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Rum Explained: White, Gold, Dark and Spiced Rum, and What to Use Each For
The difference between white, gold, dark and spiced rum: what each tastes like and which one suits a mojito, a rum and cola or a small glass on its own.
White rum is light and clean for cocktails, gold has caramel and oak, dark is deeper and warmer, and spiced has vanilla and cinnamon added. Those four words cover most of the rum shelf.
Rum is made from sugarcane. Each style has its own job, from a mojito to a rum and cola to a small glass on its own.
What is the difference between the four styles?
 Havana Club 3YO 1L |  Appleton Est Rum 700ml |  Old Monk Dark Rum 750ml |  Kraken Black Spiced Rum 700ml | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style | White | Gold | Dark | Spiced |
| Tastes like | Vanilla, citrus, clean finish | Light spice, caramel, oak | Caramel, vanilla, spice | Vanilla, cinnamon, warm finish |
| Good for | Mojitos and cocktails | Cocktails or sipping | Sipping or mixing | Rum and cola |
| Per nip | $1.58 | $2.26 | $1.60 | $3.04 |
| Price | $51.99 | $51.99 | $39.99 | $69.99 |
Swipe to compare
White: Havana Club 3
Made for mojitos and other cocktails.
A light Cuban rum with vanilla and citrus notes and a clean finish. It suits a mojito, or any cocktail where you want a light rum.
- Style
- Light Cuban rum
- Try it with
- A mojito
- Per nip
- About $1.58
Gold: Appleton
More caramel and oak, still easy to mix.
Classic Jamaican rum with balanced sweetness and oak. Light spice and caramel lead into a smooth finish. Mix it in a cocktail, or pour a small glass and sip it.
- Style
- Jamaican rum
- Try it with
- Cocktails, or sipped on its own
- Per nip
- About $2.26
Dark: Old Monk
Deeper flavour, for sipping or mixing.
Rich caramel, vanilla and spice, smooth and warming with a rounded finish. It is a good one to try neat in a small glass, and it also works with a mixer.
- Style
- Dark rum
- Try it with
- Sipped slowly, or mixed
- Per nip
- About $1.60
Spiced: Kraken
Rum with spices and vanilla added.
A Caribbean rum infused with spices, with molasses, vanilla and cinnamon over dark caramel and subtle coffee. The finish is smooth, warming and slightly sweet. Good with cola.
- Style
- Spiced rum
- Try it with
- Cola, or a spiced cocktail
- Per nip
- About $3.04
How do you make a mojito?
One serve, with white rum.
- Gently press the mint with the lime juice and sugar syrup in the glass. Do not shred it.
- Add the rum and fill the glass with ice.
- Top with the soda water and give it one stir.
- Slap a mint sprig against your hand and tuck it in.
Can you sip rum on its own?
A small glass and a slow first sip.
Gold and dark rums are the two to try on their own. Pour a small nip into a small glass and give it a minute before the first sip.
A few drops of water, or one ice cube, can soften the taste. Try it both ways and see which you prefer.
White rum is kept for mixing, and spiced rum suits cola or a cocktail. Bottles with an age on the label, such as 5, 7 or 12 years, are usually the ones made for sipping.
The Classic gift box
Give a rum with treats.
Choose a rum from this guide and we box it with treats, wrapped and delivered NZ wide.
- Includes
- Chocolate, savoury nibble, something sweet
- You choose
- The rum
Quick answers
What is the difference between white, gold, dark and spiced rum?
White rum is light and clean. Gold has more caramel and a little oak, dark is deeper and warmer, and spiced rum has spices and vanilla added.
Which rum goes in a mojito?
A white or light rum. Havana Club 3YO is a light Cuban rum with vanilla and citrus, and it suits mojitos and other cocktails.
Which rum goes with cola?
Spiced rum is made for it. Kraken Black Spiced has vanilla and cinnamon notes, and many dark rums suit cola too.
Can you sip rum neat?
Yes. Gold and dark rums are the ones to try: pour a small nip into a small glass and take it slowly. Appleton Estate and Old Monk are both made for sipping or mixing.
What does YO mean on a rum label?
It stands for years old, so a 12YO rum has been aged for 12 years or more.
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