Simpson, married to his childhood sweetheart for almost 19 years, had walked out on his wife and kids and into the arms of a younger woman. The breakup surprised his wife, his friends and even Simpson himself. Looking back, he says, it was a classic midlife crisis.
In that we have already provided the definitive answer to this question elsewhere (relying on rum extract), we assume your follow-up is seeking a non-alcoholic substitute for rum (as extracts can be as alcoholic as or more alcoholic than the spirits they replace).
Most of what we know as coconut rum is actually coconut liqueurâin addition to rum and coconut (or coconut-like flavoring), it also contains sugar. A lot of sugar. Because of this, using coconut rum as a substitute for rum would be like using simple syrup as a substitute for water. These sweet coconut rums are 42 proofâfor comparison, a typical rum would be 80 proof, and most flavored rums are around 70 proof. Malibu is the most ubiquitous brand, and it's easy to find at most liquor stores for about $14.