Rum is an alcoholic drink made through fermentation and distillation from by-products of sugarcane, like molasses or sugarcane juice.
The product obtained after this process is transparent and is then aged in large barrels to achieve rum as the end product.
Key Takeaways
- White rum is a clear spirit with a light, mild flavour profile, whereas dark rum has a rich, deep colour and a more robust, complex taste.
- Dark rum acquires its colour and flavour from extended ageing in oak barrels, while white rum is aged for a shorter period or filtered to remove colour.
- White rum is used in cocktails like mojitos and daiquiris, while dark rum is popular in tiki drinks or sipped neat.
White Rum vs. Dark Rum
White rum is a light-bodied rum distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses and filtered to remove any color or impurities. It has a clean and crisp flavor with a subtle sweetness, making it a versatile spirit for cocktails and mixed drinks. Dark rum is made from molasses and has a strong, smoky flavor with caramel, vanilla, and spices notes.
It is very complicated to categorize rum as no specific standards exist for its constitution. The division of rum into white and dark is done in Australia.
The most common use of dark rum is cooking, or it can also be drunk straight without mixing it with anything, while white rum is used in cocktails.
White rums with a fair, clean taste are traditionally only produced in the countries where Spanish is spoken. Several countries produce the best white rum, like Venezuela, Cuba, Guatemala, Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | White Rum | Dark Rum |
|---|---|---|
| The time period of aging | White rum takes a shorter period to age. | Dark rum takes a longer period to age. |
| Type of barrel used | Stainless steel barrels are used in the process of aging white rum. | Charred oak barrels are used in the process of aging dark rum. |
| Taste | White rum has a light and little flavor in addition to its sweetness. | Dark rum has a strong flavor and a great amount of underlying molasses. |
| Process involved | The rum is filtered right after they age to obtain the white tint. | To darken the rum, caramel is added to it. |
| Uses | White rum is used in cocktails and other mixed drinks. | Dark rum is used in cooking and is also famous for drinking straight. |
What is White Rum?
White or light, or silver rum is traditionally made in countries where Spanish is spoken. They have been aged in stainless steel barrels for years. Along with the sweetness of white rum, it has a light flavor.
This serves as an excellent base for different cocktails.
Due to its mild flavor, it is avoided being drunk straight and is popularly drunk in mixed drinks. To protect the white tint of white rum, it is filtered right after it ages to eliminate any other colors that could affect its white color.
The countries that produce the best white rum are Cuba, Venezuela, Guatemala, Columbia, and Puerto Rico. However, the majority of the white rum is produced in Puerto Rico.
What is Dark Rum?
Dark rum, also known as red or black rum is an alcoholic beverage that is commonly produced by the countries where English is spoken. They are aged in Charred oak barrels.
Dark rum is dark in color, as the name implies, and has a strong flavor.
They are aged for longer periods in heavy and brunt barrels. Dark rum has pinches of spices mixed with strong molasses in its flavor. It also has a lot of overtones of caramel to it. To obtain such a dark tint, caramel is added to the rum.
The countries that produce dark rum are Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, and Bermuda. Due to their strong flavor, they are mostly preferred to be drunk straight.
Otherwise, they can also be used in cooking. Most of the dark rum in the world is produced by Haiti, Martinique, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
Main Differences Between White Rum and Dark Rum
- The amount of time white rum takes to age is shorter than that of dark rum.
- To obtain the white color of white rum, it is filtered right after it ages, whereas to obtain the dark color of dark rum, it is mixed with caramel.
- The barrels used to age white rum are stainless steel barrels, whereas charred oak barrels are used to age dark rum.
- The flavor and taste of white rum are light in addition to its sweetness, while the flavor and taste of dark rum are quite strong and have a lot of overtones.
- White rum is used to mix drinks and cocktails, while dark rum is drunk straight or used in cooking.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
This is successful propaganda by the rum companies.
I agree with Pknight. Information shouldn’t be dismissed as propaganda.
Or just an informative piece for those interested in the topic.
This article makes me want to try a nice dark rum for the first time.
The way they explained the differences between white and dark rum is quite amusing!
I still think rum is an inferior type of alcohol compared to others.
I appreciate how clear they are about the differences between white and dark rum!
Absolutely, I agree. The explanation is quite helpful.
I appreciate how informative this article is. It really dives deep into the specifics of white and dark rum. I learned a lot and found it really interesting.
I second that! It’s very clear and concise. I enjoyed reading it.
I’m glad I now know the specifics of why different types of rum taste different.
Informative content like this is always a good read. It’s well-researched and thorough.
I’ve never been interested in rum, but this article has piqued my curiosity!
Yes, there’s so much about rum that I never knew. It’s fascinating!
This article is just propaganda for rum companies. I’m not falling for it.