How to pour it
a spiced rum in
Fill the highball glass to the rim with ice; a full glass cools faster and the ice melts more slowly.
Measure out 5 cl of spiced rum with a jigger and pour it over the ice.
Top up with cold cola, pouring it along the inside of the glass so the carbonation stays in.
Squeeze a lime wedge over the glass, drop it in, and stir half a turn.
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The story
Spiced rum starts as ordinary rum. Then spices, flavorings and sugar are added, and only then is the drink bottled. Exactly which spices are used varies by brand and is rarely stated; vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and orange peel are the most common. Because of these additions, the drink falls outside the definition of rum in many countries, in which case a different designation appears on the label. The sugar makes it smooth and rounded, which is exactly why so many people enjoy it with cola.
The right glass
Spiced rum does not require a tasting glass; it comes into its own in a glass filled with ice and a mixer. A tall, straight-sided highball glass keeps the carbonation in the cola and leaves room for four ice cubes and a lime wedge. For the warm version with apple and cinnamon, you want a glass you can hold: a mug with a handle. We place the two side by side below; more tall models can be found among the tumblers.
Stölzle Lausitz Revolution Highball Glass 39 cl (6 pieces)
La Rochère Louison Tea Mug 25 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 61,90.
The right tools
For a spiced rum and cola, besides the glass, use a jigger to measure 5 cl and a nutmeg grater for the warm version. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 47,85.
What does this go with?
Spiced rum is based on rum. Well-known bottles include Captain Morgan and Havana Club. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it pairs with and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Cola is the standard, but ginger ale works just as well, and apple juice makes it smoother. In winter, heat 10 cl of apple juice with a cinnamon stick and add 4 cl of spiced rum. You can also spice it yourself: leave a regular rum for a week with a cinnamon stick, half a vanilla pod and a strip of orange peel, and check each day to see how it is coming along. Want to read more? View all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Chill the bottle and the cola, and fill the glass completely with ice before pouring. Pour the cola down the inside of the glass to help it retain its carbonation. For the warm version, grate some nutmeg over it; it brings out the cinnamon.
Good to know
Not legally rum
In many countries, rum is defined as a spirit distilled from sugar cane, with no added flavorings and at most a small amount of sugar. Spiced rum goes beyond that: spices, flavorings and sugar are added. As a result, the word rum often cannot appear on its own, and you see designations such as spirit drink or distilled drink based on rum.
Which spices go into it
Vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and orange peel are the most common. Exactly which ones, and in what proportions, most brands keep to themselves. The label usually only says that flavorings have been added.
The difference from barrel-aged spiced rum
A rum aged in oak for a long time can naturally smell of vanilla, coconut and clove; that flavor comes from the wood. In spiced rum, the spices are deliberately added, usually along with sugar. The former is drier and more layered, while the latter is rounder and sweeter.
The sugar explains the flavor
Added sugar makes the drink smoother and softens the sharpness of the alcohol. That is why spiced rum is quite enjoyable neat, while a dry rum at the same strength feels sharper. The amount of sugar it contains is rarely stated on the bottle.
The alcohol content
Spiced rum is usually between 35 and 40 percent ABV, often just below the rum it is based on. The exact percentage is stated on the label.
Add your own spices
Choose a rum that you enjoy without a mixer, add a cinnamon stick, half a vanilla pod and a strip of orange peel, and leave it for a week. Strain out the spices once it has infused enough; otherwise it will become bitter. This way, you decide how much sugar to add.
Frequently asked questions
Is spiced rum real rum?
As a base, yes, but not as a category. Because of the added spices, flavorings and sugar, spiced rum falls outside the definition of rum in many countries, in which case a different designation appears on the bottle.
What is the difference from dark rum?
Dark rum gets its flavor from the barrel and sometimes caramel for the color. Spiced rum contains added spices and sugar. This makes spiced rum rounder and sweeter, while dark rum is drier.
What do you drink spiced rum with?
With cola, ginger ale or apple juice, in a tall glass with plenty of ice and a lime wheel. In winter, it is also delicious warm with apple juice and cinnamon.
Can you make spiced rum yourself?
Yes. Leave a regular rum for a week with a cinnamon stick, half a vanilla pod and a strip of orange peel, strain out the spices and add sugar syrup to taste.
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