Dark vs. Clear Rum, Whats the diff?

Right now I can think of at least three things that can color rum.

First, color from barrel aging. Aged rums like Havana Club 7 Anos should be in this category. The color can be anywhere from light straw to deep amber, depending on the length of aging and other variables. These rums should have a soft and mellow taste that differentiates them from clear rum.

Second, color from added caramel. Cheaper gold rums like Bacardi Oro are usually artificially colored in this way. The caramel is not necessarily going to do anything much for the taste, and depending on brand these can taste very similar to clear rum.

Third, color from added molasses. Most rum is distilled from molasses anyway, but the fresh distilate is clear (until it is aged, colored, etc). Some producers add molasses to the clear distilate, making it nearly black. The molasses also adds a distinct flavor. Corruba, Lambs Navy Rum and Cruzan Black Strap are all in this style.

Clear Rum

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RE:

Dark vs. Clear Rum, Whats the diff?

What makes dark rum dark, and does the clear one taste different?

Distilled Spirits have added color and flavor from the barrels they are aged in. In most cases this would be 3-5 years. Cask whiskey is much like moonshine. It has not been aged, and may have samples taken for tasting. The barrels fall into different categories. Char 1-4 with 4 being the deepest char and also giving the deepest color. Some rums and whiskey/bourbon may cheat this using artificial color and flavor. These are low grade spirits and the consumer when doing side by side will also notice the difference in flavor. That oak flavor from charring is not nearly pronounced and they are very harsh. Hope this helps. You can take burnt sugar and add flavor to everclear. It is still everclear.

Dark rum is made really close to the way whiskey is. If you notice the dark rum has that whiskey kind of a flavor to it. This is because the rum is placed in a charred barrel and the charring on the barrel releases flavor into the rum. All alcohol starts out clear it is what is done to it that changes the color and flavor.

Not sure about the coloring but in my opinion, dark rum is far superior to clear rum. It has a better bite and a richer bolder taste to it.

Not certain about rum. However, whiskeys such as Jack Daniels or Jim Beam start out clear. They are poured into slightly charred barrels. As they age they turn their traditional brownish color and get some of the oak barrel flavor.

Molasses is added to darken the clear spirits.

the color