What Is Gold Rum? An Overview

January 06 2023, by Scott Connor, 6 min reading time

Golden rum is a favorite when making tropical cocktails, but what is golden rum exactly? Read on to learn more.

A college party and tiki-bar staple, this flavorful type of alcohol is irreplaceable—and incredibly diverse. Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or an at-home bar aficionado, rum should be a staple in your liquor cabinet, whether that's dark rum, white rum, aged rum, flavored rum, spiced rum, or, the most coveted of them all, golden rum. Its wide variety of styles adds depth and flavor to some of the most classic cocktails out there and even has a notable (or should we say nautical) place in history.

While all styles of rum have their place in a tumbler, the delicious and brightly colored golden rum is a favorite. So what is gold rum, anyway? Let’s excavate what makes gold rum so valuable, as well as a few ways you can find it glistening in a cocktail glass.

A Brief Run-Down on Rum

Rum is one of the oldest alcohols in the world. It’s different from other alcohols because it's distilled from sugar instead of grain. Rum can be produced from either cane sugar syrup (as it was originally in 1493, around the time Christopher Columbus brought sugarcane to the West Indies), or molasses.¹

After the sugar ferments and goes through distillation, it's poured into wooden barrels or casks. The type of barrel used and the climate in which the barrel is stored determines how long the rum should age.¹

These expertly crafted conditions of aging and materials are what distinguish rum in its unique categories of rich flavor and color.

What Is Gold Rum?

What are the different types of rum? There are plenty that there are other spirits confused with rum, such as Cachaca vs rum, and some others can’t tell the difference between whiskey and rum. Gold rum is one of them. What is golden rum, specifically? Gold rum, also called amber rum, is a type of aged rum that's stored in barrels and is typically aged for a few years. As it ages, the rum mellows and takes on amber or golden hues, as well as a sweeter, richer flavor than its younger cousins.

These types of rums have a more complex flavor profile, especially compared to white or clear rums, which makes them excellent for cocktails that require a bolder flavor. Depending on the lingering tastes in the barrels rum is aged in, gold rums can provide subtle hints of citrus, caramel, vanilla, almond, or coconut.²

Gold rum's barrel-aging process can last for several years, if not more. If the color or flavor at the end of its aging process isn't as strong as desired, some additional coloring or flavoring with ingredients like caramel may be added.²

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Popular Uses for Gold Rum

Golden rum can be imbibed on the rocks or neat, and it's even used in various dessert recipes to add richness and body.

But if you’re looking for a few more creative ways to enjoy the exciting complexity of gold rum, turn to one or two of these classic gold rum cocktails.

The Rum Sour

When life gives you lemons, stir up an amber rum sour and bask in the sunshine—even if it’s only 50 degrees in your city. This rum cocktail requires only 3 simple ingredients:³

2 oz of golden rum
1 oz lemon juice
0.5 tbsp of sugar

The Rum Punch

You may have heard of this popular rum cocktail before. There’s a good chance you’ll catch it on the bar menu at your next cocktail outing, especially if tiki decor lines the walls. It combines:⁴

13 oz golden rum
16 oz pineapple juice
10 oz orange juice
4 oz lemon juice
16 oz ginger ale
8 oz sugar

The Daiquiri

Gold rum is a favorite of bartenders and home mixologists alike for the classic daiquiri. Its bold, rich complexity bodes excellently intertwined with sharp citrus fruits like lime. Shake up this specialty at your next gathering:

2 oz golden rum
1 oz lime juice
½ oz simple syrup

The Mai Tai

We certainly can’t leave the classic mai tai off the list of delicious cocktails that put gold rum at the center. It requires a few more ingredients than a daiquiri, but trust us, the extra time at the grocery store will be worth it. Here’s how to make it:⁵

1 ½ oz gold rum
¾ oz lime juice
½ oz orange curaçao
½ oz orgeat syrup
¼ oz simple syrup
A mint spring for garnishing

The Dark and Stormy

Lovers of spicy, tangy ginger: welcome to the cocktail lounge. The Dark and Stormy invites imbibers to enjoy the subtle nuances of rum alongside bold ginger. The combination of flavors is surprisingly smooth and mellow. Try it out:⁶

2 oz gold rum
½ oz lime juice
3 oz ginger beer
Garnish with a lime wedge

Stir Up Your Favorite Gold Rum Cocktails with Barbank

Rum, especially of the golden variety, certainly has its place among drinking culture. Gold rum’s rich flavor lends plenty of zing and complexity to cocktails and drinking glasses thanks to its multi-year aging process and unique barrel aging.

Pick out your next bottle of gold rum for yourself or a friend at Barbank. We’re your one-stop online liquor delivery service. Along with our vast rum selection, we also carry an array of spirits, wine, and champagne.

So the next time you and your crew want to head out for cocktails? They’ll pick your home bar as their go-to spot. Leaf through our premium rum selection, which includes some of the popular brands (as well as other related products), such as Bacardi rum, El Dorado, Don Q gold rum, etc., and discover your gold today.

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