There are a few different types of rums, and we often get asked what differences are between each, so with that in mind we thought here at whiskys.co.uk to create a simple breakdown and guide to type of rums. Which will ultimately benefit you to find your preferred style or new favourite. We hope you learn as much as we did putting this article together about the grades of rum and what the diffrences are between the types. 

Light Rum

Light rum is sometimes known more commonly as white or silvered rums, mostly have very little flavour aside for a sweetness. Puerto Rico is a majority producer of light rums, they are often the rum type that is used in cocktails such as Mojito and Daquiri. They are also some are filtered after aging to remove colour. 

Gold Rum

Known as Golden or amber rums are often considered the medium bodied rums, the halfway point between a light and dark rum are often aged spirit. They gain their colour from aging in the barrel, often white oak barrels that have been charred and used for bourbon previously. The flavour is stronger and more prevalent than light rum. 

Dark Rum 

Named for the particular colour of rum its self sometimes known as brown, red or black rums. they are made using caramelised molasses or sugar and are aged longer in heavily charred barrels that gives them one of the strongest flavour of the rums grades, hints of spice caramel overtones or molasses. Traditionally associated with Barbados, Jamaica and Haiti, but as rum as become a worldwide production all sorts of rum distillers have experimented with dark rum. 

Spiced Rum

Are often based on gold rums but are darker in colour through the addition of spices and sometime caramel. Some of the spices that can be added are Rosemary, aniseed , pepper and cinnamon. 

Flavoured Rums

As the name describes are rums mixed with flavours often adding tropical elements, Common flavour additions consist of Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Orange, Starfruit and lime. A recent addition is Honey rum which could be its own grade or variant but would still be somewhat a flavoured rum. often  flavoured rum are drunk neat or over ice to enhance and encapsulate the addition flavour added to rum. 

Overproof / Navy Strength Rum

Two very similar grades of rum but one defining difference but worth grouping together. Both of these rums are of a higher alcohol percentage than other grades of rum often reaching over 50% ABV compared to other grades that fall around mid 40% ABV. Anything over 50% is considered a overproof rum, the difference for Navy Strength is locked in at 54.4% as the British Royal Navy set their rum at that level and has just continued to this day.

Premium Rum

More a special market rum that are carefully selected and aged rums by boutique brands. Often considered to have more character and flavour than mixing rums and are to be drank straight. 

 

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