Whether searching for a dark and brooding dark rum, a smooth and mellow white rum, or something in between, there’s sure to be something in this guide to please your palate. Discover the world of rums and which ones are perfect for mixing into classic cocktails like Mojitos, Daiquiris, and Piña Coladas.
Learn the Different Types of Rum
Before stepping into the exciting world of rum and rum cocktails, it’s essential to understand the difference between the various types of rum. Light or white rum – silver or clear rum – is generally light-bodied and column distilled. On the other hand, darker rums are usually richer-tasting, molasses-based, and pot-stilled for a fuller flavour. Spiced rum carries notes of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves that lend themselves wonderfully to sweeter drinks.
Choose a Quality Blended Rum
Quality blended rums provide great all-rounder bases for recipes. Good rum blends draw from multiple styles, often combining light and dark rums with spices, resulting in an incredibly varied range of flavours that pair equally well with classic and experimental cocktails. In addition, blended rums can be mildly sweet or complexly spiced, making them ideal for challenging taste buds with new flavour combinations. So enjoy a splash of adventure in your glass — get creative and mix it up!
Select a Caribbean-style or White Rum
Start your mixology journey by selecting a quality Caribbean-style or white rum as the base of your cocktail. Light rums provide complexity without overpowering other ingredients, while colourless neutral spirit rums bring intensity to subtle flavour profiles. Next, choose a versatile blended rum with taste profiles ranging from sweet and fruity to dry and woodsy for classic drinks like mai tais and daiquiris.
Discover Flavoured Rums
Explore your mixology possibilities with flavoured rums. These uniquely blended selections provide added sweetness and delicate spice nuances, plus an unexpected kick of personality to your recipes. Apple-flavoured rum brings a sweet and tart flavour profile, while coconut-infused options are perfect for tiki drinks or creamy tropical cocktails. Bold spiced rums can add depth to muddled or shaken drinks or be used as a substitute for spiced whiskey in mint juleps and other stirred recipes.
Try an Aged or Spiced Type of Rum
For a deeper, richer flavour in your drink recipes, aged or spiced types of rum can provide an unexpected complexity unlike traditional light and golden styles. Aged rums are aged for years until they become mature and flavorful with hints of caramelised flavours. Spiced rums are infused with exotic ingredients like nutmeg, clove, allspice, orange peel, vanilla and cinnamon for an additional layer of sweetness. Choose from varieties like Myer’s Dark Rum, Coconut Bacardi 8 Anos or Angostura 7 Year Old as the perfect choice to add depth and attractive notes to your next cocktail.