rum runner run

Lake Tahoe’s signature cocktail, the Rum Runner, is the perfect excuse to circle the lake.

By CHARLIE JOHNSTON | July/August 2009

Few things in life compare to a warm summer day of boating with friends on Lake Tahoe. Add the lake’s signature frozen cocktail, the Rum Runner, and that day is about as close to perfect as it gets. Grab the SPF 35 and a designated driver (that’s right, drinking and driving is illegal on the water, too) and drop anchor at any or all of these four Rum Runner destinations.

The Beacon Bar & Grill

Rum Runners at the Beacon are a Tahoe tradition. Patrons come from across the lake to tie off at the restaurant’s pier and enjoy an afternoon of fun, friends, live music, and the deck’s chill atmosphere. Don’t let the fruity taste and soft orange glow fool you, this polar potion packs a punch thanks to a generous blend of liquors. Some patrons choose to slurp the dark rum float from the top before consumption, but I suggest mixing it in—the rum’s undertones of nutmeg, vanilla, and other spices complete the drink.

Round Hill Pines Beach & Marina

The vibe at Round Hill is so laid back it’s practically horizontal. Order your Rum Runner from the main bar or, my favorite, the small Tiki-hut bar on the beach. There is something about sitting at a bar with your feet in the sand that just feels right. Rum Runners here are made in smaller batches than at The Beacon, and different bartenders add their own special twists—just when you think you’ve found the perfect mix, the shift changes and you’re enjoying another delicious variation.

Sunset Bar & Grille
As stunning as the views of Lake Tahoe are from Zephyr Cove, it’s the beach view that makes this a must-stop on your Rum Runner tour. Thousands of tanned, toned beachgoers descend on the south shore’s premier party beach. If walking to the bar to obtain your cocktail seems like a hassle, don’t—towel-side service runs the rum to you. You can also enjoy your beverage while watching a game of beach volleyball. A word of advice: Try to refrain from playing after a couple rounds of drinks. Extensive research has shown that Rum Runner consumption and volleyball don’t mix.

Gar Woods Grill & Pier

Rum Runner aficionados are quick to point out that Gar Woods’ signature drink, the Wet Woody, is not technically a Rum Runner. Make it the final stop on your libation tour, and semantics will be the furthest thing from your mind. Besides, the drinks’ ingredients are very close—a braver writer might be so bold to suggest a Wet Woody is based on a Rum Runner—and the Gar Woods drink is simply delicious. Although employees are forbidden to divulge all of the ingredients, I have it on good authority that some of the Wet Woody’s unique twists include peach schnapps and specialty rums.

RUM RUNNER RECIPE

1 oz. Kilo Kai Spiced Rum (to float on top)
1 oz. light rum
1 oz. 151 rum (optional)
1 oz. banana liquor
1 oz. blackberry liquor
1 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. orange juice
Splash of grenadine
2 cups ice
Mix all ingredients except Kilo Kai Spiced Rum in blender. Pour concoction into a Highball or Hurricane glass, add Kilo Kai float, and enjoy.