White rum is the most widely available of rum varieties that can be used in a number of popular cocktails due, in part, to the typically sweet, subtle, and clean flavour profile found in most bottles.
Although sometimes left unaged, distillers also often age their white rum product for some time before using a process of charcoal filtration that, along with removing the colour from the liquid, makes the resulting rum smoother and easier to drink.
When looking for bottles of white rum, if you prefer a bit more character to your drink, be sure to look for those white rums that have an age statement on the bottle as these tend to have a broader range of flavours to them that can vary depending on the barreling method used.
Brands such as Bacardi and Havana Club are by far the more famous of rums in this category, however, there are a multitude of smaller distilleries, including Stolen Spirits and Brugal, that are making some truly wonderful white rums.
Although initially produced in Cuba, the Bacardi family had to flee the Carribean island nation once revolution came in 1960 and so production moved to their new home in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
From here they produce a variety of rum products but are perhaps best known for their white rum the Bacardi Carta Blanca Superior White Rum.
This white rum is a classic bottle found in most bars and is aged in white oak barrels, with the resulting product being known for its subtle sweetness and easy-drinking smoothness that comes as a result of it being charcoal filtered.
The Havana Club brand name is synonymous with the island of Cuba and all of their rums produced today come from there.
Similar to Bacardi, Havana Club produce a wide variety of rum products but are famous for their white rum the Havana Club 3 Años, which is aged for 3 years and has flavours of light fruit, citrus, sweetness, and subtle oak.
Other notable mentions in this category include the Chairman’s Reserve White Label rum, highly rated due to its appealing balance of citrus and sweetness, and the Brugal Blanco Supremo, which is famous for its smoothness and flavours of vanilla, citrus, and subtle coconut.
For more options, head to this site.
White rum is perhaps most famous for being used in a number of extremely popular holiday and festive cocktails that include the Piña Colada, Mojito, and the Daiquiri, alongside others that can be found here.
Beyond this, white rum has an unfortunate reputation as being not suitable for sipping on its own, however, with there being so many fine white rums available for purchase today, consumers can now enjoy many white rums as they would a fine bottle of whisky.
White rums, including the Chairman’s Reserve White Label and the Brugal Blanco Supremo, are well known for their smoothness, subtle sweetness, and light citrus flavours that can easily be enjoyed on their own, with a splash of water, or over ice.
The key to understanding which bottle of white rum to mix and those that can be enjoyed on their own is to look for an age statement on the bottle, as those that have been aged usually reflect a higher quality product.
Make sure to also find out if the bottle is charcoal filtered as those that are taken through this additional step are generally smoother as a result.
Easily the best recommendation when it comes to pairing white rums with food is to complement the citrus flavours present in many bottles with a selection of fresh seafood.
Typical pairings when enjoying white rum neat, over ice, with a splash of water, or in a citrus cocktail like the Mojito include freshly cooked prawns, sashimi, or light fish tacos.
When looking to pair food with sweeter white rum cocktails, including the Piña Colada, chicken satay dishes work best as the sweet creaminess of the drink matches with the sauce in the dish.
There's a bottle of white rum out there for everyone. Here are some of the brands and bottles that we recommend you look out for the next time you're browsing online or in-store.
Are you looking to explore what rum has to offer but not sure where to start? We’ve done the work for you and bring you our list of the best rums to buy in Sydney.
Looking to spruce up your mixing game? We’ve put together a quick guide on which of the common supermarket mixers work best with some of your favourite spirits.
You might be familiar with bourbon & Tennessee whiskey but do you know about the other types of whiskey coming out of America? Discover more in this deep dive guide.
