Homemade spiced rum

If you’re a fan of rum and coke or just like to sip a chilled glass on a warm summer day, yet you are getting a tad tired of the same old cocktail, add a little spice to your life by making your own flavored rum. Infusing plain old rum with warm herbs and spices will create a unique spirit that you can enjoy yourself – and serve at your next cocktail party.

How to make spiced rum

Choose the rum

Typically, spiced rum is made with gold rum, rather than white. Gold rum is usually aged and has a golden color as well as a slightly sweeter taste then white rum. Gold rum is better for flavor because it already has a distinct sweetness and aged quality that complements spicy flavors. Try to use the best quality rum you can find.

Pick your flavors

Spiced rum usually has a good amount of vanilla as a taste component. Warm fall spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves and allspice also go well with gold rum. Citrus is almost always used while ginger, nutmeg and peppercorns can also add great flavor. You can even take the spice name literally and add Serrano or jalapeno peppers for an extra spicy kick!

Use fresh ingredients

Use the freshest ingredients possible when infusing your rum. Fresh vanilla beans, allspice berries, freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and fresh citrus peel will impart the best and the most flavor. Refrain from using artificial vanilla flavoring or already ground spices in the rum because they can create an artificial taste or even too strong of a taste because you won’t be able to strain the ingredients out.

Time to infuse

Spiced rum needs anywhere from 24 hours to one month depending on how flavorful you like your rum. Keep in mind it will keep for years, just like regular rum and the taste will only improve with age.

Make your favorite cocktail

The ubiquitous rum and coke is of course a favorite cocktail to make with spiced rum. If you’re looking for something a little more creative there are hundreds of ways to drink spiced rum. Some favorites include mixing spiced rum with peach liquor and iced tea or simply apple cider, or the following creative spiced rum concoctions.

Spiced rum cocktails

Homemade Spiced Rum

Makes 1 bottle of rumIngredients:
1 bottle good quality gold rum
1 vanilla bean pod, split in half
1 slice of orange peel, about 3 inches long
1 cinnamon stick
3 whole allspice berries
3 whole cloves
5 whole black peppercorns
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 slice of fresh ginger, about 1-inch round, a few centimeters thickDirections:
1. Add all ingredients to the bottle of rum. You may need to empty the bottle out a little to fit all of the ingredients. Place cap back on bottle and secure tightly. Shake bottle well.2. Store bottle in a cool dark place and let infuse for at least 24 hours or up to one month. Shake bottle every few days and taste until you have your desired flavor. When rum is to your liking, strain rum through cheesecloth and funnel back into the bottle.Note: All ingredients can be doubled or even reduced, depending on your taste. For example, if you want more vanilla flavor, add two vanilla bean pods, or if you don’t like ginger, don’t add it!

Triple Rum Threat

Makes 1 cocktailIngredients:
Ice
1 ounce homemade spiced rum
1/2 ounce coconut flavored rum
A few splashes of pineapple juice
A splash of grenadine
1/2 ounce dark rumDirections:
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour spiced rum and coconut rum into glass. Fill glass with pineapple juice and top with a splash of grenadine and dark rum.

Drunken Peach Iced Tea

Makes 1 cocktailIngredients:
1-1/2 ounces peach liqueur
1 ounce spiced rum
1 ounce peach schnapps
1/2 ounce vodka
5 ounces sweet tea
Lemon wedgeDirections:
Combine all of the spirits in a large glass with ice. Stir iced tea into glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.

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