Rum is a popular spirit made from sugarcane byproducts like molasses or sugarcane juice. While traditional rums are often enjoyed straight or in cocktails, spiced rums have added flavors from spices and other ingredients.
What is spiced rum?
Spiced rum is rum that has been infused with spices, fruits, nuts, herbs, or other flavors. Some common ingredients used to make spiced rum include:
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Peppercorn
- Orange peel
- Lime juice
- Almond
- Coconut
The spices and flavors are often steeped in the rum to allow the flavonoids to infuse into the spirit. The rum may be aged before or after the flavor infusion process.
What makes spiced rum different from regular rum?
Here are some of the key differences between regular rum and spiced rum:
Flavor
The most noticeable difference is the flavor. While regular rum tastes predominantly of molasses or sugarcane, spiced rum has extra flavors from the added spices, fruits, herbs, nuts, or other ingredients.
Sweetness
Many spiced rums have added sugar or flavors that make them taste sweeter than regular rum. The extra sweetness helps balance out the spices.
Alcohol content
Spiced rums often have a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) compared to traditional rums. This is done to make the flavorful rums more palatable when sipped straight. Regular rums are often 40% ABV or higher, while spiced rums may be 35% ABV or less.
Aging
Some spiced rums are aged in oak barrels before bottling to smooth out the flavors and add complexity. The aging time can range from a few months to several years. Regular rums may be unaged or aged longer.
Color
The spices and other ingredients used to make spiced rum can give it a darker color, ranging from warm golden to deep mahogany tones. Regular white or gold rums are often lighter.
Serving
Spiced rums are commonly enjoyed neat, on the rocks or used in mixed drinks. They pair especially well with cola or ginger beer. Regular rum is also very mixable, but may overpower more delicate ingredients.
Popular spiced rum brands
Some well-known brands of spiced rum include:
Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan makes various spiced rums, including their Original Spiced Rum with notes of vanilla, caramel and other spices.
Sailor Jerry
Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum gets its flavors from a blend of Caribbean rum, cinnamon, ginger and other spices.
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Kraken is known for its bold black color and flavors like cinnamon, clove and anise.
Bacardi Oakheart
Bacardi’s Oakheart balances vanilla, maple and spices in an amber colored rum.
| Brand | Notable Flavors |
|---|---|
| Captain Morgan Original Spiced | Vanilla, caramel, spices |
| Sailor Jerry | Cinnamon, ginger, spices |
| Kraken Black Spiced | Cinnamon, clove, anise |
| Bacardi Oakheart | Vanilla, maple, spices |
Cruzan Rum 9 Spiced Rum
Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum features a blend of nine spices including allspice, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
How is spiced rum made?
While the exact methods vary between brands, here is a general overview of how spiced rum is made:
Start with a base rum
The process starts with a regular or light rum as the base spirit. This provides the main rum flavor.
Choose spices and ingredients
Spices, fruits, herbs and other flavorings are selected based on the desired taste profile for the final spiced rum.
Prepare ingredients
The spices and ingredients may be toasted or processed to bring out optimal flavor.
Steep ingredients in rum
The ingredients are added to the rum and allowed to steep anywhere from several days to several weeks. This infuses the flavors into the rum.
Filter and adjust
Once flavors are extracted, the liquid is filtered. Sugar or honey may be added at this point to balance flavors and sweetness.
Age and finish
The spiced rum may be barrel-aged in charred oak barrels to smooth out the flavors. Bottling and finishing processes follow.
How to drink spiced rum
Here are some delicious ways to enjoy spiced rum:
On the rocks
Pour spiced rum over ice and enjoy it straight up to savor the flavors.
Mixed drinks
Combine with cola, ginger ale, fruit juices or other mixers for a tasty cocktail. Popular mixes include rum and coke or a Cuba libre.
Hot drinks
Add to coffee, hot cider or hot chocolate for a spicy warm-up drink.
Shots
Shoot spiced rum straight or in combination with other spirits.
In punches or sangria
Include in rum punches, hurricane cocktails or fruity sangria punches.
In desserts
Use spiced rum to flavor desserts like bread pudding, rum cake or bananas foster.
In marinades
Marinate meats in spiced rum to impart sweet and savory flavors.
Conclusion
Spiced rum expands on traditional rum with added flavors from spices, fruits, nuts and other ingredients. The result is a more complex, sweeter rum that makes an excellent sipping spirit or cocktail mixer. While spiced rum contains many of the same ingredients as regular rum, the flavor infusion process transforms it into a whole new tasting experience. With so many brands and flavors to choose from, spiced rum is a spirit to explore.
