by Robert Giles

Rum is a spirit that most everyone has some familiarity with—even if it isn’t something that we commonly drink. Pina coladas, mojitos, Cuba libres and daiquiris are just some of the familiar drinks that are based on rum. But what exactly is it that makes rum so special? That’s what we’ll look at here.

The basis of any rum is sugar cane. Depending on the region and producer, it will either be sugar cane molasses or sugar cane juice. This base ingredient is fermented with yeast, distilled, aged, and then blended. That may sound very sparse on the details because it is. The best thing about rum is that its production is based around tradition more than rules. This leads to each region having its own variation of basic rum and we have some great ones that should be on your radar.

Dark rums can come in all different types but two of the most known varieties are Demerara and Jamaican. Demarara rums tend have dark, round, and earthy flavors while Jaimaican rums can come across as “funky” with their big, strong flavors. Both of these rums work for darker mixed drinks, but they really shine when sipped on ice. Appleton Estate 8 year is representative of the Jamaican style, with notes of spice, vanilla and orange peel. A good example of Demerara rum is El Dorado 12 year with its fruit and spice notes rounded out by the flavors of honey and dark sugar.

No matter which rum region you decide to sample, there’s something for everyone in these bottles. Rum may have garnered a reputation as just another mixing spirit, but if you step just a little farther in you’ll find plenty of history and flavor to celebrate. Cheers!