Spiced Rum: Sweet, Spicy, and Perfect for Cocktails
With its sweet and spicy profile, spiced rum is a delightful spirit that appeals to newcomers to the world of spirits and seasoned connoisseurs. Its versatility and approachable flavor make it a favorite in mixology.
Understanding Spiced Rum
Spiced rum is a variant of traditional rum, which is distilled from sugarcane and aged in oak barrels. The aging process, along with factors like caramelization of the sugarcane, determines the rum’s color, ranging from light to dark. Spiced rum takes this process further by infusing the rum with spices and sometimes additional caramel for sweetness. Common spices include cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, and cloves, with some brands also incorporating aniseed, nutmeg, or pepper for added complexity.
How to Enjoy Spiced Rum
- Spiced Rum and Cola: A classic and popular way to enjoy spiced rum. The cola complements the sweet and spicy notes of the rum, making for a refreshing and easy-to-drink beverage.
- Ginger Beer Mix: Mix spiced rum with a strong ginger beer like Dalston’s or Fever-Tree for a bolder taste. This combination creates a robust and flavorful drink that’s sure to please those who enjoy intense flavors.
- Cocktail Creations: Spiced rum is a fantastic cocktail ingredient. It can either play a supporting role, as in the vodka-based Warsaw Cooler or be the show’s star in drinks like the Cable Car, where its spiciness and sweetness add depth and character.
- Recommended Brands: For those looking to explore spiced rum, brands like Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry, and Kraken offer accessible and flavorful options. Sadler’s Peaky Blinder black spiced rum is another excellent choice, perfect for sipping neat or over ice.
DIY Spiced Rum
Making your spiced rum is a simple and rewarding process. Start with a bottle of your favorite light or dark rum – opt for something affordable, as the spices will be the dominant flavors. Transfer the rum into an airtight container and add whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, allspice berries, and orange peel. Let the mixture infuse for two to three days in a cool, dark place, tasting periodically until it reaches your desired level of spiciness and sweetness. Once ready, enjoy your homemade spiced rum in cocktails or as a sipping spirit.
Some Commonly Enjoyed Spiced Rum Cocktails
With its rich flavors of spices and sweetness, spiced rum is a versatile and popular choice for various cocktails. Here are some commonly enjoyed spiced rum cocktails:
- Dark ‘n’ Stormy: A classic cocktail that combines spiced rum with ginger beer and a squeeze of lime. It’s known for its balance of spice, sweetness, and citrus.
- Spiced Rum Mojito: A twist on the traditional Mojito, this version uses spiced rum instead of white rum, adding a warm and spicy undertone to the mint and lime flavors.
- Rum Punch: A tropical and fruity cocktail that typically mixes spiced rum with fruit juices like pineapple, orange, and lime, often with a hint of grenadine for sweetness and color.
- Spiced Rum Old Fashioned: A variation of the classic Old Fashioned, using spiced rum instead of bourbon or rye whiskey. The spiced rum adds a unique depth and warmth to this traditionally whiskey-based cocktail.
- Cable Car: A modern classic created by Tony Abou-Ganim, the Cable Car mixes spiced rum, orange curaçao, and lemon juice, served in a cinnamon-sugar rimmed glass.
- Hot Buttered Rum: Perfect for colder months, this comforting drink combines spiced rum with a rich buttery mixture, hot water or cider, and often a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Spiced Rum Daiquiri: Giving a twist to the classic Daiquiri, this version uses spiced rum for a more robust flavor profile, mixed with lime juice and simple syrup.
- Painkiller: A creamy and tropical cocktail, the Painkiller is made with spiced rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cream of coconut, garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
- Spiced Rum and Cola: A simple yet popular mix, spiced rum and cola is an easy-to-make drink enjoyed worldwide. The spiciness of the rum complements the sweetness of the cola.
- Sailor’s Mule: A variation of the Moscow Mule, this cocktail uses spiced rum instead of vodka, mixed with ginger beer and lime juice, served in a copper mug.
These cocktails showcase the versatility of spiced rum, making it a favorite for casual drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts whether you’re looking for something refreshing, tropical, warm, or comforting, a spiced rum cocktail suits every taste.
Spiced rum is a versatile and inviting spirit, perfect for those just beginning their journey into the world of spirits and seasoned drinkers looking for something different. Whether enjoyed in a simple mix with cola, in a complex cocktail, or on its own, spiced rum offers a delightful blend of sweetness and spice that is sure to captivate and refresh.