How to tell the difference between brandy and rum?

Brandy and rum are two popular spirits that are often consumed neat or used as the base for a variety of cocktails. While both are distilled from fermented products and aged in wooden barrels, their ingredients, preparation methods and even origins differ. In this blog, we will list the main differences between rum and brandy.

What is rum?

Rum originated in the Caribbean. It was discovered that molasses (a by-product of the sugar making process) could be fermented and distilled to create a potent alcoholic beverage.

What is brandy?

Brandy originated in ancient Greece and Rome. Currently, Cognac (from Cognac, France) and Armagnac (from the Armagnac region of Gascogne, France) are the two best brandies. Brandy is made by fermenting and distilling fruit juice (usually grapes), but it can also be produced from other fruits, and the resulting spirit is then aged or bottled.

Production stage

Rum: Fermentation – This process uses a base product (sugar cane juice or molasses) to start the production process. Water and yeast are then added to start the fermentation process. However, the flavor of rum depends on the yeast used.
Distillation – Using a column or pot still, the distillation process produces acetone, methanol, and tannin equivalents, which give rum its aroma and flavor.
Aging – Aging for at least one year, this process determines the color of the final product, oak barrels produce dark rums, while stainless steel barrels produce colorless rums.
Mixing – This is the final step and is intended to produce a consistent flavor. Light rums have the color acquired during the production process removed, while dark rums have additional ingredients added to obtain the desired color.

Brandy: Brandy production begins with the fermentation of fruit juice, converting fruit sugars into alcohol. The resulting liquid, called wine or cider depending on the fruit used, is then distilled to produce a higher alcohol concentration. Similar to rum, brandy is aged in oak barrels to enhance its flavor and complexity.

What’s the alcohol content?

Rum is a spirit with an alcohol concentration between 37.5% and 80%. In contrast, brandy has a lighter alcohol content, ranging from 35% to 60%.

Conclusion

The choice of brandy and rum depends entirely on your personal taste and the brands you are comparing. The quality of the intoxication is the ultimate deciding factor. If you’re looking for a relaxing and soothing high, brandy is your best choice. If you’re looking for a stronger effect, opt for rum.