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When you are at a liquor store, what confuses you the most about purchasing rum? The variety of notes and colours often baffles many enthusiasts about what they should invest in. It can be more daunting for a beginner looking to explore and find what suits their palate. However, if you have a guide to help you understand the colour variations in the liquor, you can make an informed purchaser.
Ahead of World Rum Day on July 13, Slurrp connected with Jonas Ax, Advocacy Lead, BACARDI India, to clear your confusion about white vs dark rums. Not only did he discuss the ageing process of the two kinds of spirits but also shared exclusive cocktail recipes. If you are hosting a gathering on this World Rum Day, prepare these delicious cocktails and impress everyone.
Caption: Jonas Ax
White vs Dark Rum
Jonas Ax says, “The primary difference between the two kinds of rum is that white rum is usually unaged, whereas dark rum is aged.” However, one can still find exceptions in white rum varieties that are aged first. In the next step, colours are removed from it and flavours are balanced to suit the palates of liquor enthusiasts. An example of aged white rum is BACARDI Carta Blanca.
Further diving into the ageing and hues of dark rum, Jonas Ax adds that some varieties of spirit get the colour because additives are added to it. Speaking BACARDI’s Reserva Ocho, he explains that this one gets its signature hue because it has been matured for eight years in an oak barrel (a similar process is followed to age whiskey). He says that the time, ageing process, and the quality of the barrel add to the complexity of flavours and smoothen the taste, making the liquor more appealing to people with diverse palates.
While sharing insights about the notes of rum, Jonas Ax says that varieties of white spirit possess brighter floral notes that compliment berries and citrus notes. “In contrast, aged dark rums offer deeper flavours such as chocolate, raisins, and vanilla as a result of their maturation process,” he adds.
Image Credit: BACARDI
How Seasons Can Influence The Choice Of Rum?
Jonas Ax says, “The best part about rum as a spirit is its versatility - it can be enjoyed all year round in the right format.” He suggests classic rum cocktails like mojito or pina colada for summer or to amplify the experience of a beach holiday.
The expert says that liquor enthusiasts can enjoy dark rum cocktails with warm spice flavours for a cosy experience. “As always, it comes down to personal preferences, and I find them equally enjoyable throughout the year,” he adds.
When you pair white rum, you should opt for bright flavours, he suggests, adding, like daiquiris with lime and mojitos with sugar. He advises pairing dark rum with robust notes like dark sugar or pineapple juice. Jonas Ax calls cocktails like rum old-fashioned and rum manhattans modern classics.
Image Credit: BACARDI
White Rum Cocktail Recipes
Perfect Daiquiri
Ingredients
- 60 ml white rum
- 30 ml sugar syrup (2 tsp white sugar)
- 30 ml lemon juice
Method
Shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and serve the drink in martini glasses.
Classic Pina Colada
Ingredients
- 37.5 ml coconut cream
- 50 ml white rum
- 1 cup ice
- 37.5 ml pineapple juice
Method
Combine ingredients in a blender along with ice to achieve slushy-like consistency and serve in highball glass.
Image Credit: BACARDI
Dark Rum Cocktail Recipes
Ocho Old Fashioned
- 60 ml dark rum
- 2 dashes of herbal bitters
- 5 ml brown sugar syrup
Method
Mix ingredients in a shaker and pour into old-fashioned glasses topped with ice and garnished with orange wedges.
Tropical Treacle
Ingredients
- 15 ml pineapple juice
- 50 ml dark rum
- 5 ml syrup
- 2 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 orange peel
Method
Combine the ingredients and shake them well along with ice. Pour the cocktail into glasses, add pineapple juice at the end, stir gently, and garnish with orange zest before serving.
