, the PKNY is Storyville's take on a Painkiller, using an original rum blend from a favorite NYC bar, plus pineapple, coconut and orange.

Related: Bully Boy: Boston's Only Craft Distillery

Michelle is a creative energetic, young professional that is passionate about everything Boston has to offer. She loves to attend local events, dine out, and cook and wants to share her findings with you. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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