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The ultimate guide to rum

The complete guide for rum enthusiasts! Discover what rum is, how rum is made and the different types of rum, popular cocktails and more. 

<p>Rum is not just a rum-tastic drink, it's a whole vibe, a cultural experience! It’s the taste of the Caribbean beaches, the sound of steel drums and the smell of tropical fruits. Whether you're sipping on a frozen <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/pina-colada/" title="Piña Colada">Piña Colada</a> on a hot summer's afternoon or toasting an occasion with a neat glass of the finest <a href="https://us.thebar.com/rum/" title="Rum">rum</a>, we love how this spirit can transport you to another place and time with just a few sips. That’s why we rounded up everything you need to know about your favorite sip in this ultimate guide to rum. Let's dive right in…</p>

<p>Rum is one of the oldest distilled spirits out there. It can be made from a variety of sugar products: sugarcane juice, molasses and straight up sugar. It originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century and quickly became popular due to its high alcohol content and long shelf life. Today, rum is an incredibly versatile spirit enjoyed all over the world and comes in various blending styles, from light and fruity to dark and complex.</p>

<p>The short answer is the overall taste and texture of rum changes with age, so older rum is usually seen as richer in vanilla, subtle spice and flavors that only come out with age.</p>

<ol>
<li>The method(s) of distillation</li>
<li>The process of maturing the spirits over time</li>
<li>The blending of various barrels of rum</li>
<li>The raw fermenting materials</li>
<li>The method of fermentation</li>
<li>The types of yeast used to convert sugars to alcohols</li>
</ol>

<p>Rum is made by fermenting molasses, sugarcane juice or sugar. It's a multi-step process…</p>

So, how is rum made? 

<ol>
<li><strong>Harvesting:</strong> Harvesting provides rum makers with the sugarcane to produce the rum. Back in the day, harvesters would use machetes to cut the stalks as close to the root as possible, collecting the segment with the highest sugar concentration. Today, machines do most of the heavy lifting, but the process still involves washing and chopping the cane into small pieces.</li>
<li><strong>Sugar Extraction:</strong> Sugarcane contains 75% water, with the remaining portion being sugar and fiber. To extract the sugar juice, the harvested cane goes through a process of washing, chopping and pressing. This is how you get sugarcane juice. The process of making everyday sugar (yes, the stuff you put in your coffee) results in a thick, delicious by-product called molasses, which can also be used to make rum. After the molasses, sugar or sugarcane juice is fermented and distilled, it creates a smooth and delicious rum.</li>
<li><strong>Fermentation:</strong> It's amazing how much goes into creating the perfect bottle of rum. During fermentation, yeast transforms sugars into alcohol, giving rum its unique taste. Producers mix yeast and water with the cane to initiate this process, and depending on the yeast strain and rum style, fermentation can last anywhere from 24 hours to 3 weeks. Parts of previous fermentations or bits of the used sugarcane can be added at this stage to create some truly unique flavors.</li>
<li><strong>Distillation:</strong> The distillers start with a fermented liquid and then heat it up until it boils. The alcohol in the liquid turns into vapor faster than the water, which is how they extract the good stuff. There are two main methods for doing this - Copper Pot and Column Still. Both have their own benefits, it just depends on what you're looking for.</li>
</ol>

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<p>It can vary, but starts from 37.5% alcohol by volume and only goes up!</p>
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<p>When it comes to rum, there's a whole world of flavors waiting to be explored. This spirit is produced in so many different countries, which means that every country has its own unique taste. But whether it's from the tropical shores of the Caribbean or the bustling cities of South America, one thing remains the same: rum is generally sweet with a touch of richness and smoothness, and always delicious.</p>
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Here are our favorite rum cocktails for you to shake up at home.

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>9 oz. Zacapa No. 23 Rum</li>
<li>6 oz. Orange Juice</li>
<li>6 oz. Pineapple Juice</li>
<li>6 oz. Grapefruit Juice</li>
<li>3 oz. Cherry Juice</li>
<li>Cherry Garnish</li>
<li>Orange Wedge Garnish</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li> In a punchbowl, pour in rum, orange, pineapple, grapefruit and cherry juices.</li>
<li>Nest the punch bowl in a larger bowl filled with crushed ice to keep the punch cold without watering it down (optional). Alternatively, add cubed ice to the punch bowl.</li>
<li>To serve, ladle mixture into rocks glasses with ice and garnish each drink with a cherry and orange wedge, skewered together.</li>
                  </ol>

Holiday Rum Punch | Batch Recipe

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>1.5 oz. Zacapa No. 23 Rum</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Simple Syrup</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lime Juice</li>
<li>6 Watermelon Cubes</li>
<li>5-10 Mint Leaves</li>
<li>Club Soda, to Top Off</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li>Cut watermelon into one-inch cubes, remove seeds and set aside.</li>
<li>Combine rum, simple syrup, lime juice, watermelon cubes and several mint leaves in a cocktail shaker.</li>
<li>Muddle ingredients until watermelon is mostly liquid. </li>
<li>Pour mixture into a large coupe or a highball/Collins glass filled with ice. </li>
<li>Top with club soda and garnish with mint sprigs.</li>
                  </ol>

Watermelon Mojito

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>2 oz. Captain Morgan White Rum</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lime Juice</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Sugar Syrup</li>
<li>2 oz. Soda Water</li>
<li>10 Mint Leaves</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li>Muddle the lime juice, mint and sugar syrup in a highball glass.</li>
<li>Add the rum, crushed ice and churn.</li>
<li>Top with soda.</li>
<li>Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wedge.</li>
                  </ol>

Classic Mojito

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>1.75 oz. Captain Morgan White Rum</li>
<li>1 oz. Cream of coconut</li>
<li>1 oz. Double Cream</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lime</li>
<li>2.5 oz. Pineapple juice</li>
<li>Pineapple slice and Maraschino Cherry to garnish</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li>Shake all the ingredients with ice.</li>
<li>Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.</li>
<li>Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.</li>
<li>Pour into a highball glass and add pineapple to garnish.</li>
                  </ol>

Piña Colada

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>2 oz. Captain Morgan White Rum</li>
<li>0.75 oz. lime juice</li>
<li>0.5 oz. simple syrup</li>
<li>Pinch of Salt</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li>Combine all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice.</li>
<li>Shake well and strain into a coupe glass.</li>
<li>Garnish with a lime wheel.</li>
                  </ol>

Daiquiri

<b>Ingredients</b>
                  <ul>
                  <li>1.2 oz. Captain Morgan White Rum</li>
<li>0.5 oz. Dark Rum</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Lime Juice</li>
<li>0.5 oz. Triple Sec</li>
<li>0.75 oz. Orgeat Syrup</li>
<li>Pineapple Wedge and Cherry to garnish</li>
                  </ul><br /><b>Instructions</b>
                  <ol>
                  <li>Shake all the ingredients with ice.</li>
<li>Double strain into an ice-filled highball glass.</li>
<li>Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.</li>
                  </ol>

Mai Tai

What are the different types of rum? 

<p style="text-align: left;">There are lots of different types of rum, which come in different colors, flavors, ages and proofs. Here are a few of the most popular ones:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Dark rum: </strong>This one is the ultimate drink if you appreciate the finer things in life. It's complex and rich in flavor, aged to perfection in charred oak barrels and you can expect to taste notes of sweet caramel, smooth vanilla and a hint of spice. Enjoy dark rum neat or in a classic Dark and Stormy cocktail.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>White rum:</strong> If you prefer a milder and fruitier flavor, white rum is the one. It's either bottled straight away or rested for a short period of time, giving it a smoother taste. Oh, and it's also known as silver or light rum. Perfect for mixing in fruity cocktails like the <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/classic-daiquiri/" title="Classic Daiquiri">Daiquiri</a> or the <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/classic-mojito/" title="Classic Mojito">Mojito</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Spiced rum:</strong> As the name suggests, spiced rum blends cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice (as well as many more spices) into a rum base. And it spends several years aging in oak barrels. Try it in a <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/hot-toddy/" title="Hot Toddy">Spiced Rum Hot Toddy</a> on a chilly night.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Flavored rum:</strong> If you're looking for something a little sweeter, a flavored rum is your best bet. It's flavored by adding spices and aromatics after distillation. Coconut or pineapple rums are the most popular flavored rum, which you can use to create tropical cocktails like a <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/pina-colada/" title="Piña Colada">Piña Colada</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Aged rum:</strong> These are medium-bodied rums that are often quite rich in taste. Gold rums are aged in oak casks and have a dark look and smooth flavor. Aged rums are best used to mix up <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/mai-tai/" title="Mai Tai">Mai Tai's</a> or <a href="https://us.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes/holiday-rum-punch/" title="Holiday Rum Punch">Rum Punches</a>.</li>
</ul>

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<p>Yes, pure, distilled rum is gluten-free, as gluten proteins can't be carried over during distillation. But it's good to note some rum brands do add flavorings, spices or other ingredients after distillation, so always read the label!</p>
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Is rum gluten-free?

<p><strong>Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese</strong></p>
<p>A classic pairing that goes great with rum, as the creamy cheese complements the sweetness of the rum while the fried chicken adds a crunchy texture.</p>
<p><strong>Glazed pork ribs</strong></p>
<p>Glazed pork ribs are it if you're looking for something savory to pair with rum. The sweet glaze offsets the smoky flavor of the ribs nicely while also complementing any spiced rums like <a href="https://us.thebar.com/products/captain-morgan-original-spiced-rum/#c" title="Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum" data-anchor="#c">Captain Morgan Original Spiced rum</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Caramel brown butter cake</strong></p>
<p>And if you have a sweet tooth, caramel brown butter cake will satisfy your tastebuds. This delicious treat pairs perfectly with dark rums like <a href="https://us.thebar.com/products/ron-zacapa-23/" title="Ron Zacapa 23">Zacapa,</a> as the rich flavor of the cake complements the sweetness of the rum nicely, creating an unforgettable combination.</p>

What food pairs well with rum?

Bring people together for food and a round of cocktails that are ready to mix and next-day delivered.

Spiced Mojito Cocktail Kit

<p>So, now you know the basics of rum, here are a few of our favorite rum brands:</p>

Find your ideal rum

Private Stock

Original Spiced Rum

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<p>If you're looking for an easy-to-drink, delicious and bank balance-friendly rum, the iconic Captain Morgan is the rum one. It's been a shining star in the rum world for ages, loved for its sweet, spicy flavor that is perfect for mixing in all your favorite cocktails.</p>
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Captain Morgan

Centenario XO Rum

No. 23

<p>Try Zacapa if you're ready to take your taste buds on a truly unforgettable adventure. It's a top-shelf Guatemalan rum, aged in a variety of barrels, like bourbon, wine and sherry, which gives it a complex and rich flavor that is truly unmatched.</p>

Zacapa

<p>100%! Rum is an all-season spirit that makes the perfect gift any time of year, from fruity brands that are perfect for summertime gifting to spicy, caramel-y flavors for cold weather months, there's a rum to suit every style. A personalized top-shelf bottle is the perfect choice for your rum-loving friends or someone special who wants to try something new.</p>

The ultimate rum guide