The Queens Park Swizzle is a refreshing rum cocktail with bold flavor and a gorgeous layered look. It’s stirred (not shaken) with a bar spoon *, which gives this tropical drink its signature swizzle style.
DISCLAIMER
*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
About this Queens Park Swizzle recipe
This cocktail comes from the Queens Park Hotel in Trinidad and is sometimes called “the Trinidadian mojito.” But unlike a classic mojito, it’s made with rich Demerara rum and layered with aromatic bitters, making it both eye-catching and incredibly delicious.
It’s crisp, minty, and just the right amount of boozy. I think it’s the perfect drink to cool off with on a warm evening! (It might just replace my go-to mojito this summer…)
More rum recipes: Hurricane • Hemingway Daiquiri • Rum Old-Fashioned
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s stunning. With its frosty glass and beautiful bitters float, this drink always turns heads!
- It’s refreshing but not too sweet. Mint and lime keep it light, while the rum and syrup add depth.
- It’s unique. Most people haven’t had one before! It’s a fun way to introduce friends to a new classic.
Tools & glassware
You’ll only need a few tools to make a Queens Park Swizzle, including a bar spoon * for stirring, a sturdy highball glass *, and a lewis bag with a mallet for crushing ice. If you don’t have a lewis bag, you can also crush ice in a clean kitchen towel using a rolling pin or heavy skillet.
You’ll also want a jigger * or small measuring cup for the lime juice and syrup, and a muddler * or the back of a spoon to gently press the mint leaves.
If you’re making your own Demerara syrup, you’ll need a small saucepan and a heatproof jar or container with a lid to store it in the fridge once cooled.
Ingredients
Before you start, grab these ingredients for the Queens Park Swizzle. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Mint leaves: Fresh mint adds a cooling, herbal note.
- Lime juice: Bright and citrusy, it balances the deeper flavors of the rum. Fresh lime juice is best, but you can use bottled if needed.
- Demerara syrup: Demerara syrup is a rich simple syrup made from Demerara sugar and water.
- Demerara rum: The star of the show, this rum brings depth and warmth to the drink.
- Crushed ice: Key to the swizzle style and frosty glass!
- Angostura bitters *: A few dashes Angostura bitters * floated on top add aroma and beautiful color.
- Mint sprig: Add a sprig of mint for a colorful and fragrant garnish.
Best rum for a Queens Park Swizzle
This cocktail is traditionally made with Demerara rum, much like the popular Zombie cocktail. I used El Dorado 8 Year, which is a great option with deep caramel and spice notes.
If you don’t have that on hand, you can use another aged or dark rum with similar richness and body.
Just avoid white rum! You want that bold molasses flavor from an aged, dark rum here.
Don’t miss Rum 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.
Instructions
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine Demerara sugar and water. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Do not let boil. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
In a highball glass *, add mint leaves and lime juice. Use a bar spoon or muddler * to firmly press the mint, releasing its oils without tearing the leaves. Stir.
Add Demerara syrup and rum.
Top with crushed ice, overfilling the glass. (The ice will settle). Immerse the bar spoon all the way into the glass and slowly stir to spin the ice — this is the swizzle. Stir until the outside of the glass gets frosty.
Top with more crushed ice, overfilling the glass slightly. Add several dashes of bitters over top. Garnish with a straw and a mint sprig.
Tips & tricks
- Use fresh mint. Older leaves can be bitter or lack the punch of fresh herbs.
- Swizzle until frosty. That’s how you know it’s perfectly chilled.
- Make a batch of syrup. It keeps for up to a month in the fridge and can be used in all kinds of cocktails.
Food pairings
Pair this bold drink with light, flavorful appetizers like:
- Chicken: Snack on some air fryer chicken wings while enjoying this bright, refreshing cocktail!
- Seafood: Popcorn shrimp is a delicious appetizer to serve alongside your beverage.
- Salad: I love pairing mint with more mint. This easy mint mozzarella melon salad is a great way to emphasize the fresh flavors of the drink.
FAQ
A mojito uses white rum and soda water, while a swizzle skips the soda and uses richer rum, swizzled with crushed ice and topped with bitters.
Not really. This one is best fresh, since the crushed ice and mint don’t hold up well. But you can prep the syrup and juice the limes ahead of time!
A long bar spoon works just as well. Traditional swizzles use a bois lélé (a wooden swizzle stick), but it’s not required.
More rum recipes
Leave a comment or tap the ★★★★★ below to leave a rating — it helps others and supports our work. We love hearing how it turned out!
Queens Park Swizzle
ingredients
Demerara Syrup
- ½ cup demerara sugar
- ½ cup water
Queens Park Swizzle
- 8-10 mint leaves plus a sprig for garnish
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ¾ ounces demerara syrup
- 2 ounces demerara rum
- 1 cup crushed ice
- 4 dash Angostura bitters or more if you prefer
instructions
Demerara Syrup
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine demerara sugar and water. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Do not let boil. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Store in a mason jar for up to one month.
Queen’s Park Swizzle
- In a highball glass, add mint leaves and lime juice. Use a bar spoon or muddler to firmly press the mint, releasing its oils without tearing the leaves. Stir.
- Add demerara syrup and rum. Top with crushed ice, overfilling the glass. (The ice will settle).
- Immerse the bar spoon all the way into the glass and slowly stir to spin the ice — this is the swizzle. Stir until the outside of the glass gets frosty.
- Top with more crushed ice, overfilling the glass slightly. Add several dashes of bitters over top. Garnish with a straw and a mint sprig.
notes
recommended products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Reply