Rum

Rum  is made by fermenting sugarcane by-products, such as molasses or sugarcane juice.  It is then distilled and typically aged in oak barrels.  Although fermented drinks produced from sugarcane juice are believed to have occurred in ancient India and China, the first known distillation of rum took place on the sugarcane plantations of the Caribbean in the 17th century.  After that, it became hugely popular in colonial America, and among the British Navy and buccaneers.  Many of the recipes of the rums we drink today came out of the swashbuckling times.

Types of Rum

• White Rum : These are generally light-bodied and clear in color. They are great mixers with fruit flavors.
• Golden Rum : Most of these rums have spent years aging in oak casks.
• Dark Rum : A full-bodied, caramel colored drink that is typically consumed straight.
• Spiced Rum : Can be any color (white, gold, or dark), and is infused with spices or fruit flavors.
• Anejo  or Age Dated Rum : These are different vintages of well aged rum.

Popular Rums

Bacardi 151  As the name alludes, this rum is 151 proof, so it is best mixed into a cocktail.  It's not recommended to drink it straight.	Captain Morgan Spiced Rum  This uniquely spiced rum is popular worldwide and known for its mellow aged flavor with a hint of vanilla.	Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Coconut Rum  A coconut flavored white rum that comes in a variety of flavors.	Malibu Rum  A blend of Caribbean rum, natural grain spirits, coconut, and other flavors.	Myers's Rum  A popular brand of Jamaican dark rum used in mixed drinks because of its thick, sweet flavor.

Gosling's Black Seal Rum  This dark rum is made from a premium blend of three year old rums.	Redrum  Fairly new on the scene, Redrum is infused with natural mango, pineapple, coconut, and cherry flavors.	Old New Orleans Rum  From the oldest premium rum distillery in the United States, this rum is made using Blackstrap molasses from the Mississippi Delta area.	Bundaberg Rum  This is considered a a cult rum from Northern Queensland in Australia

Related Guides

Wine Guide	Spirits Guide	Liqueurs Guide	Beer Guide