Sweet tea is a beloved staple beverage of the American South. This refreshing, sugary iced tea can be enjoyed on its own, but many also like to spike their sweet tea with alcohol. A popular choice is rum, and Captain Morgan in particular. But does the spiced flavor profile of Captain Morgan really pair well with sweet tea? Let’s explore this question in depth.
The Origins and Flavor of Captain Morgan Rum
Captain Morgan is one of the best-known rum brands worldwide. It originated in Jamaica in the 17th century, when the real-life privateer Sir Henry Morgan sailed the Caribbean and amassed significant riches. In 1944, the Seagram Company began selling a spiced rum under the Captain Morgan name. Spiced rums like Captain Morgan contain a sweet, vanilla-forward flavor along with notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and other baking spices.
Here are some of the key flavor notes in today’s Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum:
- Sweet brown sugar
- Vanilla
- Dried fruit
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Molasses
- Oak
This warm, rich, and sweet flavor profile makes Captain Morgan a natural fit for cocktails. It provides a bolder and more complex flavor than standard white and gold rums. The 35% ABV also gives Captain Morgan a nice balance of sweetness and alcoholic impact.
The Sweet Tea Tradition
Sweet tea has been a staple of Southern cuisine for centuries. Southerners have long chilled their tea with ice and sweetened it with cane sugar or simple syrup. In the heat of the Southern summer, a glass of sweet tea provides refreshing hydration. Sweet tea is so tied to Southern identity that it’s often called the “house wine of the South.”
While recipes vary, sweet tea is generally made by brewing a strong batch of black tea, then mixing in sugar while the tea is hot. This enables maximum sugar dissolution. The tea is then chilled for serving over ice. Here are some common sweet tea ingredients and brewing tips:
- Black tea – Usually orange pekoe or Ceylon tea bags
- White sugar – 1 to 1.5 cups per 1 quart of brewed tea
- Steep the tea bags in hot water for 5-7 minutes
- Add sugar while tea is hot to dissolve
- Chill the tea rapidly for best flavor
- Serve over ice
- Garnish with a lemon wedge
When properly brewed, sweet tea showcases the bold flavors of black tea balanced out by the sweetness of sugar. It provides satisfying refreshment on a hot Southern day.
Pairing Captain Morgan Rum and Sweet Tea
At first glance, spiced rum and sweet tea may seem like an unusual combination. But upon closer inspection, Captain Morgan and sweet tea can complement each other quite nicely.
First, both drinks provide sweetness as a primary flavor. The vanilla and molasses notes in Captain Morgan pair nicely with the sweet tea’s sugar profile. The oak aging of the rum also gives it some tannic hints of black tea.
Secondly, the spice flavors in the rum like cinnamon, allspice, and clove complement the earthy, malty notes in black tea. The spices add another layer of interest.
Here is a summary of the key reasons the Captain Morgan and sweet tea flavor profiles work well together:
- Both have a sweet, sugary taste
- The rum’s vanilla complements the tea’s richness
- Spices in the rum match tea’s earthiness
- Oak aging gives the rum tannic hints of tea
Making a Captain Morgan Sweet Tea Cocktail
To make the perfect Captain Morgan sweet tea cocktail, follow these simple steps:
- Brew a batch of sweet tea either from scratch or using a quality ready-made tea.
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour the sweet tea over ice, filling the glass halfway.
- Add 1-2 ounces of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum.
- Garnish with a lemon wedge.
- Enjoy sipping through a straw!
For a larger Southern-style pitcher cocktail, simply mix together 1 quart of sweet tea with 6-8 ounces of Captain Morgan rum. Serve in glasses filled with ice.
The ideal ratio is approximately 3-4 parts sweet tea to 1 part Captain Morgan. Adjust to taste based on your sweetness and alcohol preferences.
Cocktail Recipes with Captain Morgan Rum and Sweet Tea
While a simple Captain Morgan and sweet tea mixture is delicious, there are also many innovative cocktail recipes that use both as ingredients. Here are some popular rum and tea cocktails to try:
Southern Sweet Tea
- 2 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
- 4 oz fresh sweet tea
- Squeeze of 1/2 lemon
- Garnish: Lemon wheel
Mix rum, sweet tea, and lemon juice over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Long Island Southern Iced Tea
- 1/2 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
- 1/2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz silver tequila
- 1/2 oz gin
- 1/2 oz triple sec
- 1 oz fresh sour mix
- 2 oz fresh sweet tea
- Splash of cola
- Garnish: Lemon wedge
Shake rum, vodka, tequila, gin, triple sec, and sour mix with ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with sweet tea and a splash of cola. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Rum Arnold Palmer
- 2 oz Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
- 3 oz fresh sweet tea
- 3 oz lemonade
- Garnish: Lemon wheel and mint
Stir together rum, sweet tea, and lemonade in an ice-filled glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and mint.
Spiked Sweet Tea Lemonade
- 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Lemon Lime Rum
- 4 oz fresh sweet tea
- 1 oz lemonade
- Garnish: Lemon wedge
Mix together rum, sweet tea, and lemonade over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Low-Sugar Variations
For a lower sugar option, try mixing Captain Morgan with unsweetened iced tea and adding your own sweetener. Good low-calorie sweetener options include:
- Splenda
- Stevia
- Monk fruit
- Erythritol
You can also swap out some or all of the sweet tea in cocktail recipes for unsweetened tea. This lets you better control the sweetness level.
The Best Captain Morgan Varieties for Sweet Tea Cocktails
While the classic Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum works well in sweet tea cocktails, there are also some other excellent Captain Morgan flavor varieties that pair nicely with sweet tea:
| Rum Variety | Notes | Cocktail Pairings |
|---|---|---|
| Original Spiced | Balanced vanilla, spice, oak | Classic sweet tea cocktail |
| Coconut | Toasted coconut, smooth | Piña colada-style |
| Lime Bite | Zesty, tart lime | Goes great with lemonade |
| Black Spiced | Bolder vanilla, spice | More robust sweet tea |
| Silver | Mild, smooth body | Enhances tea’s flavors |
| 100 Proof | Higher ABV, oak ageing | For an alcoholic kick |
Feel free to experiment with other Captain Morgan flavors as well. The key is choosing varieties that complement rather than overwhelm the sweet tea.
Potential Concerns with Mixing Rum and Sweet Tea
While Captain Morgan rum and sweet tea work nicely together flavor-wise, there are a few potential concerns to keep in mind:
- Very high sugar content – Both sweet tea and rum are high in sugars, so moderation is key.
- Can mask the taste of alcohol – Sweet tea’s flavor may hide the rum’s alcoholic strength.
- Dehydration – The combination is diuretic due to alcohol content.
- Not for children – Do not serve rum cocktails to underage drinkers.
As long as you drink responsibly and account for the higher sugar content, combining Captain Morgan and sweet tea can be safe for adults to enjoy.
Non-Alcoholic Sweet Tea Cocktail Ideas
For fun non-alcoholic variations on sweet tea cocktails, try mixing sweet tea with the following:
- Fruit juice – orange, pineapple, cranberry
- Soda water or ginger ale
- Club soda with a splash of lime
- Lemonade or limeade
- Muddled mint and berries
- Sweet tea ice pops
Sweet tea’s versatility allows for endless refreshing mocktail possibilities for teetotalers and children to enjoy.
Conclusion
While Captain Morgan rum and sweet tea may seem an unlikely pairing at first, the sweet, spicy rum complements and enhances the classic Southern iced tea. The vanilla and spice notes in the rum match up nicely with sweet tea’s malty black tea flavors. Just be mindful of the higher sugar content when mixing these two sweet beverages.
Not only can you create simple rum-infused sweet teas, but also more innovative cocktails that blend rum with tea, lemonade, cola, and other mixers. So next time you’re sipping sweet tea on a Southern porch, consider spiking it with a shot of Captain Morgan rum for a delicious new twist.