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RumChata is a popular rum-based cream liqueur with a strong cinnamon finish! Here’s more about it and the best RumChata drinks to try.
You may have seen it’s signature gold cap and glossy white bottle, emblazoned with the words “Horchata Con Ron.” Yes, it’s RumChata! This rum-based cream liqueur has blown up, mainly because of a clever marketing scheme including it in a drink called the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot.
Is it worth all the hype, and what else can you make with a bottle? Here are all the best RumChata drinks and a bit more about this liqueur!
What is RumChata?
RumChata is a cream liqueur with Caribbean rum, cream, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Released in 2009, it’s similar to Baileys Irish Cream, but Baileys is made in Ireland with Irish whiskey. RumChata was inspired by the Mexican and Spanish drink horchata, a creamy drink made with soaked rice or almonds and cinnamon that resembles milk.
Despite its name and the Spanish on its bottle, RumChata has no roots in Hispanic culture. It’s made in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and was invented by a guy named Tom Maas, who spent his career developing alcohol brands. (Cultural appropriation? Maybe.)
Maas originally tried marketing RumChata to Mexican restaurants, but they weren’t interested. It wasn’t until people started likening the flavor to Cinnamon Toast Crunch that it caught on. Maas encouraged bartenders to give away single servings of the cereal with a shot, and later the liqueur was combined with Fireball to create the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot.
Popular RumChata drinks
RumChata is often drunk as a shot, but it works in mixed drinks, too. Here are some of the most popular RumChata drinks! If you’re not a lover of sweet cocktails and dessert drinks, you might want to skip these in favor of something more balanced and boozy.
The most popular RumChata drink? Try the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot! Yes, you heard that right. The sugary cereal is recreated as a cocktail using RumChata and Fireball whisky. What does it taste like? Well, about what you’d expect. Creamy, impossibly sweet, and full of spicy cinnamon flavor.
Ingredients: RumChata, Fireball whisky
One of the best uses for a bottle RumChata? RumChata Coffee! The cinnamon and vanilla notes blend perfectly into a cup of joe, with a dark Caribbean rum hint on the finish. This boozy coffee delivers! Use it anytime you’d make an Irish Coffee: it’s ideal as an afternoon pick-me-up or tasty dessert drink.
Ingredients: RumChata, coffee
Another great RumChata drink? If you’re a lover of sweet and creamy drinks, try the Rumchata White Russian! This spin on the classic drink is an ideal use for the cinnamon and cream liqueur, pairing it with coffee liqueur and vodka. It’s intensely sweet, so plan on nursing this slow sipper all evening.
Ingredients: Vodka, Kahlua, RumChata
Looking for a cocktail to please a chocoholic? Try the RumChata chocolate martini recipe! This drink is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass. It stars RumChata and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite cinnamon-spiced chocolate bar.
Ingredients: RumChata, Creme de Cacao, vodka
The RumChata Mudslide is creamy, spiced and delicious! Shake up this tasty liqueur with Kahlua coffee liqueur and serve it up in a cocktail glass with a chocolate syrup rim. It's delightful! Head to the linked recipe and substitute equal parts RumChata for the Irish cream.
Ingredients: Vodka, Kahlua, RumChata, heavy cream
Here’s the caffeinated coffee cocktail for you: the Espresso Martini! Each sip is a burst of flavor, pairing bitter coffee with sweet vanilla, creamy chocolate and the cinnamon finish of RumChata. It’s the ideal RumChata drink for coffee addicts.
Ingredients: Coffee, Kahlua, RumChata, vodka
Is RumChata really horchata with rum?
No. The RumChata bottle proudly states “Horchata con Ron” (“Horchata with Rum” in Spanish), but it does not in fact contain horchata. Horchata is a Mexican and Spanish drink made with soaked rice or almonds: it’s creamy without using dairy products. But RumChata is made with dairy cream.
How can RumChata claim to contain horchata when it really doesn’t? We’re not sure. (Can we complain somewhere?)
What does RumChata taste like?
RumChata is very sweet, with a creamy body. It has vanilla, cinnamon, and dark rum notes on the finish. It tastes similar to Baileys Irish Cream, but distinguished by the cinnamon notes. In fact, it’s often compared to the milk left in the bowl after eating the cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
How much alcohol is in RumChata? It is 13.75% ABV (alcohol by volume), which is similar to other cream liqueurs.
Are there any substitutes? Ricura Horchata Cream Liqueur appears to be a product with a closer flavor to Horchata.
Is it worth buying?
RumChata is very sweet, much like a cinnamon spin on Baileys with a little more complexity on the finish. We got it out of curiosity to make a Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot (also very sweet). It’s at its best when balanced with bitter flavors, like in RumChata Coffee.
Compared to other liquors, RumChata is moderately expensive. A 750 ml bottle costs about $20. If you love sweet drinks, you’ll love RumChata. If you prefer more balanced drinks like we do, skip buying this bottle.
Top Rumchata Drinks!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
RumChata is a popular rum-based cream liqueur with a strong cinnamon finish! Here are our top RumChata drinks to try.
Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot
- 1 ounce Fireball whisky
- 1 ounce RumChata
- For the rim: 4 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the RumChata Coffee
- 6 ounces (¾ cup) hot coffee
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) RumChata
- Sweetened whipped cream, whipped to soft peaks
For the RumChata White Russian:
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce Kahlua (or other coffee liqueur)
- 1 ounce RumChata (or reduce for a less sweet drink; see Notes)
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
Instructions
- For the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot: Place the cinnamon and sugar on a plate. Run your finger around the edge of a shot glass (or a small glass if serving as a cocktail). Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of cinnamon and sugar. Stir the Fireball and RumChata together the glass. If desired, you can serve over ice as a cocktail.
- For the RumChata Coffee: Make the coffee, using your favorite method (Pourover, French Press, Aeropress, or Moka Pot). Make the homemade whipped cream, making sure to whip to soft peaks. Add the coffee to a glass or Irish coffee mug, then stir in the RumChata. Gently float the whipped cream on top using the back of a spoon.
- For the RumChata White Russian: Add the vodka and Kahlua to a low ball glass. Fill it with ice. Top with the Rumchata. Stir until cold (or stir just a bit to get the swirl effect).
Notes
To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
This level of RumChata makes a pretty sweet drink. If you’re worried about sweetness level, cut down the RumChata (the Kahlua is already reduced vs a classic White Russian).
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
More cocktail guides
Need more liquor guides? We’ve got them! Here’s all you need to know about home bartending:
- Aperol Guide and Campari Guide All you need to know about these Italian liqueurs.
- Baileys Guide All the ins and outs of Irish Cream.
- Chartreuse Guide This pale green liqueur is worth adding to your collection…here’s why.
- Cointreau Guide, Blue Curacao Guide, or Orange Liqueur Guide Citrus liqueurs…broken down.
- Galliano Guide Is this bright yellow liqueur worth buying?
- Grenadine Guide It’s mistaken as cherry, but this bright syrup has a secret.
- Fernet Branca Guide Here’s why people love this Italian bitter.
- Kahlua Guide Learn about this popular Mexican coffee liqueur
- Peppermint Schnapps Try this tasty minty liqueur
- Pernod More about this anise-flavored liqueur
1 oz Rum Chata with 1 can Orange Fanta. You’re welcome.
I thought this site was going to contain recipes you only touched on a couple of drinks very disappointed
Add 3 ounces of RumChata to a cold glass. Then add 5-6 ounces or Coke or Pepsi. Do not stir. You will have a nice head and the taste is amazinbg
In the recipe for the white Russian, you have placed asterisk or 2 (*) beside the ounce for vodka and RumChata but you don’t have any other mention about that anywhere in the article. WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?
Great question! We’ve updated the recipe to correct this. These were meant to refer to notes at the bottom of the recipe. One note was around ounce conversion (1 oz = 2 Tbsp), the other was around the RumChata level: “This level of RumChata makes a pretty sweet drink. If you’re worried about sweetness level, cut down the RumChata (the Kahlua is already reduced vs a classic White Russian).” This is now corrected. Thank you so much!
Exactly what kind of cream is used in rumchita is it milk is it almond milk is it heavy cream please explain in detail
Hi! The use dairy cream (like heavy cream) in the manufacturing process.
Let us know if you have any questions!