Light, gold, dark, or spiced – there’s a rum out there for every occasion.
It’s one of the world's most popular spirits, but how much do you really know about rum and its – how do we put this – colourful past? It was the first liquor to be distilled purely for drinking pleasure and not medical reasons, was beloved by pirates and sailors, and was the inspiration for Australia's first and only military coup. Yep, rum’s got a reputation as the most spirited spirit.
These days we drink it neat, mixed into cocktails, sipped on the rocks, or paired with a simple mixer, but the origins of the spirit date back to a simpler time in the 17th century. Back when the Carribean was the centre of the world’s sugar production, people realised that the molasses leftover from refining sugar could be fermented – and boom, rum was born. In countries where sugar production is a big industry, like the Caribbean, some parts of Asia, and even here in Australia, rum isn’t just a drink – it’s a part of life.
Unlike most spirits, rum can be brewed in lots of different ways and there’s no defined production method that producers have to stick to. Rum isn’t a fuddy duddy with rules and regulations, it’s too untamable for that. When it comes to rum, the focus is on the flavour rather than how you got there.
Click image to shop
Types of rum
Each best rum that you encounter will fall into four categories:
Light rum, which is also known as white rum, is aged for at least a year in steel tanks and leaves the colour of the spirit clear. The flavour is neutral and mild, making it perfect for mixing into fruity and tropical style cocktails. The most famous white rum in the world is Bacardi Carta Blanca Superior White Rum, which is a must-have on any cocktail lover's bar cart.
Gold rum is aged for a few years in oak barrels to create a richly amber-hued liquid. Because it’s aged longer it has stronger rum flavours of caramelised sugar and toffee. Santisima Trinidad 7 Year Old Cuban Rum is a great example thanks to its bright amber colour and slightly sweet aroma. It’s best enjoyed neat or with a simple mixer like ginger beer to create a Dark ‘N’ Stormy, and you’ll even see it in a few baking recipes (Christmas rum balls, anyone?).
Dark rum is the most rich and full-bodied of all rums because it’s aged for the longest period. The ageing barrels have also been charred to give a stronger flavour with hints of light wood. When it comes to dark rum in Australia you can’t go past the pride of Queensland, Bundaberg Rum and their crowning glory the Master Distillers’ Collection Solera Rum. To get the most out of its rich flavours you’ll want to enjoy this dark rum neat, taking small sips to savour all the layers of flavour.
Spiced rum is an aged rum that’s been infused with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger and cloves. These spices compliment the caramelised sugar flavour of the rum to create something aromatic and sweet. Although baking spices are most common, you’ll notice an ever-expanding world of unique and intriguing flavoured rums as distillers experiment with combinations. Captain Webb’s Two Swallows Orange & Ginger Spiced Rum, for example, puts a citrusy orange and spicy ginger spin on rum to create the perfect base for a rum and ginger beer.
Rum from around the world
With its origins linked to the sugar trade, most of the world’s rum comes from sugar producing regions like Latin America and the Caribbean. Barbados is the birthplace of rum and home to the oldest rum brand in existence, Mount Gay, which dates all the way back to 1703. Rum’s influence is strong all over the Caribbean though, with other islands like Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Trinidad all creating top notch rum.
On the Latin American side Peru, Guatemala, and Venezuela are all creating names for themselves as must-know rum destinations. Generally Latin American rum is known for more experimentation when it comes to rum production. For example, Zacapa Centenario 23 Solera Gran Reserva Rum is made with sugar cane honey rather than molasses and is aged at a high altitude to slow down the ageing process and allow the rum to develop a more complex flavour.
Even though it’s on the other side of the world from rum’s Caribbean homeland, Australia’s own history with rum is just as old and intriguing. Since rum was favoured by seafarers it was an integral part of Australia’s settlement. In the 1800s, it was used as currency among convicts, and attempts to outlaw it resulted in Australia’s only military coup – the Rum Rebellion. That’s right, the only time we Aussies rose up against the government was when they tried to take away our rum. (Classic us, to be honest).
Click image to shop
Click image to shop
The best rum cocktails
Yes, you can sip it or pair rum with a simple mixer, but who doesn’t love a cocktail? The most famous rum cocktail has got to be the Mojito, and while its origins are debated the one thing we know for sure is that the combination of light rum, lime and mint makes for an unbelievably refreshing sip. An equally tropical cocktail is the Mai Tai, which curiously uses a combo of both light and dark rums to showcase the full spectrum of the spirit. But don’t go thinking that rum cocktails can only be tropical, when winter rolls around there’s nothing quite like a Spiced Hot Rum to warm you from the inside out.
The ever-expanding world of flavoured rums opens up a bevy of new opportunities for cocktails too. Try putting a twist on some of your favourites by using flavoured rums rather than the usual spirit. Take Dead Man’s Fingers Coffee Rum for example, it makes a killer Espresso Martini and is equally at home in a White Russian.
