The Connoisseur’s Guide To Rum: A Journey Through All The Flavours and Finest Options.
Rum has been around for centuries, and it has a long and colourful history of production, fermentation, refinement and enjoyment. Its sheer range of flavours and styles has made it a popular choice to enjoy both neat and as the base of a variety of cocktails. With so much to learn and experience, it can be difficult to know where to even begin – so this guide seeks to provide a comprehensive introduction to the world of rum and to help you identify the very best options out there.
To truly grasp rum, it’s important to become familiar with the different styles, ages, and countries of origin. This will help you to refine your tastes and narrow down what looks most appealing. There are in fact different types of rum, sourced from a variety of countries and distilled in a range of ways.
Light rum is made with a continuous still and usually characterised by a light-bodied taste. Traditional light rums like Puerto Rican Rum and the Cuban style comes from countries with tropical climates, making them light and soft. These styles provide an excellent base for many popular cocktails and mixers. On the other hand, darker rums, made by a traditional method known as a batch still, tend to be fuller bodied. They are usually aged for a few years in oak barrels, giving them a complex spectrum of flavours and aromas including coffee, nuts and spices.
Perhaps the most famous type of dark rum is the Jamaican limited-edition style. For example, Appleton Estate is one of the most prestigious brands to have developed this distinctive flavour. This rum is aged in a combination of oak and other casks that gives it a pronounced roasted sugar and molasses flavour. Jamaican rum has become a favourite of discerning connoisseurs and has become so popular that many producers outside Jamaica have also tried to create similar tasting rums.
The most popular rum of all, however, and arguably the most important in terms of quality, is the geographically protected style known as the Caribbean rum. This type of rum is made with a double distillation method that results in a potent, yet smooth and flavourful spirit that stands out from other rums. Caribbean rums range from light and light-bodied to fuller bodied rums that are aged for up to twenty years in oak casks.
Besides traditional rums, there are also flavoured and spiced rums that add a whole extra dimension to the drinking experience. These types of rums come in a variety of flavours, from tropical fruits and spices to exotic flavourings such as coconut, vanilla and orange. Some rums, like Bacardi’s Spiced Gold, blend their own spiced rum blend with gold rum to create an even more complex tasting experience, making spiced and flavoured rums an increasingly popular choice.
Finally, one can’t forget the award-winning craft rums that have been popping up in the market lately. Craft rums have been developed with great care and commitment to quality, offering amazing craftsmanship and unique flavours. Some of these rums have also been aged in unique ways, like rum aged on used bourbon barrels to deliver a completely different aromatic experience.
As you can see, rum certainly isn’t a one-dimensional spirit. Whether you’re looking for a light, refreshing beverage to cool off in the summer or luxurious, full-bodied rum for a special occasion, you are sure to find something to love. With so many different styles and ages of rum to choose from, the possibilities really are endless. Now all you have to do is decide which one is for you!