The summer of celebration continues at Doc Ford’s Bar & Grille as the beloved restaurant honors National Rum Day with 50% off a signature rum cocktail on Aug. 16. The drink of the day will be determined by a weeklong in-store and online poll featuring three of Doc Ford’s most popular rum cocktails. Blended to perfection and served ice-cold, each drink is perfect for summer.

The contenders are:

  • Doc’s Rum Runner, a tasty concoction of whiskey barrel-aged Mount Gay Eclipse rum, blackberry and banana liqueurs mixed with tropical fruit juices, a splash of grenadine and finished with a dark rum floater.
  • Toasted Coconut Colada, the ultimate piña colada perfected with Hard Truth toasted coconut rum and a toasted coconut rim.
  • Sanibel Sunset, a beautiful blend of color and flavor, featuring spiced and Don Q coconut rums with orange and pineapple juices, a splash of amaretto and grenadine.

Polling begins Aug. 10 and continues through Aug. 15 via QR codes in-store and online with the winning drink offered at half price Aug. 16. at Doc Ford’s four locations.

“The contest is a fun way to recognize National Rum Day and our best rum drink according to our customers” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company. “It’s going to be an interesting vote. The rum runner, colada and sunset are our three top-selling rum cocktails.”

The restaurant will also share a video recipe of the winning drink on social media.

This summer, Doc Ford’s has offered gift card and mojito glass giveaways for National Mojito Day in July and celebrated its specialty dish with YETI cooler drawings for National Yucatan Shrimp Day in May.

Award-winning Doc Ford’s, open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., is renowned for delivering a legendary guest experience.

Offering food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim, the restaurant is known for its sauces, spices, passion and signature Yucatan shrimp. Doc Ford’s is beloved by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. Established on Sanibel in 2003, the restaurant has expanded from its original location to three others: Fort Myers Beach and two in St. Petersburg, on the St. Petersburg Pier and in Jungle Terrace. A perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner, the pier restaurant was named the No. 1 Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.

Philanthropy and community outreach are engrained in HM Restaurant Group’s company philosophy. Proceeds from specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s and Dixie Fish Company raise money to support children’s hospitals and water quality issues. HM Restaurant Group also supports local nonprofits dedicated to conservation, community and the environment. The “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised nearly $1.3 million for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since 2012. The 13th annual tournament will be held May 9, 2025.