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, plus 157 recipes to put it to work.

What is dark rum?

Rum**  is a  *distilled*   *alcoholic bevera* ge **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

Quick facts

Where to find dark rum: 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.

In Chinese

黑朗姆酒

British (UK) term

Dark rum

en français

rhum brun

en español

ron oscuro

How much does dark rum weigh?

Related

Beverages

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".

Bacardi Rum Balls

Just like Santa, I have big orders to fill when it comes to the holidays. Everyone wants me to make them some.

Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding Cake

This Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding cake is smooth and creamy, the coconut milk, raisins and rum add huge flavor to this dessert.

Bacardi Rum Cake From Loren Martin

This classic Bacardi Rum Cake bakes a yellow cake mix with vanilla pudding, dark rum, and pecans in a Bundt pan, then soaks it in a buttery rum-sugar glaze. Moist, boozy, and irresistible at any gathering.

Bacardi Rum Cake From Loren Martin

This classic Bacardi Rum Cake bakes a yellow cake mix with vanilla pudding, dark rum, and pecans in a Bundt pan, then soaks it in a buttery rum-sugar glaze. Moist, boozy, and irresistible at any gathering.

Glazed Raspberry Fudge Cake

Glazed raspberry fudge cake is a flourless-style chocolate cake brushed with raspberry preserves, then coated in a glossy rum-chocolate glaze. Dense, moist, and finished with fresh raspberries for the ultimate dinner-party showstopper.

Glazed Raspberry Fudge Cake

Glazed raspberry fudge cake is a flourless-style chocolate cake brushed with raspberry preserves, then coated in a glossy rum-chocolate glaze. Dense, moist, and finished with fresh raspberries for the ultimate dinner-party showstopper.

Breton Apple Pie

A rich French Breton-style apple pie with buttery, egg-yolk dough scented with dark rum and vanilla. Golden, dense, and somewhere between a cake and a tart. Utterly irresistible.

Caramel Rum Delirium Ice Cream Cake* Part 1

Homemade caramel rum cake layered with double mocha ice cream and semisweet chocolate ganache. A multi-layer showstopper dessert for serious celebrations. This is Part 1 covering the caramel and cake.

Brownes Bistro Bread & Butter Pudding

A proper bistro-style bread and butter pudding with layers of buttered French bread, raisins, and citrus zest baked in a rich custard of cream, eggs, and dark rum. Golden, crusty on top, silky underneath.

Classic Tiramisu with Zabaglione

Authentic Italian tiramisu with zabaglione, mascarpone, and espresso. Marsala-based custard layered with rum-soaked sponge cake in wine glasses. Serves 8, chill 3 hours.

Maple Rum Rice Creme with Chocolate Sauce

Vegan maple rum rice creme made with short grain rice, soy milk, and maple syrup pureed smooth, served with a cocoa-honey chocolate sauce. A dairy-free, low-fat dessert.

Godiva Chocolate Covered Banana

Godiva chocolate covered banana is a frozen cocktail blending chocolate cream liqueur, dark rum, banana, and vanilla ice cream into a rich, boozy milkshake.

Cuban Black Bean Stew

Cuban black bean stew with ham, rum, and oregano served over rice. Dried beans soaked overnight and simmered until creamy, thickened by mashing a cup of beans back in.

Hot Chocolate Souffles

Hot chocolate souffles with 9 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, dark rum, and whipped egg whites baked in individual dishes. Just six ingredients, no flour needed.

Chocolate Cherry Pie

Chocolate cherry pie with a rum-spiked chocolate custard filling, quartered maraschino cherries, and whipped cream folded in. Topped with sweetened cream and grated chocolate.

Frozen Mango Daiquiri

Frozen mango daiquiri blends fresh mango with dark rum, lime, and frozen milk cubes for a thick, creamy tropical cocktail. The poolside drink that turns ripe mangoes into a glass of vacation.

Roast Boar & Black Bean Chili

Wild boar saddle slow-roasted over Cuban-style black beans with dark rum, smoked ham, and salt pork. Hunter's chili with deep, layered flavors and traditional egg-and-scallion garnish.

L. J's Chili

L. J's chili with overnight-marinated beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, crushed chilis, and peppers simmered open-pot for four hours. A bold, slow-cooked chili with a distinctive reduction technique.

Ruth Epstein's Nesselrode Pudding/Pie

Nesselrode pudding pie with a rum-spiked custard, whipped egg whites, and Nesselrode mix set in a pie shell and topped with chocolate shavings. A classic, elegant chilled holiday dessert.

Tuna Tapenade

Tuna tapenade with oil-packed tuna, black olives, capers, garlic, lemon juice, and a splash of dark rum blended smooth with olive oil. A Mediterranean spread for crudites or crackers.

Citrus Fruity Rose & Vodka

Try this citrus fruits, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick infused rose, vodka and rum mixture, you wil be so impressed by the tangy flavor.

Fudgenut & Rum Marinated Raisin Cheesecake

Fudgenut and Rum Marinated Raisin Cheesecake recipe

Molded Chocolate Mousse

Molded chocolate mousse set in a loaf pan with gelatin, coffee, rum, and whipped egg whites for lift. Sliceable dinner-party dessert topped with vanilla whipped cream.

Mocha Cake with Chocolate Butter Creme

Mocha cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. An airy sponge cake soaked in orange syrup, filled and frosted with a coffee-chocolate buttercream made from Italian meringue.

Joe's Eggnog

Old-fashioned spiked eggnog with bourbon, dark rum, whipped cream, and 60 eggs for a crowd of 50. A rich, boozy holiday punch with real whipped cream and fresh nutmeg.

Double Nut Biscotti

Twice-baked Italian biscotti loaded with almonds and walnuts, spiked with dark rum and amaretto. Crunchy dunking cookies with warm cinnamon spice, perfect for coffee or dessert wine.

Meredithf's Rum Cake

Meredith's rum cake: a classic bundt-style boxed cake mix hack spiked with rum and vanilla pudding, then soaked with a hot butter-rum glaze. Moist for days, boozy and beloved.

Loren's Rum Cake

Pecan rum bundt cake made with cake mix and pudding mix, soaked in a buttery rum sugar glaze. Dark rum in the batter and the glaze for double the boozy flavor.

Loren's Rum Cake

Pecan rum bundt cake made with cake mix and pudding mix, soaked in a buttery rum sugar glaze. Dark rum in the batter and the glaze for double the boozy flavor.

Rum Truffle

Rum truffle dessert cocktail: dark rum, crème de cacao, and hazelnut liqueur blended with chocolate ice cream and crowned with whipped cream. Served in a brandy snifter for a sip-it-slow sweet finish.

Granadan Baked Bananas

Baked bananas in a Caribbean-style rum caramel sauce with fresh orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A simple, warm dessert inspired by Grenada.

All 157 recipes