Rum Types

• • Light Rum, also referred to as silver rum and white rum. In general, light rum has very little flavor aside from a general sweetness, and serves accordingly as a base for cocktails. Light rums are sometimes filtered after aging to remove any color. The Brazilian Cachaça is generally this type, but some varieties are more akin to "gold rums". The majority of Light Rum comes out of Puerto Rico. Their milder flavor makes them popular for use in mixed-drinks, as opposed to drinking it straight.
  • Gold Rum, also called amber rum, are medium-bodied rums that are generally aged. These gain their dark color from aging in woodenbarrels (usually the charred white oak barrels that are the byproduct of Bourbon Whiskey). They have more flavor, and are stronger tasting than Silver Rum, and can be considered a midway-point between Silver/Light Rum and the darker varieties.
  • Spiced Rum: These rums obtain their flavor through addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel. Most are darker in color, and based on gold rums. Some are significantly darker, while many cheaper brands are made from inexpensive white rums and darkened with artificial caramel color. Among the spices that may be added to create Spiced Rum are Cinnamon, Rosemary, absinthe/aniseed, or pepper.
  • Dark Rum, also known by the rum's particular colour as brown rum, black rum, or red rum, classes as a grade darker than gold rum. It is generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels. Dark rum has a much stronger flavor than either light or gold rum, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. It is used to provide substance in rum drinks, as well as color. In addition to uses in mixed drinks, dark rum is the type of rum most commonly used in cooking. Most Dark Rum comes from areas such as Jamaica, Haiti, and Martinique, though two Central American countries, Nicaragua and Guatemala, produced two of the most award-winning dark rums in the world: Flor de Caña and Ron Zacapa Centenario, respectively.^[35]
  • Flavored Rum: Some manufacturers have begun to sell rums infused with flavors of fruits such as banana, mango, orange, citrus, coconut or lime. These are generally less than 40% alcohol, serve to flavor similarly themed tropical drinks, and are also often drunk neat or on the rocks.