The Rum Outdated-Usual has generally been described as a “gateway drug” for rum. The acquainted, pared-back method is a showcase of how the spirit can shine with little or no dressing up—no tropical fruit juices or different mixers to cover behind. However whether or not you’re new to the spirit or a longtime fan, it’s essential that the rum that types the bottom of the drink is an efficient one.
Martin Cate, rum professional and proprietor of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove, says it’s key to make use of a spirit that has aged in oak lengthy sufficient to develop the wooden’s affect, with the next ABV to face up in opposition to the sugar within the drink and “a sure flavorful heft to the distillate” that offers the rum extra character. Spirits educator and Tiki: Trendy Tropical Cocktails creator Shannon Mustipher compares the perfect rums for this template to rye whiskeys: They’ve an extended, advanced end, skew on the drier facet and needs to be medium- to full-bodied.
To get began, listed here are the perfect rums to attempt in a Rum Outdated-Usual, at each worth level.