How is white rum made?
White rum is made by fermenting a sugarcane product, usually molasses, distilling it in a column still, a pot still or both, and then removing any color. Some brands age it in barrels first and filter it through charcoal; others bottle it unaged. Methods differ by brand.
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How is white rum made?
The basic path is the same for most rum: ferment, distill, then finish. For white rum the finishing step is about keeping it clear. Details vary by distillery, so treat this as a general outline.
- Raw material: most rum is made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar making. Some rums use fresh cane juice instead.
- Fermentation: yeast turns the sugars into alcohol. One producer that uses molasses alone ferments for about 36 to 45 hours in concrete tanks with its own yeast.
- Distillation: a column (continuous) still tends to give a lighter spirit, while a pot still gives a heavier one. Some makers use both and blend them. The producer mentioned above combines a column still with a copper pot still.
- Resting or aging: some white rums are bottled with little or no aging. Others are matured in barrels first; the same producer ages parts of its distillate for 2 to 3 years in ex-bourbon barrels.
- Filtering: aged rum is often charcoal filtered to strip out the color, leaving a clear spirit.
- Blending and bottling: unaged and aged rums can be blended, then diluted to bottling strength.
Why is white rum clear if it is aged?
Charcoal filtration removes the color that the barrel gave it. The flavor is usually lighter than in gold or dark rum.
How does white rum differ from other rums?
| Type | Usual difference |
|---|---|
| White | Clear, lighter flavor; may be unaged or filtered after aging |
| Gold | Often barrel aged and left with some color; varies by brand |
| Dark | Fuller flavor; often aged longer, but details vary by brand |
What to look for on the label
- The country and the words molasses or cane juice, if given.
- Any age statement or note that it was charcoal filtered.
- ABV; many white rums are bottled around 40 percent, but check the bottle.
White rum works in mojitos and daiquiris because its flavor is light. General information; please drink responsibly.
People also ask
Is white rum aged?
Sometimes. Some are bottled unaged; others are barrel aged and then filtered to remove the color.
Why is white rum clear?
Either it was never aged in a color-giving barrel or the color was removed by charcoal filtering.
What is white rum made from?
Usually molasses, though some rums use fresh sugarcane juice.
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