Rum Runner Sangria #CaptainsTable

I'm tempted to tell you all about the 4-foot mounds of snow in my front yard. Or maybe the fact that if I sit at my computer without my slippers on, my feet don't unthaw for at least 3 hours - while under a blanket! But I know you're sick of hearing about the cold. And you  know what? So am I. So, let's think tropical!

There's not much that I wouldn't give to dig my toes into some sun-toasted sand right about now. Throw in my Jackie-O sunglasses, a good book, and a fruity cocktail and I may build a sandcastle and take up residence.  Enter the classic fruity cocktail: the Rum Runner.

The Rum Runner was developed in a Florida Tiki Bar (Holiday Isle in Islamorada) in the 1950's by a bartender looking to use up some of his inventory of rum and liqueurs in order to make room for a new delivery. So, a little bit of this, a little bit of that and ba-da-boom - the rest is history. It was named after the first rum runners who lived in the Florida Keys during the time of prohibition.

But in reality, I'm stuck in the cold Midwest, and the only beaches in the vacinity are frozen. Beautiful, but frozen. So, cozying up under a blanket in front of a football game will have to do. And who am I kidding? I (secretly) love it. But I will be mixing up a pitcher of this Rum Runner-inspired Sangria to enjoy while I'm parked in front of the t.v. And maybe, just maybe, if I close my eyes while I'm drinking it, I can conjure up the sun on my shoulders.

Rum Runner Sangria

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: beverage vegan soy-free nut-free dairy-free alcohol citrus rum wine game day July 4th

Ingredients (1 pitcher)

• 1 (750 ml) bottle fruity white wine (I like Piesporter Michelsberg)
• 1/4 cup Captain Morgan White Rum
• 1/4 cup Captain Morgan Spiced Black Rum
• 1 ounce Banana Liqueur
• 1 ounce Blackberry Liqueur
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• splash of Grenadine
• 1-2 oranges, sliced
• 1/2 of a small pineapple, sliced or cubed
• pint of blackberries

Instructions

Combine all of the liquid ingredients in a pitcher and stir. Add the fruit to the pitcher and chill.

Serve over ice.

This post is being entered into the Captains Table Challenge, sponsored by Captain Morgan brand.  15 bloggers, including myself, will be creating food and drink recipes that feature Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum and/or Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum from now through February.  Each recipe entry that we submit will be judged by Chef Hugh Acheson, and we will have the chance to win some cool prizes.

But even cooler is that throughout the challenge, any time ANYBODY shares the #CaptainsTable hashtag on social media, Captain Morgan will donate $1 to the charity WhyHunger.  You can also drop by and visit Captain Morgan brand via their social channels, and share recipes and posts that you enjoy using the #CaptainsTable hashtag, in turn, raising more money for WhyHunger!  Find Captain Morgan here: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Please join us in raising spirits this holiday season!  To see all of my entries into this challenge, please visit my announcement post HERE often, as this is where I will post updates as they become available.

This post is sponsored by Captain Morgan brand.  I was not compensated, but I did receive product and ingredient reimbursement.  All opinions are my own.