The ultimate rum guide

Rum is not just a rum-tastic drink, it's a whole vibe, a cultural experience! It’s the taste of the Caribbean beaches, the sound of steel drums and the smell of tropical fruits. Whether you're sipping on a frozen Piña Colada on a hot summer's afternoon or toasting an occasion with a neat glass of the finest rum, we love how this spirit can transport you to another place and time with just a few sips. That’s why we rounded up everything you need to know about your favorite sip in this ultimate guide to rum. Let's dive right in…

1. Harvesting: Harvesting provides rum makers with the sugarcane to produce the rum. Back in the day, harvesters would use machetes to cut the stalks as close to the root as possible, collecting the segment with the highest sugar concentration. Today, machines do most of the heavy lifting, but the process still involves washing and chopping the cane into small pieces.
2. Sugar Extraction: Sugarcane contains 75% water, with the remaining portion being sugar and fiber. To extract the sugar juice, the harvested cane goes through a process of washing, chopping and pressing. This is how you get sugarcane juice. The process of making everyday sugar (yes, the stuff you put in your coffee) results in a thick, delicious by-product called molasses, which can also be used to make rum. After the molasses, sugar or sugarcane juice is fermented and distilled, it creates a smooth and delicious rum.
3. Fermentation: It's amazing how much goes into creating the perfect bottle of rum. During fermentation, yeast transforms sugars into alcohol, giving rum its unique taste. Producers mix yeast and water with the cane to initiate this process, and depending on the yeast strain and rum style, fermentation can last anywhere from 24 hours to 3 weeks. Parts of previous fermentations or bits of the used sugarcane can be added at this stage to create some truly unique flavors.
4. Distillation: The distillers start with a fermented liquid and then heat it up until it boils. The alcohol in the liquid turns into vapor faster than the water, which is how they extract the good stuff. There are two main methods for doing this - Copper Pot and Column Still. Both have their own benefits, it just depends on what you're looking for.

There are lots of different types of rum, which come in different colors, flavors, ages and proofs. Here are a few of the most popular ones:

• Dark rum: This one is the ultimate drink if you appreciate the finer things in life. It's complex and rich in flavor, aged to perfection in charred oak barrels and you can expect to taste notes of sweet caramel, smooth vanilla and a hint of spice. Enjoy dark rum neat or in a classic Dark and Stormy cocktail.
• White rum: If you prefer a milder and fruitier flavor, white rum is the one. It's either bottled straight away or rested for a short period of time, giving it a smoother taste. Oh, and it's also known as silver or light rum. Perfect for mixing in fruity cocktails like the Daiquiri or the Mojito.
• Spiced rum: As the name suggests, spiced rum blends cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice (as well as many more spices) into a rum base. And it spends several years aging in oak barrels. Try it in a Spiced Rum Hot Toddy on a chilly night.
• Flavored rum: If you're looking for something a little sweeter, a flavored rum is your best bet. It's flavored by adding spices and aromatics after distillation. Coconut or pineapple rums are the most popular flavored rum, which you can use to create tropical cocktails like a Piña Colada.
• Aged rum: These are medium-bodied rums that are often quite rich in taste. Gold rums are aged in oak casks and have a dark look and smooth flavor. Aged rums are best used to mix up Mai Tai's or Rum Punches.