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Jamaican Rum Vs Spiced Rum
What is The Difference?
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by Sheree-Anita Shearer | Associate Writer
Jamaican Rum vs Spiced rum? What is the difference between the two? Jamaican rum and spiced rum are pretty different but they are both equally delicious.
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What is Defined as “Spiced Rum”?
Spiced rum has been flavoured with natural herbs and spices derived from seeds, roots, dried fruits, barks or leaves. There are many popular flavours, however, there is no limit to the number of flavours of spiced rum there can be.
Popular spiced rum flavours
- Clove
- Cinnamon
- Cassia
- Vanilla
- Star anise
- Citrus fruit
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Orange peel
- Ginger
- Pepper
- Pimento
Sometimes added flavours like extracts from fruits and tropical plants can be added to spiced rum for an even deeper flavour profile. Cherry, coconut, mint, caramel, banana, berries, pineapple and mango are often added.
Where Did Spiced Rum Come From?
While rum has been around for centuries, spiced rum is a fairly new addition. The origins are unclear, the first knowledge of spiced rum came from Seagrams’ Captain Morgan line of spiced rums which were produced out of Jamaica.
How Is Spiced Rum Made?
Traditional white rum is distilled, and then the spices and molasses are added. The rum is then aged in oak barrels. Sometimes caramel colouring is added instead of molasses in cheaper spiced rums.
What is the difference between rum and spiced rum?
White Rum has a mild flavour and is aged for around 3 years. Spiced Rum is tagged just as long as dark rum with spices and molasses added to give it a distinct taste.
Is Spiced Rum the Same As Dark Rum?
No, it isn’t. How can you tell the difference? Well, spiced rum usually has added spices and flavourings. While dark rum often has hints and notes of these same flavourings, it will be more pronounced in spiced rums. So you can taste the difference.
Dark rums are, well, darker than spiced rums. While spiced rum can be aged just as long as dark rum, it usually isn’t. It typically comes out lighter and more amber in colour than dark rums which are deeper.
Also, since dark rums are aged longer, they are often more potent than spiced rum or white rum for that matter.
What Is Spiced Rum Good With?
Spiced rum can be used in:
- Fruit juice (lemon, pineapple, cranberry, orange, and apple)
- Tonic Water
- Coke
- Ginger Beer
- Iced Tea
- Cold Brew
- Apple Cider
- Sorrel
Or you can have it on its own!
Popular Spiced Rum Brands
1. Captain Morgan’s
Captain Morgan’s brand popularised spiced rum. The Captain’s Morgan rum you get in Jamaica is completely different from the one available everywhere else in the world as it is not exported.
Interested in the history of Captain Morgan’s Rum? Read more here.
2. Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced
3. Black Beard Spiced Rum
4. Bacardí Spiced Rum
5. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
6. Kraken Black Spiced Rum
7. Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum
8. Ron Botran Cobre
9. Foursquare Spiced Rum
10. Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum
Homemade Spiced Rum Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- One 750ml bottle decent aged rum
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
- 5 whole allspice berries
- 5 whole black peppercorns
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 quarter-size pieces of fresh ginger
- Two 3-inch strips of fresh orange zest, white pith removed
PROCEDURE
- Add all your ingredients to a large, sealable jar and keep it in a cool dark place.
- Shake it once a day to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- After 48 hours have passed, taste the rum and adjust the flavour as necessary. In about 4 days, your rum should be ready.
- When it has the desired taste, stain the rum from the ingredients and bottle.
You can have it on its own, with the flavour mixes listed or while you are baking. You won’t be able to achieve the exact taste of the spiced rums that have been aged for longer but it is a fun home experience with flavourful results.
White rum is significantly more popular in Jamaica than spiced rum. We use it for everything from making cocktails to homemade remedies.
What Is White Rum Good With?
If you ask a Jamaican, everything. Here are some of our favourite mixes for white rum:
- Pepsi (or Coke)
- Fruit Juice
- Rum Punch
- Sorrel
- Gingerbeer
- Water
- Milk
- Ting (Jamaican grapefruit soda)
- Cranberry Juice
- Orange Juice
You may know the J. Wray and Nephew white rum but there are others as well. Here is a list of popular white rums in order of highest ABV. Also, here is a list of our favourite drinks made with Jamaican rum.
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References & Sources For Jamaican Rum Vs Spiced Rum
- The messy j'can legacy of captain Morgan Rum (2013) Business | Jamaica Gleaner. Available at: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131115/business/business4.html (Accessed: December 22, 2022).
- Nelson, T. (2021) What is spiced rum and how do I make it?, Allrecipes. Allrecipes. Available at: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/what-is-spiced-rum/ (Accessed: December 22, 2022).
- Smith, J. (2022) What to mix with spiced rum?, Jacobite Spirits: Scottish Spiced Rum. Jacobite Spirits: Scottish Spiced Rum. Available at: https://www.jacobitespirits.com/news/whattodrinkwithspicedrum (Accessed: December 22, 2022).
- Villegas, E.C. (2021) What you should know about spiced Rums, The Rum Lab. Available at: https://therumlab.com/what-you-should-know-about-spiced-rums/ (Accessed: December 22, 2022).
- Where did spiced rum come from? (2020) Barti Rum. Available at: https://www.bartirum.wales/uncategorized/where-did-spiced-rum-come-from/# (Accessed: December 22, 2022).
Jamaican Rum Vs Spiced Rum | Written: December 22, 2022
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