As the temperature goes down and autumn leaves begin to fall, our palate changes to include warm and comforting flavours. For all rum lovers out there, the autumn season will be perfect for elevating their drink by using seasonal ingredients. Whether you prefer sipping rum on a cosy evening or mixing it into festive cocktails, adding autumnal flavours can bring an exciting depth to your glass. Fortunately, most of these ingredients can be found easily in many Indian houses, so full-bodied, fragrant infusions really aren't difficult to make. So, why not turn your rum into an autumnal, spiced drink to enjoy? Here are five flavours to add to your rum this fall.
Cinnamon
The quintessential flavour of the autumn season with its warmness and sweet nature. This lovely aroma can be added to your rum with a few cinnamon sticks while it provides a balanced, spicy undertone. Cinnamon infusion is easy as the sticks can be put in a bottle of rum and kept for a few days and tasted at intervals, so that the flavour does not overpower. A shortcut would be to steep some cinnamon sticks in the rum for 10-15 minutes, let the liquid cool, then strain it out before you use it. These sweet, spicy spices are always lovely in simple rum-based classics or even in a can of cola.
Cloves
There is so much depth of warm spice in using cloves with rums that are blended to make the perfect autumnal infusions. This unassuming spice is pretty pungent so a little goes a long way. This infusing method allows you to add cloves right into the rum bottle, where you let it steep for several days. The infused rum is magnificent for hot toddies, mulled drinks, or spiced rum punch. Just think of any autumn celebration that might welcome the addition of this festive flavour. Be careful, not to get over-enthusiastic with cloves, as the flavour gets controlled fairly quickly.
Apples
Apples are a classic autumn fruit, and their sweet-tart flavour makes a wonderful addition to rum. You can chop fresh apples and add them to your rum for a smooth, fruity infusion. Or you can caramelize the apples with a little sugar and then add them to the rum for a more intense, deeper flavour. Apple-infused rum pairs beautifully with cinnamon and can be used in apple-based cocktails, spiced punches, or even enjoyed over ice with a cinnamon stick garnish.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a very subtle, warm spice that isn't as pungent as cinnamon or cloves, but still brings a feeling of cozy autumn to your rum. You can grate fresh nutmeg over your rum or use whole nutmeg seeds for a stronger infusion. Nutmeg-infused rum pairs well with heavy eggnog-based drinks and spiced liqueurs so it's perfect for autumn drinking. Just a pinch of nutmeg is required to add layer of flavour with just the slightest amount.
Jaggery
Unrefined jaggery sugar from India can be used in creating rum infusions in fall for earthy sweetness. A molasses-like depth that can add some depth of complexity to the rum increasing the natural caramel flavours present within it. One could also dissolve jaggery into warm rum or mix the syrup of jaggery with rum. Sweetening up a spiced rum punch is another excellent way to incorporate the element, as the simplicity in flavour can allow mixing easily with cinnamon and other spice elements that complement fall tastes well.