Rum is a spirit made from sugar cane. It is usually based on molasses (a sugar cane syrup) or, less commonly, freshly pressed sugar cane juice, which is first fermented and then distilled. According to EU regulations, rum must have a minimum alcohol content of 37.5% vol. Depending on how it is produced and aged, rum can have very different styles – from mild and sweet to strong and complex.

The production of rum involves several steps: First, sugar cane juice or molasses is fermented with yeast to produce alcohol. This is followed by distillation, which increases the alcohol content and separates out unwanted by-products. The freshly distilled rum is then often aged for years in oak barrels, which gives it its characteristic color and aromas. This results in light, unaged rums as well as dark, long-aged varieties.

White rum (silver/white) and brown rum differ mainly in terms of storage: brown rum is usually aged in wooden barrels for several years after distillation, which gives it its dark color and additional aromas. Some dark rums are also colored with a little caramel (sugar coloring) to adjust the color. White rum, on the other hand, is rarely stored, or only in neutral containers (e.g., steel tanks) that have no effect on its color, so it remains clear and colorless. In terms of taste, white rums are often lighter and well suited for cocktails, while brown rums are usually more complex due to barrel aging and are popular for drinking neat.

XO stands for “Extra Old” and indicates that a rum has been aged for a particularly long time. A rum labeled XO has been stored in oak barrels for at least six years. Such age designations were adopted from the world of cognac and serve as a quality feature for long-aged premium rums.

VSOP stands for “Very Superior Old Pale” and, similar to cognac, is also used as a mark of quality for rum. A VSOP rum has been aged for at least four years in wooden barrels. This designation signals to connoisseurs that the rum has been aged longer and has rounded flavors.

Spiced rum is rum that has been flavored with spices or aromas. Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, or tropical fruits are often added to give the rum a specific flavor. However, from a strictly legal standpoint, flavored rum is not “real” rum, as the law states that no additional flavors may be added to rum. Spiced rums are particularly popular for mixing in cocktails or as an alternative to liqueurs.

Cuban rum is produced in the so-called Spanish style and is the predominant type of rum not only in Cuba itself, but also in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. This style is characterized by lighter, smoother rums with fruity and generally sweeter notes. Cuban rums (e.g., the classic Havana or Santiago rums) are considered mild and elegant, in contrast to the heavier, spicier British-style rums (e.g., from Jamaica).

When buying rum, the following tips will help you find the right rum for your taste: • Origin & age: Pay attention to the country of origin and the length of maturation. Rums from renowned countries of origin (e.g., Jamaica, Barbados, Cuba) and longer barrel storage often offer more complex flavors than very young rums. A 12-year-old rum, for example, can taste significantly rounder and more profound than an unaged white rum. • Intended use: Consider how you want to drink the rum. For cocktails, people usually choose inexpensive white or younger rums that mix well. For drinking straight, however, mature, high-quality rums are recommended, as they best reveal their complex flavors when enjoyed neat. • Reviews & recommendations: Use reviews from other rum lovers here on RumX to better assess the quality and taste of a rum. Sort rums here in our comprehensive search by reviews and read authentic testimonials from rum lovers around the world. This way, you can find out how others liked the rum and compare your impressions with those of the community in advance—expensive mispurchases are a thing of the past.

RumX is the world’s largest platform for rum lovers. The RumX app combines a huge rum database with currently over 25,000 different rums and 250,000 community reviews with an innovative online marketplace. This means that RumX offers all the information, reviews, and purchasing options in one place: you can find out about almost every rum on the market through independent tasting notes and then buy it directly from verified retailers via RumX. This unique combination of community knowledge and shopping platform makes RumX a one-stop shop for every rum fan.

RumX offers you the largest selection of rum in Europe on one platform. This is made possible by the shop-in-shop approach: RumX bundles the assortments of numerous large and small spirits retailers throughout Europe. Instead of being limited to the offerings of a single shop, you will find thousands of different rums here. Over 5,000 offers (bottles) from our partner shops are available in the RumX search. This allows you to find almost any rum you want with just a few clicks, check availability, and compare directly. This bundled variety significantly exceeds even the range of the largest retailers.

The community reviews on RumX are a key tool for finding the perfect rum for you. Over 250,000 independent tasting reviews from rum enthusiasts give you an honest picture of each bottling—from aroma and flavor notes to overall quality. By seeing the experiences of other rum drinkers, you can make more informed purchasing decisions, and bad buys are a thing of the past. The high number of reviews and detailed tasting notes means that virtually every rum in the range has already been tasted and rated by connoisseurs. This allows you to get an idea in advance of whether a rum is likely to suit your taste, so you can choose the right bottle with confidence.