With new premium products crafted specially for sipping, spirit lovers are really starting to give rum a second look. With a base crafted from either molasses or cane sugar, this spirit's distinct and complex flavour profile doesn't just lend itself to a host of great cocktails—it also shines on its own or over ice.
To discover your new favourite sipping rum, it's helpful to start with a rum style that best suits your palate. Below, you'll find a helpful explanation of the three primary rum styles, a guide to sipping rums, and an introduction to the best and brightest local rum products available at the NSLC.
THREE PRIMARY RUM STYLES
- White Rum – Oak aged and then charcoal filtered to remove colour, these rums are often the lightest in flavour and are most popular in mixed drinks. Discover white rums available for purchase online at the NSLC.
- Gold/Amber Rum – Aptly named, these rums get their colour from either the oak they're aged in or the addition of caramel. They can be enjoyed on their own or mixed. Discover gold/amber rums available for purchase online at the NSLC.
- Dark Rum – Extended oak aging creates complex flavours of caramel, toffee, spice and dried fruit. Ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks. Discover dark rum available for purchase online at the NSLC.
ON ITS OWN OR ON THE ROCKS?
While rum is distilled from sugar cane (or in some cases, molasses) its reputation for being a sweet spirit is not justly earned. It's rich, complex, and perfect for sipping. And one of rum's greatest strengths? There really are no rules. When it comes to ingredients and ageing practices, unlike other sipping spirits like whiskies and bourbons, rum is a bit more easy-going, so feel free to have fun with it!
So, when it comes to adding ice or keeping things neat, it's all about personal taste. A splash of water or a cube of ice can mellow a rum that's higher in alcohol, helping to tame alcohol vapours that might overpower more subtle flavours.
Remember: you can always add more water or ice, but once it's in the glass, you can't take it out. Try adding a splash of water or a small cube of ice, adjust to taste and enjoy.
SIP ON THE SPIRIT OF HOME
Beginning as far back as the early 1700s through the prohibition era, Nova Scotia is home to a history rich in all things rum. Although lots has changed since those early days, rum is still a big part of the local industry—an industry that continues to grow. Today, Nova Scotia proudly produces an array of rich, full-flavoured dark rums, highly versatile white rums and smooth sipping amber rums.
For those looking to try a taste of home, there's no shortage of inventive distillers making a modern mark on the industry right here in our backyard. Discover these local rum products available for purchase online or in-store at the NSLC.