Rum vs Whiskey: What are the differences?

Rum vs Whiskey; what are the differences? John travelled to Mauritius for business in December, and he brought me back some Saint Aubin rum in a lovely tasting set.

The rum market in SA has slowly been growing, and the range now is far more extensive than just the Redheart and Captain Morgan rum from 10 years ago.

Rum is versatile and approachable, so the wider variety is great to see. The flavoured rums bring a new edge, and the cocktail possibilities with the various flavours are endless. Today, rums from Barbados, Jamaica, and Mauritius are available in SA.

Exploring the new rum growth has also led some well-known SA gin distilleries to release a rum or two. Many of the new SA rums are very drinkable. Mhoba, Tapanga and Surgarbird to name but a few. Gone are the days of raw, overly sweet cheap rums.

I associated rum with islands (and holidays) and wondered how rum and whisky differ. So I explored a bit: Rum vs Whisky; what are the differences?

What are the differences?

What is rum?

Rum conjures images of Caribbean islands and long drinks. The Caribbean Islands and Latin America are among the biggest rum producers globally.

According to some research, rum was first distilled on sugarcane plantations in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Plantation slaves realized that molasses, a by-product of sugar production, could be fermented into alcohol. The first official mention of rum was found in official documents from Barbados in 1650.

Rum is a distilled spirit made from sugarcane, sugarcane juice or molasses. The processes include distillation and fermentation. Rum tends to be aged for shorter periods, often because the distilleries are located in warm environments like the Caribbean. This means the angels’ share is higher than in colder countries like Scotland.

The alcohol content of rum varies from one country to the other and can go from at least 40% to beyond 60%. Sugar syrup is sometimes added back into the finished product to add sweeter notes.

Rum is classified into various categories – rhum agricole. white rum, dark rum, flavoured rum and spiced rum. Spices and flavours such as coffee, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves are added for spiced and flavoured rum.

Rum tends to be sweeter with a rich and spicy flavour when compared to whiskey. Recognized rum cocktails include the pina colada, the mojito, and the daiquiri.

What is Whiskey?

European monks brought the art of distillation to Ireland and Scotland in the fifteenth century. The earliest mention of whiskey in Ireland and Scotland comes from sixteenth and seventeenth-century notes.  Whiskey or whisky is produced in many countries including the USA, Ireland, India, SA and Taiwan.

Whiskey (whisky) is distilled from a fermented grain mash that may include: 
barley, rye, wheat and or corn. The whiskey-making process includes fermentation, distillation and ageing. Whisky is aged for at least three years in oak barrels before being called whiskey. Many distilleries finish their whiskey in barrels that previously held bourbon, sherry and even rum.

Types of whiskey include single malt, bourbon, pot still, grain whisky, blended whisky, and rye whiskey. Whiskey usually has alcohol contents of around 40%, depending on your country. In SA, the standard ABV is 43% for whiskey.

Famous whiskey cocktails include the Sazerac and an Old Fashioned.

Now, let me make myself a Dark and Stormy because research is thirsty work.

Also Read: Whiskey Sour Cocktail