Rum 101: Everything You Need to Know About Rum
Daiquiri. Pina Colada. Mojito. Just a few of the classic rum cocktails that everyone enjoys while on vacation, or just a Saturday night in the summer. But what is rum? Where did it come from and what types of rum are made today? Let’s break down this classic spirit.
What is Rum?
Rum is a liquor distilled from sugar. More specifically, from sugarcane: either pure sugarcane, syrup, or molasses. A molasses, or sugarcane, mixture is fermented and distilled and then aged in wood barrels to produce a sweet and smooth spirit.
Where does Rum Come From?
Sugarcane grows in tropical climates. Sugarcane plantations grew powerful in the Caribbean islands during the 17th century, supplying refined sugar to Europe. The slaves who worked on these plantations discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugarcane, could be fermented into an alcohol. The popularity of rum grew from the islands to New England, where it was easy to obtain and at a lower price than many other spirits of the time. The refinement of sugar for Europe and the production of rum for North America meant the Caribbean sugarcane industry was booming in the 17th and 18th centuries and was also deeply entwined with the slave trade.
Furthermore, privateers (many of whom later became pirates) had a fondness for rum, trading on the valuable commodity. The connection of rum to sailors was expanded when the British Navy adopted it as the drink of choice – something that lasted into the 20th century.
The popularity of rum continued in New England until The Molasses Act was passed in 1733. This tax, imposed by the British, placed a heavy tax on sugarcane and molasses coming from any island other than those controlled by the British. It was this tax that helped fuel the growth of American whiskey and other local drinks, not requiring such taxes.
Today, most of the rum is made in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Latin America, and North America. Rum continues to be a popular spirit, although sales world-wide are lower than other spirits, like whiskey. In most recent years however, the classification of different rums have resulted in spikes in sales of rum worldwide.
Types of Rum
There are many more classifications of rum than you may think, but the main ones are white rum, golden rum, and dark rum.
What is White Rum?
White rum is clear and is most commonly used for mixing cocktails. It is lighter than golden or dark rums and most are sold at 80 proof or 40% alcohol by volume. Most white rum is aged in either stainless steel barrels or aged in wood barrels and filtered to remove any color. Classic cocktails made with white rum include mojitos, daiquiris, Cuba libra, and piña coladas.
What is Gold Rum?
As the rum ages in the wood barrels, it takes on a gold or amber color. Gold rums typically have a stronger flavor than white rums. Gold rum is usually aged for several years, but some coloring may be added to provide consistency. Gold rum is more commonly enjoyed on the rocks or neat, but is also used in baking and cocktail recipes.
What is Dark Rum?
You may assume dark rum is darker than gold rum and thereby more flavorful, however dark rum actually refers to many different shades of rum and can range from anything from golden color to darker browns. Dark rum is often aged in oak barrels, usually those used in making bourbon, for several years. Dark rums will have a stronger flavor profile than white rums, but can vary dramatically depending on where they were made and how they were aged.
Other Types of Rum
Besides the three most common types of rum listed above, there are several others including flavored or spiced rum which infuse various spices from seeds or dried fruit into the rum to create interesting flavor profiles. Black rum is the darkest and richest of all rums, retaining much of the thick molasses and caramel flavoring of the primary ingredient in the spirit. Cachaça is the national drink of Brazil and is made from fresh sugarcane and bottled often without any aging at all. It is one of the most popular forms of rum, or cane spirit, in the world.
No matter which kind of rum you prefer, try to experiment with other types available and see what interesting and new cocktails you may discover with this sweet spirit. And check out our aged and unaged rum.
Cheers!
