Types of Rum: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

If you’re only just beginning your journey with rum, you may be wondering which type is the best choice for you. This highly depends on personal preferences, so the best way to find the best kind of rum is by tasting.

Knowing the characteristics of each type of rum can help you make the initial decision and predict which type is most likely to suit your taste. This article will discuss different types of rum and their key traits.

What types of rum are there?

First, it is important to note that there are different categories according to which we divide rum. The name may depend on its colour, age, origin, or ageing method.

Types of rum according to colour

The most commonly used division is according to colour. In this category, we distinguish three key types:

White rum

Also known as light rum. White rum is not matured at all, or matured for a very short period (up to 3 years). Therefore, it is the type of rum with the least intense flavour. It is the type most commonly used in cocktails due to its delicate tasting notes.

Amber rum

Also known as gold rum. Recognised for its golden/amber colour and aged in oak barrels between 3 to 5 years. Its flavour is a bit heavier than that of white rum - the time spent in the oak barrels gives it smoky, woodsy notes. Some rum producers add caramel to make the amber colour richer.

Dark rum

In the case of dark rum, its colour isn’t due to the ageing process. It naturally owes its dark tones to molasses, and often also caramel. It is matured for a few years in charred barrels to bring out the intense, smoky tasting notes.

Types of rum according to age

White rum and amber rum belong in two categories: both according to colour and age. Light rum/white rum is the “youngest” - it only spends up to 3 years in a barrel. Amber rum/gold rum matures between 3 and 5 years.

Aged rum

To qualify as aged rum, the spirit must mature in oak barrels for at least 5 years. Of course, the longer it spends in the barrel, the better. The rum in some of Dictador’s collections is up to 60 years old. The Dictador brand is the proud owner of the biggest collection of aged rum in the world.

Types of rum according to origin

We can also divide rum based on where it comes from. While you may have heard terms such as Colombian rum or Jamaican rum, they are actually only a subcategory. The actual division is as follows:

Spanish-style rum

Produced from distilled molasses. This type of rum is smooth and light in flavour. It comes from countries such as Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, or Nicaragua.

English-style rum

The strongest in flavour. Just like the Spanish-style rum, English-style rum is also produced from distilled molasses, but using different methods. The distillation process for English-style rum has a lot in common with the production of whiskey.

English-style rum comes from countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

French-style rum (agricole rum)

Unlike the other two, this type of rum isn’t produced from distilled molasses, but from fermented sugarcane juice. It is much lighter in flavour, with tasting notes verging on fruity and herbal. It is also called agricole rum (from French: rhum agricole).

This type of rum comes from countries such as Haiti, Mauritius, and Guadeloupe.

The Gargano Classification

This type of rum classification is quite new. It was developed a few years ago by Luca Gargano - a renowned rum expert, CEO of the Italian importer Velier.

His classification only applies to craft rums and is based on the distillation method and the raw materials (syrup, molasses, sugar cane).

Gargano highlights that his classification is not meant to judge the quality of rum. He means for it to be more objective and classify all kinds of rum in a comprehensive way.

Pure single rum

Made of molasses, distilled in batch pot stills.

Pure single agricole rum

Made of sugar cane juice, distilled in batch pot stills.

Single blended rum

Distilled in traditional columns and pot stills.

Traditional rum

Distilled in traditional single or double columns.

Modern rum

Distilled in industrial multi-columns.

Types of rum according to flavour

This category isn’t official and is quite generic, but it is often used in everyday language.

Classic rum

This broad category includes light, gold, and dark rum - all kinds of rum with a “natural” flavour.

Spiced rum

This category includes all kinds of rum that have been infused with flavours other than those that come from the ageing process, with spices, herbs, or dried fruits.

Infused rum

A kind of spiced rum. While spiced rum is usually made by macerating the herbs, fruit, or spices in the rum, infused rum gains its flavour thanks to a delicate essence.

What type of rum is best?

Different classifications of rum aren’t meant to categorise it according to its quality. Which type of rum is best depends entirely on personal preferences and the spirit’s purpose.

For example, light rum is the best kind of rum for cocktails, due to its delicate flavour. On the other hand, the intense taste of aged rum makes it the best choice for drinking neat.

Which rum has the highest alcohol content?

Overproof is the kind of rum with the highest alcohol content - between 60 and 80%.

What is the difference between aguardiente and rum?

Aguardiente is a type of spirit typical in Colombia. Traditionally, it is made of four ingredients: water, alcohol, sugar, and - what brings it its characteristic flavour - anise.

Therefore, the main difference between rum and aguardiente lies in the ingredients. Rum is traditionally made of molasses or fermented sugarcane juice, which are nowhere to be found in aguardiente.

Is cachaҫa a type of rum?

Despite what many people believe, cachaҫa is not technically a type of rum. Rum and cachaҫa are made from the same main ingredient - sugarcane juice.

However, rum is primarily made of molasses - the byproduct of refining sugarcane. If not molasses, then rum is still produced from processed sugarcane juice, while cachaҫa is made of fresh sugarcane juice.

Cachaҫa is typical for Brazil, while rum comes from a variety of countries across Central and South America, including Colombia, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Is whiskey a type of rum?

No, whiskey is not a type of rum. Although similar in colour, whiskey and rum belong to different categories of spirits.

What is married casks rum?

Married casks refer to the practice of blending rum from multiple barrels to achieve a harmonious and refined flavor profile. This process involves combining rums from different casks, each with its unique characteristics, and allowing them to meld together over time. The result is a more complex and balanced spirit, as the flavors from each cask integrate and complement one another. This technique is highly valued in the rum industry for creating exceptional and distinctive expressions.

There are many ways to classify rum. Some of them are more commonly used in casual, everyday conversations, while others are more popular in the spirit industry.

The question of what type of rum is best must be answered individually - everyone has different preferences according to flavour and strength. To sample different kinds of rum, visit the Dictador store and try our different collections.