Key difference: White rums tend to have a fairly clean and sweet taste. Dark rums are quite popular and have a bold, fuller taste. Dark rums also have a greater amount of underlying molasses and sometimes caramel flavor, as well as a tinge of spices.

Rum is a type of liquor that is made from fermented sugarcane and molasses, which is the syrupy by-product of sugarcane. The process of making rum includes taking the sweet juices from the sugarcane and turning them into molasses. The molasses is then fermented into rum. The rum is then aged in casks and the type of cask used determines the final color of the rum.

According to the United States Government Federal Standards of Identity, the official definition of rum states: “(f) Class 6; rum. ‘Rum’ is an alcoholic distillate from the fermented juice of sugar cane, sugar cane syrup, sugar cane molasses, or other sugar cane by-products, produced at less than 190 proof in such manner that the distillate possesses the taste, aroma and characteristics generally attributed to rum, and bottled at not less than 80 proof; and also includes mixtures solely of such distillates.”

Rum is most commonly available as white rum, gold rum, and dark rum. As previously stated the amount of time the rum is aged and the type of cask it is aged in, determines the color of the rum. There are also some differences in the taste and uses of the different rums.

Rum basically starts its journey as a clear alcoholic beverage but takes different shades during storage or aging. It generally gains hues of golden and amber as they mature. Some distillers actually add burnt sugar or caramel coloring to enhance or balance the color for consistency. Many dark rums gain most of their rich color and often their full-bodied flavor from added caramel or molasses.

White rum is traditionally produce and is quite popular in Spanish speaking countries. White rums tend to have a fairly clean and sweet taste, which makes it quite popular with many people. Its taste also makes it quite compatible for many cocktail recipes. It is rarely drunk straight and is often mixed with other ingredients. White rum is also sold in many flavored forms, especially made popular by Bacardi.

White rum is traditionally aged in stainless steel tanks for up to a year and filtered before bottling. The filtration process gets rid of any colors that the rum might have picked up while aging. The process also gives white rum its clean and light flavor. White rums are also considered be cheaper to make and less expensive to purchase that more mature rums.

Dark rums are quite popular and have a bold, fuller taste. This is mainly due to longer aging time in heavy burnt barrels. They are commonly aged two or more years in charred oak casks. Dark rums also have a greater amount of underlying molasses and sometimes caramel flavor, as well as tinges of spices. Dark rum is also called red rum or black rum, depending on its color. Dark rum is usually drunk as it, or sipped. It is also sometimes used in rum punches and in cocktails, in addition to white rum. Dark rum is also commonly used in cooking.

A detailed comparison between White Rum and Dark Rum:

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