spirit
Rum
Sugarcane, sweet and heavy
Distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. Often aged and frequently sweetened post-distillation, hiding real character and adding hangover load.
- Typical ABV
- 37.5–75%
- Base
- Sugarcane, molasses
- Distillation
- Pot, column, or blend
- Aging
- White, Gold, Dark, Aged
Category hangover index
6/10
Heavy
Chemistry profile
- Congeners
- Moderate
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- High
- Additives
- High
Rum is the most adulterated mainstream spirit. Producers can legally add sugar, glycerin, sherry, and caramel without disclosure in most jurisdictions, which is why “smooth” budget rums often deliver the worst mornings.
What changes the chemistry
- ▸Molasses-based rums carry more residual sugar
- ▸Many brands secretly add sugar, caramel, glycerin
- ▸Pot still rums are heavier and richer in congeners
- ▸Spiced rums add botanicals and sweeteners
Common allergens: oakundisclosed flavoring
See the healthiest rum ranked
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