Head to head

Final Ward vs. Rum Runner

Final Ward and Rum Runner side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

They have no ingredient in common: the Final Ward has rye whiskey, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino liqueur and lemon juice, the Rum Runner lime juice, blackberry brandy, banana liqueur, grenadine and 151-proof rum. In parts, a Final Ward is 1 whiskey, 1 Chartreuse, 1 Maraschino and 1 lemon; a Rum Runner is 1¾ lime, 1 blackberry brandy, 1 banana liqueur, ¾ grenadine and ¾ rum. By volume, the Final Ward is 50% liqueur, 25% spirit and 25% citrus; the Rum Runner is 38% liqueur, 32% citrus, 16% spirit and 14% syrup and sugar. Different bottles, similar balance: that makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Final Ward is the stronger drink in the glass (18.9% ABV against 14.7%), but the Rum Runner is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.84 standard drinks against 1.67). The Rum Runner has more calories (about 321 against 214) and more sugar (27.8 g against 11.8 g). The Final Ward is shaken and served in a coupe; the Rum Runner is blended and served in a hurricane glass.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurFinal WardRum Runner

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.