Trends
Pairing Dark Rums
By Jeff Joseph
Dark rums are taking their rightful place alongside whiskey in the brown spirits craze.
Both rum and whiskey require fermentation, distillation and aging, but the ingredients differ. Rum is made from byproducts of molasses, honey and sugarcane, whereas whiskey is fermented from barley, rye and wheat.
Just as whiskey drinkers have learned to appreciate the unique experience of each barrel finish, rum aficionados are finding they can identify the containers used in the aging process. Finer dark rums may be aged (mostly) in old bourbon barrels or sherry, port or other wine casks, for anywhere from two to 30 or more years.
The aging gives them a distinct, full-bodied rich and spicy flavor, and it adds to the whiskey-like color....
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