As we all know, rum is one of the most staple alcoholic drinks in the world. It is made by fermenting and distilling sugarcane molasses. The distillate is a clear liquid that is aged in oak barrels.
Similar to wine, rums are produced in different grades. Rum also plays a huge part in the culture of most islands of the West Indies as well as in Canada and Maritime provinces.
Back in the early days, rum is served as a popular medium of exchange for organized crime, slavery, and military insurgencies. With this, several types of rums are introduced in the market. For you to easily identify them, here is a quick compilation by The Daily Drink:
White rum
It is a clear rum that has a milder flavour compared to other types of rum. Oftentimes, this type of rum is used to create cocktails. White rums are also popular in the most common drinks such as Piña Colada and Mojito.
Pale rum
The reason why it is called a pale or gold rum is that it has a golden hue. It is also the most flavourful type of rum used to create cocktails with a stronger flavour. Depending on the type of barrel used for the ageing process, it might have subtle flavours of almond citrus, caramel, and vanilla.
Dark rum
This is the type of rum that is aged longer in an oak barrel. When added to cocktail drinks, it provides more contrast and stronger flavour compared to other types of rum. Some examples of dark rums are Cruzan Estate Dark, Matusalem Clasico, and Mount Gay Eclipse.
Black rum
It is the darkest and richest kind of rum popularly known for flavour balancing. Believe it or not, black rum is also used in baking, candy-making, and other desserts.
The barrels used to produce black rum are often fired heavily imparting the wood’s strong flavours. Black rums are mostly popular in British island territories like the Virgin Islands, Guyana, and Bermuda.
Navy rum
Navy rum is often associated with the British Royal Navy. It is also a blend of rums from Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad. Some of the most popular navy style rums are the Lamb’s Navy Rum, Pusser’s, Lemon Hart, and Skipper Demerara.
Premium aged rum
Premium aged rum is aged in oak barrels for several years. Experts say that the interaction of spirit and wood has a positive effect on the smoothness, richness, and subtle flavours of the rum.
The majority of aged rums also have darker and richer colours because of the time spent in barrels. Rums that are labelled premium or ultra-premium often contain age statements. Some of the most common premium aged rums are Reserva Limitada, Appleton Extra, Atlantico Private Cask, Trigo Reserva Aneja.
Vintage rum
Vintage rums are usually found in the French islands where the growing and processing season is short. The majority of private-label rum brands purchase a large bulk of rum from a single production year, ages the product, and bottled when maturity is peaking.
When drinking rum, it is best to drink moderately and avoid going all out especially if you don’t know how high your alcohol tolerance is. If you want to learn more about alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, check out The Daily Drink.