THE 10 MOST COMMON TYPES OF RUM AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The main types of rum are white, gold, black, aged, old, spiced, over-proof, sweet, light and premium. There are many types of liquors. Rum is an alcoholic beverage whose origins lie in the Canary Islands and the Caribbean islands.

Rum is a brandy that is obtained through a distillation process. Its raw material is sugar cane and the liquor is obtained by fermenting molasses or the juice obtained from it.

When the drink is made from cane derivatives such as molasses, as a by-product of sugar production, it is classified as industrial rums; when it is made from cane juice, that is, guarapo, they are classified as agricultural rums.

Rum production

Rum is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. The production process of this liquor depends on four phases: fermentation, distillation, aging and mixing.

This is produced in many countries and because in each one there are different laws regarding their production, it is difficult to divide them by types. And it is much more complicated to divide them by age, since there is no agreement for the minimum old age that the liquor must have or even for a standard classification.

It must also be taken into account that environmental conditions influence the aging process, which is generally done in oak barrels. However, even so, it is possible to classify them according to the most common varieties in several of the producing countries. At the regional level, three large categories of rum are accepted.

The first are the rums of Hispanic origin, a drink with a light style, ranging from dry to sweet and to which caramel and sugar are added. The second are the rums of British origin, whose style is a dark rum with a powerful flavor, they are sweet and spicy, as well as those with caramel, sugar and spices added.

The third category are rums of French origin, which are liqueurs that, instead of being produced from molasses, are produced from sugar cane juice. They are light, dry and powerful rums, they are controlled by a Denomination of Origin, that is, by a type of geographical indication.

Types of rum

Other much more specific varieties are derived from the three main types of rum that we explain. These are the most common:

White

Source: ZeugeDerNacht.

It is a dry drink with a light consistency that is characterized by the absence of color. Actually the liquor that is obtained from the distilleries is colorless (or has a yellowish white color). Which means that white rum is the foundation of the industry.

The slight amber color that some other types of rum present is due to contact with the oak wood during the aging of the product. However, this color is removed through a filtration for marketing.

Golden

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It is a liquor with an amber tone, very similar to gold, which can be more or less intense, for this several factors influence. One of them is prolonged aging in wood, that is, aging, and another is the lack of filtration.

For this reason, its flavor is usually more intense than whites because they have a greater amount of congeners. But its consistency is just as light.

On the other hand, sometimes caramel and other colorants are added to accentuate the golden color a little more.

Black

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Unlike the previous two types, black rum is heavier and with much more body. Because the distillation process of this type of rum is done using alembics (devices for the evaporation and condensation of alcohols), this drink retains a strong molasses flavor.

It is characterized by being a dark colored liquor, much more than the golden ones. This tonality is almost black and this is due to the addition of colorants that are added to the aging barrels.

Old

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This is one of the most popular types of rum and therefore one of the most consumed. For a rum to fall into this category, it must come from spirits that have been aged in oak or cherry wood for a prolonged period of at least one year.

They are full-bodied rums and, like black rums, they are usually distilled in stills, so they have a strong molasses flavor. It is basically a mixture of blends from different aged rum broths.

Rums that fall into the 5-year segment are generally called “añejos”. They usually have rums that are at least three years old and up to six years old. In the case of those that are over seven years old, they are usually referred to as "Gran Reserva", "Reserva", "Extra Añejo", among others.

Old

Source: Aneil Lutchman

This type of rum shares many of the characteristics of aged rum. It is a full-bodied liquor, but unlike aged rum, aged rum must have been aged in oak or cherry wood barrels for at least three years.

With spices

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Spiced or flavored rums, as they are also known, are those that are infused with various extracts such as spices or fruits to give it a characteristic flavor.

The liquor of this type can be white, gold or black and its flavors can be orange, lemon, pineapple, coconut, banana, apple, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, red fruits, among others.

Although spicy rums are known as such, they are really flavored liqueurs, which have been made with unrefined alcohol and in which the aging process has been short.

Over-proof

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The rums that fall into this category are those with a high alcohol content. This type of liquor is generally white and its alcoholic content is so high that it is usually 100 or more British degrees ("British proof").

Sweet

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Within this category fall rums that contain a high content of sucrose, that is, an amount of 100 grams per liter of liquor, or the equivalent of this in glucose.

Light

Source: Jorge Perez

This is a denomination that refers to the consistency of the liquor. The distillation method used to make this type of rum is continuous type stills.

Premium

Source: George Arriola

The last variety refers to this type of rum, which is usually the best that each manufacturer sells. Premium rums are those that have been produced under the highest quality standards, both with regard to the mixing process and the aging process. The aging of this liquor can range between 5 and 50 years.

It is important to note that most commercial rums are made from a blend of rums. These are not only of different types, but also have different ages. And they can be made from rums from different countries of origin.

During this mix it is possible to add caramel, spices and flavors to vary the final result. When the rums that will compose them are selected and after mixing, the preparation must be fused for a time.

For this stage of rum making, the expertise of the master mixer is key. The job of these people is to make sure that the content of each bottle is always the same, in terms of quality and taste. Since the difference that exists between each brand and what makes each one stand out depends on this standard and specifications.

Uses of different types of rum

There are various uses of rum, either in cocktails or in the kitchen, where they have always had a reserved space. White rum, for example, is often best suited for preparing a wide variety of cocktails such as punch, daiquiri and Long Island iced tea, as well as the famous mojito and Cuba libre. Because it is a sweet variety and poor in aroma, they are not usually drunk alone or used in pastries.

The golden rums, which have more body and a more intense flavor, are ideal to enjoy as digestives. Due to their great aroma, they are usually used in pastry in numerous ways.

They are used to make cakes and Genoese drunk, in cakes, cakes and even ice cream, as well as to flavor custards, mousses, syrup, fruit salads and even to flambé various desserts.

But rum is not only a perfect liquor to perfume desserts. It is also ideal for use in the kitchen in general, in the preparation of salty foods. Not only wine and beer can help give an exquisite flavor to preparations.

Rum is used to marinate meat, poultry and fish. By combining this liquor with other spices, the result will be extraordinary. It is also a perfect complement for the preparation of some sauces. In addition, it integrates perfectly in raw dishes such as ceviche.