Rum Trivia
What is rum made of?
Rum is a distilled liquor made from sugarcane molasses or juice. Styles of rum include white rum, golden rum, dark rum, and aged rum.
How do you drink rum?
Most spirits are distilled to 40 percent alcohol by volume, or 80 proof, but many rums are bottled at higher proofs. For those stiffer rums, adding ice or a splash of water will mellow it out so the alcohol vapors don't overpower the subtle flavors. 45 percent [ABV] or lower you should drink it neat, but anything above that you may enjoy more with dilution.
Is rum good for your skin?
Believe it or not, rum is loved for its antibacterial properties. If you are prone to acne and pimples, rum is your thing. Its soothing ingredients calms your acne and clears away the bacteria. You can mix rum and rose water in 1:2 ratio and apply it to the affected area.
Rum grades
The grades and variations used to describe rum depend on the location where a rum was produced. Despite these variations, the following terms are frequently used to describe various types of rum:
Dark Rums
also known by their particular colour, such as brown, black, or red rums, are classes a grade darker than gold rums. They are usually made from caramelized sugar or molasses. They are generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels, giving them much stronger flavors than either light or gold rums, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. They commonly provide substance in rum drinks, as well as colour. In addition, dark rum is the type most commonly used in cooking. Most dark rums come from areas such as Jamaica, Bahamas, Haiti, and Martinique
Flavoured Rums
are infused with flavors of fruits, such as banana, mango, orange, pineapple, coconut, starfruit or lime. These are generally less than 40% ABV (80 proof). They mostly serve to flavor similarly-themed tropical drinks but are also often drunk neat or with ice. This infusion of flavors occurs after fermentation and distillation. Various chemicals are added to the alcohol to simulate the tastes of food
Gold Rums
also called "amber" rums, are medium-bodied rums that are generally aged. These gain their dark colour from aging in wooden barrels (usually the charred, white oak barrels that are the byproduct of Bourbon whiskey). They have more flavor and are stronger-tasting than light rum, and can be considered midway between light rum and the darker varieties.
Light Rums
also referred to as "silver" or "white" rums, in general, have very little flavor aside from a general sweetness. Light rums are sometimes filtered after aging to remove any colour. The majority of light rums come from Puerto Rico. Their milder flavors make them popular for use in mixed drinks, as opposed to drinking them straight. Light rums are included in some of the most popular cocktails including the Mojito and the Daiquiri.
Overproof Rums
are much higher than the standard 40% ABV (80 proof), with many as high as 75% (150 proof) to 80% (160 proof) available. Two examples are Bacardi 151 or Pitorro moonshine. They are usually used in mixed drinks.
Premium Rums
as with other sipping spirits such as Cognac and Scotch whisky, are in a special market category. These are generally from boutique brands that sell carefully produced and aged rums. They have more character and flavor than their "mixing" counterparts and are generally consumed straight.
Spiced Rums
obtain their flavors through the addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel. Most are darker in colour, and based on gold rums. Some are significantly darker, while many cheaper brands are made from inexpensive white rums and darkened with caramel colour. Among the spices added are cinnamon, rosemary, absinthe/aniseed, pepper, cloves, and cardamom.
The true beauty of rum lies in its versatility. The spirit is produced in more than 80 countries, and in a wide range of styles and proofs. With varieties that span from mild white rum to dark and full-bodied Navy-strength, chances are high that there’s a rum out there for every palate.
Ingredients
2 ounces Jamaican overproof white rum
2 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed
2 ounces pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce strawberry syrup*
Garnish: mint sprig
Garnish: pineapple slice
Steps
Add the rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice and strawberry syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with a mint sprig and pineapple slice.
Ingredients
1 ounce Smith & Cross Jamaican rum
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
Garnish: orange peel
Steps
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
Garnish with a long, trimmed strip of orange peel.
Ingredients
Absinthe blanc, to rinse
1 1/2 ounces blended aged rum (such as Appleton Estate Reserve or The Real McCoy five-year-old)
1 ounce black blended overproof rum (such as Hamilton 151)
1/2 ounce grapefruit juice (white or pink), freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 ounce John D. Taylor’s Velvet falernum
1/2 ounce Smuggler’s Cove cinnamon syrup*
1 dash Angostura bitters
Garnish: lime twist
Garnish: grapefruit twist
Steps
Rinse a chilled cocktail coupe with absinthe blanc.
Add the blended aged rum, black blended overproof rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, falernum, cinnamon syrup and bitters into a shaker with cracked or cubed ice and shake until well-chilled.
Double-strain into the prepared glass.
Garnish with intertwined lime and grapefruit twists.