What Is Dark rum and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with dark rum? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 157 recipes to put it to work.

What is dark rum?

Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process offermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak and other barrels.

Light rums are commonly used in cocktails, whereas golden and dark rums are also appropriate for drinking straight, or for cooking. Premium rums are also available that are made to be consumed straight or with ice.

Dark Rum, also known as black rum or red rum, classes as a grade darker than gold rum. It is generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels. Dark rum has a much stronger flavor than either light or gold rum, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. It is used to provide substance in rum drinks, as well as color. In addition to uses in mixed drinks, dark rum is the type of rum most commonly used in cooking.

Fermentation

Most rum produced is made from molasses. Within the Caribbean, much of this molasses is from Brazil. A notable exception is the French-speaking islands where sugarcane juice is the preferred base ingredient.

Yeast and water are added to the base ingredient to start the fermentation process. While some rum producers allow wild yeast to perform the fermentation, most use specific strains of yeast to help provide a consistent taste and predictable fermentation time.

Aging and Blending

Many countries require that rum be aged for at least one year. This aging is commonly performed in used bourbon casks, but may also be performed in stainless steel tanks or other types of wooden casks. The aging process determines the coloring of the Rum. Rum that is aged in oak casks becomes dark, whereas Rum that is aged in stainless steel tanks remains virtually colorless.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 fl oz (27g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 62Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 0.0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.0g 0%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 0.0g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0% • Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Where found

Dark rum is usually found in the beverages section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Dark rum is a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does dark rum weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 fl oz	27 grams
1 jigger 1.5 fl oz	42 grams

Beverages

Beer 431 Creme de menthe 43 Brandy 416 Rum 290 Vodka 132 Cognac 125 Tequila 80 Gin 28 Whiskey 80 Bourbon whiskey 86

In Chinese:	黑朗姆酒
British (UK) term:
en français:	rhum brun
en español:	ron oscuro

Recipes using dark rum

There are 157 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crumb crust, dark rum, heavy cream, and freshly grated nutmeg. The double-boiler trick warms the filling before baking for a smoother, less weepy custard.

Blueberry & Rum Milkshake

Fresh or frozen blueberries macerate in dark rum and vanilla bean seeds, then blitz with ice cream into a grown-up milkshake with berry-booze swirls and creamy vanilla richness.

Bananas Foster - De Carle

Excellent as an ice cream topping or as a filling for Bananas Foster Chimichangas.

Pear Almond Tart

This delightful dessert is so good, the crust is buttery and flakey, and the pear-almond filling is scrumptious and juicy.

Chocolate Zucchini Rum Cake (Healthier Version)

This healthier version of chocolate zucchini rum cake is made with whole wheat flour, grape seed oil, apple sauce, a small amount of butter. Also has much less sugar than the original recipe, and the cake is super moist, packed with chocolate flavor and absolutely divine.

Decadent Chocolate Babka

Found the original recipe in foodnetwork magazine "The Chocolate" issue. I changed a few things according to my own taste and this decadent chocolate babka only lasted about half day at our counter.

Chocolate Pecan Rum Balls

No-bake chocolate pecan rum balls rolled in shredded coconut. Ground pecans, crushed chocolate wafers, dark rum, and honey make 100 bite-sized holiday treats.

Christmas Pumpkin Pie with Rum

American Thanksgiving is coming, pumpkin pie is a classic dessert, in this recipe, use rum and molasses, the pie looks beautiful and very tasty too.

Dark Rum Balls

Dark rum balls made with crushed vanilla wafers, cocoa, nuts, and a generous pour of dark rum, rolled in powdered sugar. No-bake holiday cookie that improves with age in the tin.

Acorn Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

A flavourful and hearty soup warms you up instantly, an ideal soup on a cold fall or winter day.

Holiday Cherry & Rum Biscotti

These biscotti is loaded with flavour, every bite yields bits of yummy goodness. Perfect for a snack with a cup of coffee or your favorite tea, and also make excellent Christmas gifts!

Pumpkin Rum Pie

A classic pumpkin pie spike with rum. Dark, rich and delicious.

Yummy Fluffy Pumpkin Pie

Fluffy pumpkin pie with whipped egg whites folded into a rum-spiked custard, baked in a three-temperature method for a tall, mousse-light filling. Two pies for the holiday table.

Perfect Tiramisu

Creamy, silken and rich, but not too sweet! This tiramisu is just like the title, perfect. It gives you ultimate joy in every bite, and this is a super dessert!

Cajun Coffee

Cajun coffee swirls strong hot brew with dark molasses for a New Orleans-style nightcap with serious backbone. Optional dark rum and a cloud of whipped cream finish it Bourbon Street style. Don't stir, sip through the cream.

No-Bake Rum-Raisin Balls

No-bake rum-raisin balls with dark rum-soaked oats, cocoa, golden raisins, walnuts, and coconut rolled in sugar. A boozy, fudgy holiday treat that keeps for 10 days or freezes for months.

Tiramisu from BUCA di BEPPO

A desert that tastes like a creation of an award winning chef...

Cuban Bread Pudding

Cuban bread pudding is a classic and popular dessert in Cuba, and it is easy to make, you can put any your favorite topping onto it to give the pudding extra goodness.

Triple Pecan Pie with Maple

There are ground pecans in the shell, there are chopped pecans in the maple-brown sugar filling, and there are maple candied pecans arranged on top. The sweetness comes from both dark brown sugar and maple syrup, and there are some chopped dried cherries and rum added into the filling as well. A classic pecan pie is twisted with a modern way to make it more delicious and appealing, and everyone will give you a big "wow".