Bacardí Gold Vs White: What's Actually Different

Are a few drops of caramel coloring the only thing separating the identically priced Bacardí Superior (the brand's white rum) and Bacardí Gold rums? Absolutely not. A sip of Superior's silver rum blossoms with fruity floral notes, while the Gold coats the tongue in warm vanilla and oak. But neither variety has actually been steeped in spices or botanicals. The flavor difference between Bacardí Gold and Superior comes down to how long and where they've matured after distillation.

Both Bacardí rums are distilled from a fermented combination of sugarcane molasses, filtered water, and yeast. Bacardí's proprietary yeast was originally discovered by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó in Cuba. Today, Bacardí is produced in what many consider to be the rum capital of the world, Puerto Rico.

After charcoal filtration, the rum destined for Gold is barrel aged 1-2 years. The burn of the alcohol smooths out and the rum and wood create new flavors in reaction to each other. The maturing rum even steals some sweetness from the caramelized char inside the toasted barrels.

Bacardí Superior is clarified of its initial brown color by an added level of filtration, and is then sent to rest in steel tanks for one year. While there is no wood to react with, the resting process still allows the silver rum's flavor compounds to separate and rejoin into more palate-friendly configurations. After a year, the white rum's harshness is polished away, and more delicate flavors shine through.

Mojitos and daiquiris are simple, light, and call to be paired with Bacardí Superior. The white rum's cleaner, crisp flavor is the perfect complement to bright lime and delicate mint. And don't forget the resort vacation favorite: the piña colada. Bacardí Superior's gentle fruitiness is perfect for the frozen drink.

Bacardí Gold's rich, bold flavor notes can overwhelm or clash with some of the better known rum cocktails, but not the Cuba Libre. All it takes to stir one up with the gold rum is some cola and lime juice. A rum old fashioned makes for a sophisticated sipper with the Bacardí Gold, a little sugar, a dash of bitters, and a lemon peel. Or get cozy with some Bacardí Gold in your next rum hot toddy. The oak, caramel, and spice of the gold rum can even make it enjoyable served neat on its own.

And yes, there are plenty of cocktails that call for a mix of both types of rums or more. Tasting Table has recipes for rum punch and painkillers to start among these best and booziest rum cocktails.