The Rum Previous-Original has generally been described as a “gateway drug” for rum. The acquainted, pared-back system is a showcase of how the spirit can shine with little or no dressing up—no tropical fruit juices or different mixers to cover behind. However whether or not you’re new to the spirit or a longtime fan, it’s essential that the rum that varieties the bottom of the drink is an effective one.
Martin Cate, rum professional and proprietor of San Francisco’s Smuggler’s Cove, says it’s key to make use of a spirit that has aged in oak lengthy sufficient to develop the wooden’s affect, with the next ABV to face up towards the sugar within the drink and “a sure flavorful heft to the distillate” that provides the rum extra character. Spirits educator and Tiki: Fashionable Tropical Cocktails writer Shannon Mustipher compares one of the best rums for this template to rye whiskeys: They’ve a protracted, complicated end, skew on the drier aspect and must be medium- to full-bodied.
To get began, listed below are one of the best rums to strive in a Rum Previous-Original, at each worth level.