A Complete Guide to 8 Types of Rum

Rum is a type of spirit that is made from sugar. Distillers make rum with a wide array of fermentation, distillation, blending, and aging techniques, but all rum has two things in common. First, it must be distilled from a sugar base: This can be fermented sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, molasses, or any liquid derivation of sugarcane. Second, bottled rum must be at least 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).

Rum is made from sugarcane extract that is fermented, distilled, and then aged.

1. 1. Sugarcane: Sugarcane grows regularly in the West Indies and in countries like Haiti, Bermuda, Curacao, Venezuela, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Guyana, Martinique, Jamaica, Barbados, and Cuba. Within the United States, sugarcane grows in Hawaii and parts of Florida, but it is most readily associated with Puerto Rico.
2. 2. Fermentation: Like all alcoholic beverages, rum is fermented with yeast—traditionally in open vats. Different strains of yeast ferment sugarcane juice or molasses faster than others, and they produce different amounts of esters and congeners, which affect flavor.
3. 3. Distillation: The fermented solution is then heated inside a still (either a pot still or a column still) to distill the alcohol, which is then is transferred to casks for aging.
4. 4. Aging: Aged rum sits in anything from new charred-oak casks to previously-used whiskey barrels, cognac barrels, or sherry casks.

Rum comes in a far greater range of styles than most other spirits.

1. 1. Light rum: Also known as white rum or silver rum, this style is aged in oak barrels and then filtered to remove color. Light rum is extremely popular as a mixer in Piña Coladas, Daiquiris, and other boat drinks.
2. 2. Gold rum: Gold rum has a caramel color and a more pronounced flavor that silver or white rum. It is a medium-bodied rum, and you’re likely to find it blended into Mojitos or served straight up.
3. 3. Dark rum: Some dark rums are aged for many years and develop an intense flavor. Other dark rums are made via the same process as light rums, only they are not filtered. Dark rum is perfect for drinks like the tiki bar standby Mai Tai.
4. 4. Black rum: The term “black rum” is sometimes used interchangeably with “dark rum.” Typically, though, black rum includes added molasses that darkens its color and sweetens the finished product. Black rum is the key ingredient in a Dark ‘N’ Stormy.
5. 5. Spiced rum: Spiced rum is flavored with spices like cinnamon, cloves, pepper, aniseed, and cardamom.
6. 6. Rhum agricole: Rhum agricole is one type of rum that has strict rules about its manufacture. It must be made from pure, fresh cane juice and distilled to 70 percent alcohol by volume. Rhum agricole production exists on numerous current and former French colonies, including Martinique, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Maritius, Marie-Galante, and St. Barths.
7. 7. Cachaça: Made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, cachaça must be produced in Brazil and typically has a lower proof than rhum agricole. Though much cachaça is produced on an industrial scale, there are many artisanal producers who age their cachaça in indigenous woods.
8. 8. Overproof rum: Overproof rums have exceptionally high alcohol content. There are two types: Navy-strength rum is an overproof rum with 57 percent ABV, and 151 rum is an overproof rum with 75.5 percent ABV.

Different rum styles play well together, so feel free to experiment with creating your own split rum mixes to use as a cocktail base.

1. 1. Rum and Coke: The Rum and Coke is a supremely simple highball rum cocktail. Though the Rum and Coke originated on the small Caribbean island of Cuba, it has become one of the most popular drinks in the entire world.
2. 2. Dark ‘N’ Stormy: The Dark ‘N’ Stormy cocktail calls for just two ingredients—Gosling’s dark rum and ginger beer. The cocktail is usually served in a highball glass and garnished with a slice of lime.
3. 3. Painkiller: The Painkiller cocktail is a rum-based tiki drink, similar to a Piña Colada, made with cream of coconut, pineapple, orange juice, and garnished with nutmeg. While some bartenders may make this tropical drink with any brand of either dark rum or navy rum, the Painkiller drink recipe is actually trademarked by rum maker Pusser’s.
4. 4. Yellow Bird: The Yellow Bird is a rum cocktail that has just four ingredients: white rum, yellow Galliano, triple sec, and fresh lime juice. Try this old-school drink if you're looking to expand your tiki repertoire.

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