The Essential Rums for the Liquor Cabinet

If you're looking to restock the liquor cabinet, why not start with the essentials: rum. Here are the three types of rum you need for your home bar.

A well-rounded liquor cabinet is essential to make the best cocktails. If you aren't properly stocked, your drinks will be lacking.

But where do you start when it comes to stocking the liquor cabinet?

One liquor you must have is rum. Rum allows you to create classic cocktails as well as experiment with new flavors. So if you're looking to level up your home bar, check out these essential rums you need in your liquor cabinet.

White Rum

As a key ingredient to classic tropical drinks like mojitos and daiquiris, white rum is a must for any home bar. White rum spends less time aging than other varieties of rum.

After distilling the rum, the liquid is clear. It's then filtered, so it's free of impurities and ready to make a cocktail. White rums are typically a sweeter variety, so they add a great layer to most cocktails.

White rums mix best with club soda, tonic water, and flavored seltzers as a base. The sweet flavor compliments tropical flavors like coconut, pineapple, lemons, limes, and ginger.

Once you have a white rum, try a Banana Daiquiri, a Canchánchara, or a Piña Colada.

Dark Rum

With the same origins, dark rums are also made from distilling sugarcane. This variety starts as a clear liquid, but unlike white rum, dark rum ages directly after distilling. After aging at least a year, dark rum is filtered and bottled.

Many dark rums age in charred oak wooden barrels. This creates their darker color and bolder flavor over time. Depending on how long the rum ages, the rim color darkens.

Rums in a golden color don't spend a lot of time in the aging process, while the darkest rums may spend years. Molasses or burnt caramel may be added to the rum to create a darker color.

Add a dark rum to your liquor collection, then try the classic Grog, Old Fashioned, or a Café Con Ron.

We recommend starting with Pusser's Blue Label and Pusser's Aged 15 Years.

Spiced Rum

Spiced rum is a rum with added ingredients used to change the taste. Spiced rums can be either dark or white. This type of rum is a favorite of rum lovers around the world.

This variety has the same origins as dark and white rum. After being distilled from sugarcane, spices and molasses are added before being placed in an oak barrel.

The most common spices are allspice, cardamon, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. Some distillers may even add orange peel and vanilla bean to the rum. The combinations create unique flavors that add layers to cocktails.

With a spiced rum in your home bar, you can make a Spiced Rum Punch, Maple Brandy Cocktail, or a Pumpkin Pineapple Cocktail.

We recommend Pusser's Gunpowder Proof Spiced.

Level Up the Liquor Cabinet

Whether you're an entertainer or you enjoy a nightly cocktail, you have to have the right ingredients in the liquor cabinet. To give you the most options, you should have the three most popular types of rum as part of your home bar.

Get creative with your drink recipes or make the classics. With the right rum in your collection, delicious drinks are just a quick stir away. 

Choosing the right rum is just as important as having the right ingredients. You can never go wrong with Pusser's Rum.