Rum 101

 Tropical fruity drinks, dessert sauces, and other dishes, or straight, rum is a drink that includes both the light-bodied rums, typified by those of Cuba and Puerto Rico, and the heavier and fuller-flavored rums of Jamaica. Rum has a delicious, unique flavor and it’s versatile, but how do you choose the right one? Here are 5 things you need to know about rum, according to the Food Republic. 

Not all rum is sweet

How sweet or dry a rum tastes depends on three factors: the duration of the aging process, the type of barrel of said aging, and the form of sugarcane used. There is great diversity within the dryness. “People are discovering white rums that aren’t crap,” explains John McCarthy, who runs the bars at Whitehall and Highlands in New York City’s West Village. His Dry Pedro Cardamom Collins (recipe below) is a crisp cocktail that tastes more Scandinavian than tropical. McCarthy’s rum of choice, Brugal Extra Dry, is a particularly good gateway bottle for rum-shy

Taste the rainbow

Since the first rule of rum club is we don’t talk about rum club, it can be helpful to keep a few generalities in mind when stocking your bar. Rums are commonly categorized by color: light or white are the mildest; gold or amber have spent time in some sort of barrel; dark have been barrel- or cask-aged for longer, and taste a little like whisky; and black are as rich as a Guinness on your birthday.

No rules, just rum

As lawless as a Viggo Mortensen film, the world of rum is not regulated by the sort of strict classification system that classifies beverages definitively like cognac or bourbon. Individual countries of origin have their own standards — meaning that any spirit that starts with some form of sugarcane can be called rum. The diversity of the designations means rums can range from clear and gin-like to dark, molasses-heavy brews.

Stop swilling. Start sipping

You heard it here first: sipping rums will be the biggest thing to hit bars since artful facial hair or artisanal ice. Haiti’s Rhum Barbancourt is a whiskey-like rum that’s fantastic neat or on ice. Better still, it’s widely available in the U.S. in distillations aged 4, 8 and 15 years. Brugal’s new 1888 is aged 8-15 years in Spanish sherry oak casks used for single malts, and has a smooth, dry bite.

Don’t call it a comeback

Like the navy suit or A Night at the Opera, the daiquiri is classic for good reason. Papa Hemingway’s poison is a crisp, citrusy refresher made from a simple blend of fresh lime, water or simple syrup, and a light rum like Cruzan. Or, take a cue from Bermuda’s 19th Century British Royal Navy (as one does). Serve up a Dark and Stormy made with the island’s own stout-like Goslings Black Seal, lime and locally brewed Barritt’s ginger beer.

Are you ready to take a deep dive into the world of rum? If so, stop into Universal Fine Wine & Spirits today! At Universal Fine Wine & Spirits, we want to make sure you are going home with the perfect rum, so ask away. We will be more than happy to help answer any of your questions. Come in and talk to an employee, give us a call at 727-937-8330, or visit our website.

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/rum-liquor

https://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/09/11/10-things-you-really-need-to-know-about-rum/