WHAT IS SPANISH STYLE RUM?

Spanish-style rum, characteristic of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and other Hispanic Caribbean islands, emphasizes smoothness, elegance, and lighter body through column still distillation. This approach creates spirits that are notably different from the heavier English-style rums.

The production method typically uses molasses as the base material and employs continuous column stills to achieve a cleaner, more refined distillate. This results in rums with delicate flavors that allow the influence of aging to shine through more clearly.

Cuban rum, particularly brands that emerged from the island's rich cocktail culture, exemplifies this style. These rums often undergo filtration and blending processes designed to create consistency and smoothness, making them particularly suitable for sipping or in delicate cocktails.

The solera aging system, borrowed from sherry production, is sometimes employed by Spanish-style rum producers. This method involves a tiered system of barrels where younger rums are progressively blended with older ones, creating a consistent product with accumulated complexity.

Spanish-style rums have become favorites for classic cocktails like the Mojito and Daiquiri, where their clean profile allows other ingredients to contribute to the overall balance. Their approachability has also made them popular choices for introducing newcomers to the category.