Rum
A clear bottle of rum for a Mojito, or a dark rum to sip neat by the fireplace. Rum is made wherever sugarcane grows. Here, you'll learn what rum is, what types there are, how to drink it, and which glass to use.
The best-known rum brands
Three brands found in almost every bar. Each comes from a different part of the shelf: white, aged, and spiced.
Bacardi
White rum from Cuba and, since 1862, the go-to base for the Mojito and Daiquiri. Light and dry, so you can use it for almost anything.
About Bacardi →Havana Club
Cuban rum in the light ron ligero style. Made from molasses and aged twice in ex-bourbon casks. From the young 3 Años to the 15 Años.
About Havana Club →Captain Morgan
Caribbean rum with vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves. This is the bottle behind the rum and cola most frequently ordered in the Netherlands.
About Captain Morgan →Our drinks page lists all the brands we cover, from rum to whisky.
Every rum, listed by brand
9 brands and 20 flavors, each with its own page about flavor, cocktails and the right glass.
What is rum? Sugar cane, a barrel and warm weather
Rum is distilled from sugar cane. There are two ways to make it. Most rum is made from molasses, the thick black syrup left over after sugar cane has been processed into sugar. That's where the rounded, sweet flavor that most people expect from rum comes from. Rum made from freshly pressed cane juice is grassier and earthier. The cane is first fermented and then distilled. Column stills produce a light style, while pot stills make a heavier, fuller-bodied rum. By law, rum must contain at least 37.5% alcohol. Most bottles are between 37.5 and 45%.
Rum has hardly any strict rules about aging or origin. That's why the bottles vary so widely. The climate always plays a part, though. In the Caribbean, Venezuela or the Philippines, it's warm all year round. The rum interacts with the wood faster there, and much more evaporates each year than in Scotland. As a result, a seven-year-old tropical rum tastes older than its age. Also check the label for sweetness. Spiced rum and rum liqueur often have sugar and flavorings added after distillation, and you can taste it right away.
In brief
Four styles you'll find on every shelf
The color tells you something about aging, but not everything. Dark rum is sometimes colored with caramel, and white rum may well have been aged. Shelves are usually organized by these styles.
White rum
Light and dry. Often aged briefly and then filtered to remove the color. In a cocktail, it lets the citrus and sugar do their thing instead of overpowering them.
Gold rum
Aged for a few years in oak, usually ex-bourbon barrels. That's where it gets its amber color, with notes of vanilla, coconut and a little wood. It's a nice middle ground: you can mix with it or drink it neat.
Dark rum
Aged longer and fuller-bodied, with dried fruit, toffee and cocoa notes. These bottles are for drinking neat, or at most with an ice cube. Sometimes the color is adjusted with caramel.
Spiced rum
Rum with spices added after distillation, and usually sugar too. Think vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Sweet and easy-drinking, and really made for mixing.
Rhum agricole from the French Antilles is made from fresh sugarcane juice. Overproof rum is well over 50%, and rum cream is simply a liqueur.
What does rum taste like?
Vanilla & caramel
Almost always vanilla and caramel from the oak, with ripe fruit such as banana, pineapple, or dried apricot. Rhum agricole, by contrast, smells of grass and earth.
Round and smooth
Rum tastes sweeter than other spirits, even without added sugar. That comes from the sugarcane itself. Spiced rum adds cinnamon and cloves on top.
Warm and lingering
A young white rum has a short, clean finish. Aged rum lingers, warm and long, with oak, cocoa, and sometimes a hint of orange peel.
That’s what an average golden rum tastes like. White rum is less sweet and less fruity. Spiced rum rates around 4 for spice and close to 5 for sweetness.
Three ways to drink rum
With rum, you can make a summery long drink or open a bottle to enjoy by the fireplace. Which way you go depends on the style you have at home.
In a Mojito
5 cl white rum, 3 cl lime juice, 2 cl sugar syrup, and a handful of mint in a tall glass. Top with crushed ice and a splash of sparkling water. Gently press the mint against the side of the glass. Don’t muddle it, or it’ll turn bitter.
Mojito recipe →Neat or on the rocks
Pour aged rum at room temperature into a tumbler or a tulip-shaped tasting glass, with no more than one large ice cube. Let it sit for a moment. The vanilla and dried fruit really come through after a minute or two.
More with rum →In a Daiquiri
Shake 6 cl white rum, 2.5 cl fresh lime juice, and 1.5 cl sugar syrup vigorously with plenty of ice, then strain into an ice-cold coupe glass. With just three ingredients, everything has to be just right. This is where you’ll find out if a rum is any good.
Daiquiri recipe →The best-known rum cocktails
Almost every tropical classic starts with rum, as do a few that aren’t tropical at all. Start with these recipes.
Mojito
White rum, lime, mint, sugar, and sparkling water. Cuba’s summer drink.
Daiquiri
Rum, lime, and sugar. There’s nothing to hide, so choose your rum carefully.
Cuba Libre
Rum with cola and a generous wedge of lime. The lime is what makes it.
Piña Colada
Rum, coconut, and pineapple. Creamy and sweet, and there’s no shame in that.The right glass for rum
For a Mojito, use a tall glass with a sturdy base. For aged rum, you’ll want a glass that concentrates the aromas. These are the glasses we recommend.
Everything else you wanted to know about rum
Can’t find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What is rum made from?
What percentage alcohol is rum?
What’s the difference between white and brown rum?
What exactly is spiced rum?
What is rhum agricole?
Why is young rum from the tropics so mature?
Buy rum
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order rum online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 141 varieties, 33 of which are on sale.
Prices as of November 6, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it costs you nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
