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Everything about white rum you should know Introduction of rum its origin : Rum is liquor consumed all over the world. As per record, it originated in the West Indies. The first mention of rum was found in Barbados in about 1650.   Earlier, it was called ‘rumbullion’ or ‘kill-devil’. By the year 1667, it was called as ‘rum’. Back then, slaves were brought from places like Africa and traded to the West Indies for producing molasses which were then made into rum in New England. Followed, rum was further traded to Africa for more slaves. From the 18th century, the British sailors used to receive regular rations of rum. It continued till 1970. Early history of the United States depicts that rum was the main liquor distilled and mixed with molasses and known as Blackstrap. Also, it was blended with cider for producing a unique beverage named ‘stonewall’.

What is white rum?

White rum, also called light rum, is unique distilled liquor produced from sugarcane products like sugarcane juice or molasses. It is filtered and immediately bottled without aging. In simple words, white rum is non-aged rum. But, some manufacturers age the rum inside a barrel for few years and remove the color through charcoal filtration.

White rum is a popular mix for cocktails due to its flavor and sweetness. Often, white rum is consumed straight as many people love the soft flavor.

From where does it come from?      

Most of the white rums come from Puerto Rico. Tanduay is known to be the largest producer of rum throughout the world. Other rum producing nations are Panama, Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, and Venezuela.

Fermentation process: 

Rum is produced by adding yeast and water to molasses. Yeast is carefully selected for ensuring the perfect taste and aroma of white rum. Fermentation involves yeast converting sugar into alcohol. Some rum producers use wild yeast for fermentation. Most of the producers use specific strains of yeast for providing a consistent taste and fermentation time that can be predicted. Distillers that produce lighter rums use faster working yeasts. Whereas, slower working yeasts allow more esters to accumulate during the process of fermentation giving fuller tasting final rum. Fermentation products such as 2-ethyl-3-methyl butyric acid and esters including ethyl butyrate and ethyl hexanoate help rum to get the fruitiness and sweetness.

How is it different from dark rum?

There are distinct differences between white rum and dark rum.

The aging process of white rum happens in stainless steel barrel; whereas, dark rum is aged in charred oak barrel. Dark rum takes longer to age than white rum.

Dark rums have deeper flavors and overtones compared to white rums. Often, rum is made darker by adding caramel to it. Also, rum is made lighter by filtering it.

White rum is mostly used in cocktails and mixed beverages. On the other hand, dark rum is mostly consumed straight and many people use dark rum for cooking.

Production of white rum involves fast fermentation as it gives rise to a lighter wash which again produce white rum. Whereas, dark rum production involves slow and orderly fermentation process, and addition of yeast takes place in intervals.

Which white rum taste better aged or fresh?

Preference of taste completely depends upon the consumers. However, the longer the rum is aged, the more its taste converges. Older rums are considered as quality-wise higher than the less aged or non-aged rums. The overall texture and taste improves with age.

How much is safe to drink?

An adult can drink up to 1.5 ounces of rum per day. However, it is not advised to allow an individual below 21 years to consume rum.  

Is it beneficial?

Consumption of rum is healthy.               

De-stress

Rum (any variety) helps people to forget stressors for sometimes. It reduces anxiety too.

Control blood sugar:

The medical properties of rum prevent the risk of diabetes.

Improves heart health:

Rum acts as a blood thinner. It prevents blood clots. Also, rum is known to be associated to good cholesterol or HDL.

Treats common cold:

Rum has high bacterial properties that help in treating common cold.

Antiseptic:

Rum is a potent antiseptic used for cleaning wounds.

Reduces muscle pain:

Rum helps in reducing muscle pain. Also, it increases bone mineral density and prevents osteoporosis.

Who can drink it?

Any individual above 21 years old can consume rum.                                                      

Conclusion: Rum is a globally consumed alcoholic beverage that has lots of health benefits. Some prefer to add it to their favorite cocktail while others prefer to have it neat. Varieties of flavors are available in white rum. The price differs. Be responsible while drinking rum. Do not over-consume it.