Drinks see white
White spirits are neutral and more mixable, as they are not as strong on the palate as their darker variants. White rum is delicious, versatile and inspiring. The light colour, the slightly sweet and dry taste of white rum lends itself perfectly to cocktails, even those involving the subtle flavours of fruits, without ever masking their flavours. White rum blends best with citrus-fruits like lime, pineapple and lemon. Perhaps that is why white rum is becoming the first choice for many mixologists while making cocktails. It’s through these innovative cocktails that white rum has almost been rediscovered.
Among brands, Bacardi has over time been the forerunner in the white rum segment in India, but Havana Club is fast becoming a much sought brand as well. The ever popular Malibu coconut rum is a sweet, coconut-flavoured Caribbean white rum, with a taste reminiscent of coconut, almonds and mocha.
A drink for all seasons, quite literally, rum can be as refreshing on a tropical summer afternoon as it will be on a chilly winter evening. And owing to its balanced taste, it is the base of so many refreshing drinks, from the mojito to the daiquiri, from the mai tai to the pina colada.
The daiquiri, especially, is a classic white rum cocktail and contains white rum, freshly squeezed lime juice, and just enough sugar (usually in the form of a simple syrup) to tame the sourness of the lime. You can be creative with it too; all you need to do is add about six strawberries and then sip a Strawberry Daiquiri. Personally speaking, the pina colada is among my all-time favourite cocktails. It involves white rum, coconut and pineapple. Being a Goan, nothing works better than some coconut for me! Apart from these, I also like a mojito. But normal mojito is boring, and I use some Demerara sugar pickled overnight with lemon instead of sugar syrup. The result is heavenly! Try it!
If you want to make yourself any or all of these cocktails at home, all you need is a good quality cocktail shaker, peg measure, tongs and a few pretty glasses. And yes, white rum! In fact, I recommend white rum over vodka for most cocktails. After the ingredients are placed in the cocktail shaker, shaking is a must, as it makes the drink cold. Shaking the drink with ice tends to dilute the drink, which adds volume and is also an important element to the flavour. Lime (or any citrus) juice is difficult to incorporate into a drink merely by stirring. So, it’s better to shake a drink that contains citrus. It really works.
Pubs and bars are awash with interesting cocktails made with white rum, and the mixing wizardry of the bartender is the challenge for every outlet.
— Mini is a food writer and consultant
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