Last Updated on April 1, 2025
Rum for the Sun:
There’s nothing like a Hurricane, Daiquiri or a Mojito on a hot summer’s day. Thankfully, cashing in some much-needed jollity, London has been blessed with sunlight over the last week and a half, so it is only fitting to write about the common ingredient in all these cocktails – rum. I know what you’re thinking, the classic image of a swaying salty sea dog clutching half a bottle of fermented molasses springs to mind. But today we are looking at something undoubtedly more unique, Filipino Rum, more specifically, Don Papa 7 – perfect for making a rum negroni.
Filipino rum, although it may be unfamiliar, has a long history. Despite not reaching the international market until recently, Don Papa has built on the heritage of Filipino rum to distribute to over thirty countries worldwide. Don Papa is made exclusively on the Island of Negros, known locally as Sugarlandia, with the cane being harvested from the base of the strata-volcano Mount Kanlaon. Even the branding is steeped in Filipino history with their name Don Papa coming directly from Papa Isio, a leading figure in the 19th-century Philippine revolution. Papa Isio was a foreman at the sugar plantation on the island of Negros and played a significant role in liberating the island from Spanish colonial rule.
A rum with a history like that needs a flavour to match, and you can trust me that Don Papa delivers on that score. Filipino rum tends to be sweeter than your average light, dark or spiced, due to differences in the production process. Don Papa 7 is distilled in small batches and aged in American oak barrels (just like bourbon) before being bottled, magic intact, to worldwide markets. This unique spirit has a liqueur-like finish, and can behave like bourbon in a cocktail, due to its natural sweetness. Neat, the vanilla flavour shines through, developing into caramel and later finishing on a smooth oak aroma.
Don Papa have a wide variety of products that cater to a range of audiences. For a richer flavour, the Don Papa 10yr offers rum connoisseurs a mightier Filipino rum. For the whisky lovers out there, the Don Papa Cask Aged Rye is a must-try. Spicy and sweet, this was gorgeous just over ice, and I can only imagine how it would taste in a Manhattan. Don Papa even have a cask-aged sherry on the go, and although I haven’t tried it, the fruity and nutty tasting palette sounds like it’d go down far too well at Christmas, alongside a mince pie.
So, I hear you cry, where can I find this delicious rum in London? Well, Don Papa 7 can be found in Sainsbury’s for just £32 for a 70cl bottle. Bottles of their other rums can be found through the Don Papa website where they have a nifty tool that finds the closest distributor to you. For those of us wanting to experience the Philippines to the full extent, I’d recommend that you go a step further, hop on the tube to Mayfair and visit the Sarap Bistro.
Not only do Sarap do wonderful Don Papa cocktails, including a Don Papa Old Fashioned and a Don Papa Daiquiri, they also do exceptional Filipino cuisine. Sarap aims to present authentic flavours from the Philippines in new ways, taking pride in Filipino heritage, but also their ingenuity. This place is atmospheric for a date night, but I would highly recommend going with six people or more and pre-ordering the suckling pig. The meat is cut up effortlessly and precisely by chef Ferdinand Budgie Montoya and served immediately from the chopping board to your plate. The meat is exceptionally tender, correctly crisp on the outside and is stuffed with a lightly truffled adobo pork rice and lemongrass. The Sarap starters were equally as delicious, however, and I wouldn’t hesitate to come back with a willing friend and gorge on the Trout Kinilaw and Bistek Tartare.
For those of us who prefer to make our cocktails at home, or simply don’t live in London, below are a couple of cocktail recipes for the Don Papa 7, the second being my own serve, both are perfect for the springtime. Further cocktail recipes can be found for the myriad of Don Papa products on their website. Chin-chin folks. Let’s celebrate the sun.
The Papa Rum Negroni
A softer, sweeter twist on this classic, The Papa Rum Negroni is perfect for impressing a date with a pre-dinner cocktail. Using Aperol instead of Campari allows the Don Papa 7 to really shine through. If you like your Negronis dry, however, maybe stay with the classic Campari, or exchange the Sweet Vermouth for a Dry Vermouth. The grapefruit really tops this drink off, adding a sharp acidity to the first sip.
- 45 ml Don Papa 7
- 22.5 ml Sweet Vermouth
- 30 ml Aperol
- Sprig of Rosemary
- Grapefruit Wedge
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In a mixing glass combine the Don Papa 7, with the Sweet Vermouth and Aperol.
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Add ice and stir for about 15 seconds, until frosty and diluted.
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Add Ice to your drinking glass. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into your drinking glass.
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Garnish with a rosemary sprig and grapefruit wedge. Enjoy!
Looking for something different? try this simple serve.
Papa’s Italian Greyhound:
Sharp as a whip, but ready with love and affection, this cocktail is the perfect way to usher in spring. This is a drink celebrating sunlit walks in the park, playing fetch and long daytime naps. No fancy equipment is needed here, just some ice, a sieve, and a spoon.
Ingredients:
10g of sugar
5 rosemary leaves
50ml of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
30ml of Don Papa 7
20ml of Aperol
Ice
Rosemary sprig to garnish
Method:
- Pour the 10 grams of sugar onto a saucer and add a few finely chopped rosemary leaves. Mix to combine.
- Prep your drinking glass by coating the rim in grapefruit juice, and then dipping it in the rosemary and sugar.
- In a mixing glass, combine together the grapefruit juice, the Don Papa 7, and Aperol.
- Add ice and stir until frosty (usually about ten seconds), and diluted to your liking.
- Add ice to your drinking glass. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the drinking glass.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and enjoy!
Don Papa Rum:
Don Papa Website: https://www.donpaparum.com/
You can buy Don Papa 7 Sainsbury’s: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/rum/don-papa-rum-70cl
Sarap Bistro:
10 Heddon St,
London,
W1B 4BX
Looking for something more suited to winter weather? try our recipe for Mulled Rum with Don Papa
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