Rum is a mouthwatering alcoholic beverage made from the juice or molasses of cane sugar and water.

Rum originally originated in the Caribbean island region where sugarcane was very freely available. It is suitable both to be drunk on its own - but especially also for drinks.

In this guide, we go over everything worth knowing about rum: which rum is – in our eyes – the best, the difference between white and dark rum, how rum is made and what drinks you can make with rum.

Diplomatico rum is among the best in the world

Diplomatico Rum comes from Venezuela and is among the most recognized and loved rums in the world. They offer a wide range of rums, which come in both light and dark variations.

Especially their Reserva Exclusiva , is a firm favorite among rum lovers. It is a blend of dark (80%) and light (20%) rums of different ages, which have then been aged for up to 12 years. The taste is characterized by vanilla and honey tones, which develop into a heavier impression of dark caramel and cinnamon.

If you want to get your hands on a unique experience instead, you can buy their Ambassador Selection . It is an exclusive pleasure, as only around 600-1000 bottles are delivered to Denmark per year. It is characterized by the characteristic sweetness of Diplomatico, but also has a number of discreet aromas of dried fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate and coffee. It gives a wonderfully creamy taste experience.

If you're looking for a good deal on rum, you can also invest in the Diplomaticos No.1,2 & 3 Batch Distillery Collection .

White or dark rum?

White or light rum has been aged for a shorter time than dark rum. This means that it is more or less ready to drink, basically after it has been distilled. It just needs to be filtered first so that all impurities have been removed.

White or pale rum often has a sweeter but more understated taste.

Dark rum starts out with the same clear color that you see with light rum. But after it has been filtered, it must be aged. This gives the rum a darker color because it absorbs flavor and color from the wooden barrels in which it is aged. The longer it is aged, the darker it becomes.

How do you make rum?

Rum consists of a mixture of sugar (often cane sugar) and water. When the water and sugar are mixed, it must be fermented until it reaches an alcohol percentage of between 8-10%.

When the fermentation is over, the liquid must be distilled until it reaches an alcohol percentage of up to 80%, after which it is aged in oak barrels. After storage, the rum must be diluted down to 40-43% alcohol.

Now the rum is ready to be bottled.

Rum glass has a tulip shape to ensure the optimal taste experience

The rum is best enjoyed in a rum glass.

Rum glasses are available both with and without a stem. The unique design of the glasses – the tulip shape with its narrow base, wider body and slender opening – is designed to maximize the taste and aroma impression.

At PremiumBottles you can currently buy an exclusivegift box with two rum glasses and a bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum .

Drinks with rum

Rum is the cornerstone of a multitude of cocktails and drinks.

However, there are two drinks in particular – an arch-classic and a modern darling – that characterize rum drinks today. It's Dark 'n' Stormy and Cuba Libre, or Rum & Coke.

Dark 'n' Stormy

Dark 'n' Stormy is a classic highball cocktail made with dark rum and ginger beer. A little lime or syrup is often added to give it a touch of sweetness and freshness.

See our take on a Dark 'n' Stormy recipe .

The current copyright owner of Dark 'n' Stormy is the Gosling Brothers, who have said the recipe was invented in Bermuda, just after WW1. Because Gosling Brothers is so relatively tiresome, if you don't use their rum in the recipe, it is sometimes also called a 'Safe Harbour'.

Rum & Coke / Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre or Rum & Coke is a simple but very mouth-watering drink.

In its simplicity, it consists of light rum, cola - and a squeeze of lime, if you want to make a real Cuba Libre.

The drink was created at the beginning of the 20th century, when Cuba first started importing Coca Cola from the United States. The name is Spanish and means “Free Cuba”, as it is strongly associated with the Cuban liberation movement that arose after the Spanish-American War in 1898.