Until the middle of the 19th century, people did not divide rum into varieties, including because it was drunk mainly by pirates and poor people who did not care about differences in the technology of production of this drink. Later, however, significant changes were made to the methods of its production, and as a result, black and white rum appeared.
Black and white rum production technology
Black rum is a kind of pirate classic: it was drunk by sea wolves who hunted for robbery. Traditionally, this drink is made by double distillation, after which it is poured into a heavily charred oak barrel and aged for 3-5 years. Such a long period is due to the fact that no sourdough is added to the drink, i.e. we are talking about the natural fermentation of sugar, which takes place rather slowly. The resulting drink is distinguished by its rich dark color, strong pungent aroma and specific taste. The shade of the liquid may differ, since it depends on the characteristics of the container in which it was kept, as well as on the composition of the drink. In particular, caramel is added to black rum to intensify the color.
In the manufacture of white rum, sourdough is always used, therefore this drink is kept for no more than one and a half years. However, the differences in beverage technology do not end there. White rum is always aged in barrels made of light wood species. Most often, ash is used to make containers for a drink. In addition, after preparation, white rum is thoroughly filtered, which allows you to weaken its taste, remove sediment and make the shade lighter. The shade of white rum can vary. This drink is most often clear or golden. To slightly change the color of the liquid and make it more "noble", manufacturers sometimes add a little caramel to the rum.
Important differences between black and white rum
Having tasted both of these drinks, it is very easy to tell the difference in their taste and strength. Black rum is a much stronger drink than white rum, so the stereotype that pirates drank it in mugs without diluting it raises serious doubts. Nowadays, black rum is most often used either as a base for cocktails or as an ingredient in Caribbean dishes. Drinking it undiluted is difficult. White rum, on the other hand, is very light. However, it is also included in many different cocktails, but it is much easier to drink it without adding other drinks.
Black rum is characterized by a strong aroma, smack of caramel and molasses, bright and sharp taste, as well as thickness. White, on the contrary, is more like water in consistency, has a very mild aroma, a weak, slightly sweetish taste. It is this difference that makes it possible to traditionally compare black and white rum as a rough and aristocratic, refined drink.
