The spiced rums are the most flavored category among the sugar cane spirits. They are versatile distillates that work in many drinks, hot or cold. Today, you can see a great variety of them stored on liquor shelves around the world, as there are a considerable number of brands focused on this style of rum.
Due to its distinctive flavor and the increasing market demand for new exciting spirits, this rum is becoming popular day by day. We invite you to explore all about it.
When spiced rum became recognized as a type or subcategory of rum is a difficult question to answer, considering that the standards to define what qualifies as rum differs from one country to another. What is widely known is that, traditionally, islanders have been infusing rum with spices – among many other ingredients – for centuries.
The original purpose of this practice was to cool the heat of fresh rum and make the raw spirit palatable; likewise, it has medicinal use. However, it was not until the Captain Morgan Rum Brand put spiced rum on a visible platform that the practice of flavoring rum with special ingredients became popular. Therefore, although rum has a history of more than four centuries, “spiced rum” as such is relatively new.
In the 1980s, Jamaicans decided to create their own secret blend of herbs, spices, and fruits; so that the brand started offering spiced rum in the U.S. Since then, species are used to enhance the sweetness of a rum and add complexity.
Among the variety of rum categories, you can find spiced expressions. A Spiced Rum is any kind of rum that has been flavored with natural herbs and spices. The spices are generally derived from seeds, roots, dried fruits, barks, or leaves. For instance, clove, cinnamon, cassia, vanilla, star anise, citrus fruit, nutmeg, cardamom, orange peel, ginger, pepper, allspice, among many others.
It is subjected to maceration processes, similar to those of gins, which results in a drink with great complexity and deep flavors. Once traditional white rum is distilled, spices and molasses are added, and then it is aged in oak barrels.
In addition, it is important to clarify that spiced rum does not have to be spicy, although on some occasions both characteristics can be given.
The countless types of flavors and spices infused into rums offer a wide range of interesting variations of spirits. There are also a few more rums with added flavors like fruit extracts of citrus, cherry, coconut, mint, caramel and banana, berries, pineapple, mango, and tropical plants.
Sometimes they are fruity, but the spices must always dominate. In fact, the distilled spirits standards state that to be a spiced rum the spirit must have more than 2% of extra flavor agents. Otherwise, it is classified as “rhum arrangé” or macerated rum – a rum made from sugar cane juice mainly macerated with fruits to add flavor.
In the U.S., this kind of rum is generally classified as “flavored rum” or “specialty spirit”. According to their laws, products labeled as rum must contain at least 40% ABV (80 proof), and the distilled spirits that do not meet this requirement are labeled as flavored rum – whether or not they contain dominant flavor agents.
“A distilled spirits product may not fit into any of the classes or types of spirits found in the regulations, usually because of the addition of flavoring materials or because it was made with a non-standard blending or treating material. When this is the case, the product must be labeled with a truthful and adequate statement of composition such as ‘Rum with natural flavors.’ These products will also bear a mandatory fanciful name, such as ‘Spiced Rum.’”
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, TTB.
On the other hand, in the UK, the regulations indicate that a spiced rum must be bottled at over 37.5% ABV (75 proof). This means that in this country spiced expressions from brands like Captain Morgan and Bacardí cannot legally be classed as “spiced rum” because they have an alcohol content of 35% ABV (70 proof).
| Characteristics | Spiced Rum | Botanical Rum | Dark Rum |
| Production process | The base is an aged spirit. Macerated with a clear dominance of baking spices. Also infused with extracts from various rums. | The base is usually white rum. Flavorings tend to be more herbaceous or floral (herbs, edible flowers, etc.), though baking spices and barks are often part of the mix, too. Flavored after distillation. There are no geographical restrictions, so it can be made anywhere. | Made in the same way as white and silver rums, but it does not go through the filtration process. |
| Aging | Sometimes, it is aged for the same length of time as dark rum. | Lightly aged | It has aged longer. |
| Color | The spices are what lead to its darker color. | Lighter in color, usually silver or white. | The extended time it spends in wooden casks gives it a color that can range from amber to dark brown. True black rum contains extra molasses or caramel to darken the color and sweeten it. |
| Flavor | It has a sweeter and more robust taste. | Tends to be drier in taste. This is not sweetened. | Deep and smoky-sweet. |
Rum + Coke will always be the best combination, especially if we have a bottle of spiced rum. Although, we can always go for more, and try a variety of recipes. Depending on the spice profile of the spirit, you can choose from fruit juices, craft mixers, or introduce some other elements to make them part of a really good cocktail.
Still, high-quality spiced and flavored rums are perfect as a sipping drink on the rocks, as long as they are infused with natural ingredients. This will give you the chance to taste all of the flavors that have been distilled into the spirit. On the contrary, artificially flavored rum may be better in a cocktail with plenty of other flavors.
Many different brands include spiced spirits in their expressions. Let’s check out some of the most popular ones.
A premium spirit made with the finest Caribbean Rum. The brand uses a secret recipe of adventurous spice and flavors that are expertly blended and matured in charred American white oak bourbon barrels to create a rich taste and aroma. It is bottled at 35% ABV (70 proof) and it has notes of natural vanilla, dried fruit, brown sugar, and hints of oak with a smooth finish.
An extraordinary blend of rums aged from three to six-year-old in American white oak barrels. This Puerto Rican premium rum has a rich, smooth, and robust texture. Warm kitchen spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel slowly give way to oaky notes and a touch of roasted coffee. It is bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof).
Another premium rum brand from Destilería Serrallés Inc. It was named after the legendary King of Pirates, BlackBeard. The tantalizing recipe for the 86 proof (43% ABV) spirit combines the finest Caribbean spices like vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon with a secret blend of exotic tropical fruits to create a unique and balanced flavor.
This rum is a gluten-free spirit blended with natural flavors and spices for a bold and smooth taste. It is made of aged rum with a hint of smokiness from charred American oak barrels. It has both light and deep notes, making it perfect for mixing. It is bottled at 35% ABV (70 proof).
From the US Virgin Islands, Sailor Jerry is a dark rum flavored with a blend of spices, with strong notes of vanilla and cinnamon. It is bottled at 46% (92 proof), which makes it stand out in cocktails.
Kraken Rum is a spirit of unparalleled darkness from Trinidad and Tobago. It is infused with a secret blend of spices, caramel, and other natural flavors with strong notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and a lingering spicy finish. It is bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof).
From the island of St Lucia, it is usually spiced with local spices and fruits, including cinnamon, clove, vanilla, nutmeg, coconut, allspice, lemon, orange, and a touch of bark from a tree that is known as an aphrodisiac. This is a blend of column and pot still rum, aged in ex-bourbon barrels with fruits and spices added during the final six months spent in oak vats. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), it is the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
The Guatemalan distillers behind Ron Botran have created their very own limited edition spiced spirit to join this range. It features a selection of four botanicals to help amp up the flavor profile, which includes cardamom, vanilla, clove, and ginger, resulting in a fine balance of sweetness and spice. It is distilled in copper pot stills, which enhance its craft credentials and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).
From Barbados, it is one of the best dry spiced rums, blended by the molasses-stained hands of Master Distiller Richard Searle. This is a classic Bajan Rum (distilled with both column and pot stills), which makes for a light, fruity spirit that has been enhanced by cinnamon and ginger flavors. It is bottled at 37.5% ABV (75 proof) and does not have any added sweetness, so it is best suited to those that like a spicy flavor, wrapped up in a buttery smooth finish.
Cruzan, located in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, produces this rum. Its name is based on the number of spices used as flavoring: allspice, vanilla, pepper, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, and juniper berry. Those create a rich amber-colored rum. It is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).
From the St Kitts Rum Company, Shipwreck is unique as it is blended with 4-year-old rum. This is the latest in a portfolio of flavored rums blended and bottled in St Kitts and Nevis for the US and Caribbean markets. This rum is bottled at 36% ABV (72 proof).
RedLeg is distilled in the Caribbean. It is aged in old oak barrels infused with Jamaican vanilla and ginger, giving it its signature sweet spiciness. Bottled at 37.5% (75 proof), RedLeg is one of the UK’s fastest-growing rum brands.
Spiced and flavored rums continue growing with offerings that have a sense of regionality – through ingredients that only grow in specific locations – as well as seasonality, and different infusion techniques. According to a EMR’s report, the spiced and flavored rum industry reached a considerable value of about USD 6.2 billion in 2021, and currently it holds a significant share in the global market, which is expected to grow in the following years.
In the Asia Pacific and Europe, the spiced and flavored rum market is most likely to witness a rise in the forecast period as well. The growth in the region is being triggered by the rising consumer demand mostly from South Korea, Japan, China, India, the Philippines, and Germany.
Furthermore, the industry is significantly being supported by what is called the “cocktail revolution”, which has made this category gain attention from bartenders and drinkers who are interested in exotic flavors. What is more, the introduction of new varieties of spiced rum is expected to boost the growth of the market.
To sum up, these flavored rums are not only for people trying to be initiated into drinking a particular type of spirit but also for those who want to explore new exciting flavors. Just remember, the highly recommended spiced rums are those made with natural flavorings.
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