Rum is a popular spirit that is often infused with various ingredients to create flavored versions. Infusing rum allows you to add new flavors and create custom craft cocktails and liqueurs. Some popular infusion ingredients include fruits, spices, herbs, nuts, candy and coffee. Choosing complementary flavors is key for a successful infusion. The options are endless when infusing rum at home.
What ingredients can you use to infuse rum?
There are many ingredients that pair well with rum and can infuse flavor and aroma into the spirit. Here are some top options to consider:
Fruits
Fruit infusions add sweetness, flavor complexity and vivid colors to rum. Popular fruits for rum infusions include:
– Citrus fruits – Lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit
– Berries – Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
– Tropical fruits – Pineapple, mango, banana, coconut, passionfruit
– Stone fruits – Peaches, plums, cherries
– Pome fruits – Apple, pear
– Melons – Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe
The fruits can be used whole, sliced, diced or muddled. The infusion time can range from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the intensity desired. Citrus peels can also be used for a zesty, aromatic infusion.
Herbs and Spices
Herbs and warm spices are excellent for infusing rum with botanical flavors. Options include:
– Mint – Spearmint and peppermint add refreshing flavor
– Basil – All varieties provide herbal aroma
– Rosemary – Earthy, pine notes
– Thyme – Lemony, woodsy thyme
– Lavender – Floral and perfumed lavender
– Cinnamon – Warm cinnamon spice
– Nutmeg – Cozy, baking spice flavor
– Vanilla – Sweet, rich vanilla
– Chili Pepper – Jalapeno or habanero for heat
– Ginger – Zingy, gingery kick
– Cardamom – Elegant and aromatic
Use whole herbs and spices for infusing into the rum and sample often to prevent over-infusing.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds can provide texture and richness to rum infusions. Consider:
– Almonds – Toasted almond flavor
– Walnuts – Nutty, earthy notes
– Pecans – Sweet, buttery pecans
– Hazelnuts – Chocolatey, nutella vibes
– Pistachios – Subtle pistachio essence
– Pumpkin seeds – Pepita’s green vibrancy
– Coconut – Tropical coconut milkiness
Lightly toast nuts before infusing to amplify the flavor. Avoid over-toasting which can create bitterness.
Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea lend rum warming, earthy notes. Ideas include:
– Coffee beans – Freshly ground beans
– Espresso – Concentrated coffee flavor
– Coffee liqueur – For added sweetness
– Black tea – Assam or earl grey
– Green tea – Grassy, delicate green tea
– Chai tea – Warming spices and black tea
Cold brew coffee produces a very smooth coffee rum infusion. The tannins in tea should be monitored to avoid over-steeping bitterness.
Sweets
For a sweet twist, rum can be infused with candy, chocolate, honey or maple syrup. Consider:
– Chocolate – Cocoa nibs or dark chocolate chunks
– Toasted marshmallows – Goopy, marshmallowy fun
– Honey – Orange blossom or wildflower honey
– Maple syrup – Grade A or B maple syrup
– Caramel – Soft caramel candies
– Peppermint sticks – Candy cane crushed
The sugary ingredients add body, texture and sweetness to balance the alcoholic kick of rum.
What ingredients should you avoid infusing in rum?
While the possibilities are nearly endless for rum infusions, there are a few ingredients that are not recommended:
– Dairy – Milk, cream and butter can curdle and spoil
– Eggs – Raw eggs promote bacterial growth
– Meat – Savory meats don’t pair well
– Cruciferous veggies – Can develop sulfur aromas
– Chili peppers – IfSEEDS are used instead of just the flesh
In general, any ingredient that is very watery or perishable is not ideal and can make the infusion go bad quickly. Some fruits like melon have a very high water content. Stay away from using bruised or overripe produce as well.
What is the best method for infusing rum at home?
Infusing rum is an easy home project with very basic required materials. Here is a simple process:
Ingredients
– A 750ml bottle of quality white rum – A high proof works best
– 1 cup of chopped ingredients – Fruits, herbs, spices, etc.
– Fine strainer – To filter out solids
Process
1. Add the chopped ingredients directly to the bottle of rum. Shake gently to combine.
2. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place for the desired infusion time, shaking occasionally. Taste regularly after the first few days to monitor the flavor.
3. For fruits and ingredients with higher water content, the infusion time is typically 1-3 days. Drier herbs and spices infuse fully within 3-7 days.
4. Once the rum is infused to your taste, strain out the solids through a fine mesh strainer.
5. Transfer the infused rum back to the bottle or into a decorative glass bottle for storing.
6. Label with the ingredients and date. The infusion should keep for several months stored in a cool location.
Tips
– Use a clear glass bottle to observe the infusion process over time.
– Infusion times can vary widely, sample taste often.
– Consider wearing gloves when handling hot peppers.
– Use a funnel to transfer strained rum back into the bottle.
– Make sure to fully strain out all vegetable matter.
– Enjoy over ice or use to make unique cocktails!
What are some recommended rum infusion recipes?
Here are 5 tasty rum infusion recipes to try at home:
Mango Habanero Rum
Ingredients:
– 1 mango, peeled, diced
– 1 habanero pepper, sliced
– 750ml white rum
Instructions:
1. Add mango and habanero to rum bottle. Shake well.
2. Infuse for 2 days, shaking occasionally.
3. Strain and enjoy in margaritas or mojitos.
Pumpkin Pie Rum
Ingredients:
– 1 cup pumpkin puree
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 1 vanilla bean, sliced lengthwise
– 750ml spiced rum
Instructions:
1. Add all ingredients to rum and shake.
2. Infuse for 1 week, shaking daily.
3. Strain and garnish drinks with grated nutmeg.
Coffee Rum
Ingredients:
– 1 cup coarsely ground coffee beans
– 750ml silver rum
Instructions:
1. Combine coffee and rum in bottle, shake well.
2. Infuse for 3-5 days until desired strength.
3. Strain and enjoy in rum old fashioneds.
Blueberry Mint Rum
Ingredients:
– 1 cup blueberries
– 1⁄2 cup fresh mint leaves
– 750ml white rum
Instructions:
1. Muddle blueberries and mint leaves in rum bottle.
2. Infuse for 2-3 days. Shake occasionally.
3. Fine strain and top mojitos and lemonade.
Spiced Apple Rum
Ingredients:
– 2 apples, cored, chopped
– 3 cinnamon sticks
– 1 vanilla bean, sliced lengthwise
– 750ml spiced rum
Instructions:
1. Combine apples, cinnamon, vanilla in rum bottle.
2. Infuse for 1 week, shaking daily.
3. Strain and enjoy in autumnal cocktails.
Should you age a rum infusion?
Unlike barrel aged rums, simple fruit and flavor infusions don’t necessarily benefit from aging over longer periods. Since the rum is not interacting with wood, there are no tannins or oxidative effects developing over time.
Extended aging can also cause the flavors from some ingredients to dissipate or deteriorate rather than improve. For most basic infusions, the desired flavors are extracted within 1-2 weeks maximum.
However, there are some ingredients like nuts, chocolate and coffee beans that can develop deeper, richer flavors when infused over several months. Vanilla is another ingredient that continues smoothing out with more time.
If aging a rum infusion for multiple months, be sure to sample it regularly to determine ideal flavor development. Additional produce should not be added during the aging process. Store in a tightly sealed glass bottle kept out of heat and light.
While infusions don’t require years of aging like barrel rum, extra time can be beneficial for select ingredients if monitored closely.
Should you filter a rum infusion?
For a clean, polished end product, it is best to filter a finished rum infusion through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth before bottling. This removes any solid fruit flesh, seeds, herbs or spices.
Leaving these residual solids in the rum can cause the infusion to become bitter, astringent or deteriorate in quality over time. Fine particles may also clog dispensers if serving the infused rum from a tap system.
There are a few filtering options:
Fine Mesh Strainer
A stainless steel mesh strainer with tiny holes is the easiest way to filter out all the small particles. Place over a glass bottle and slowly pour the infusion through.
Cheesecloth
For a very smooth filtration, you can pass the infusion through a layer of cheesecloth inside a strainer. The cheesecloth will catch any trace sediment.
Coffee Filters
Standard cone-shaped coffee filters also work well for straining infusions. Line a funnel or strainer with a filter and filter slowly into your bottle.
No special equipment is required, just be sure to fully strain out all the fruit pulp, herbs and spices after infusing. A quick pass through a paper coffee filter as the final step will produce the clearest, cleanest homemade rum infusion.
Does an infusion change the alcohol percentage of rum?
The fruits, herbs and spices used to flavor rum do not contain fermentable sugars themselves and therefore do not increase the ABV (alcohol by volume) or proof of the spirit. Infusing ingredients simply add flavor, not additional alcohol.
The starting ABV of the rum determines the final ABV after infusing. Most rums fall between 40-50% ABV or 80-100 proof. While diluting with some water or sugars can occur during infusion, this effect is minimal and does not largely impact the ABV.
For example, if you infuse a 750ml bottle of standard 80 proof rum, the end product will remain right around 40% ABV and 80 proof. The exception would be if you deliberately added liquid or dissolved sugar to the infusion.
A properly strained infusion involves no fermentation or distillation, just steeping flavors. So the finished rum infusion retains essentially the same alcohol content as the base rum itself, regardless of the added flavors.
Should you sweeten a rum infusion?
One benefit of infusing rum with fruits and spices is that their natural sugars can sweeten the final spirit and balance the alcohol kick without needing to artificially add sugar.
Certain very sweet ingredients like pineapples, mangos, berries and stone fruits impart plenty of nice sweetness on their own. Even spices like cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg introduce warming, dessert-like flavors.
Before sweetening, first taste the strained infusion on its own. You may find even tart fruits provide enough sweet-tart balance when their sugars fully infuse into the rum.
If added sweetness is still desired, here are some ways to gently sweeten a rum infusion:
– Simple Syrup – Add in small amounts to taste
– Honey Syrup – For floral sweetness
– Maple Syrup – Lovely maple tones
– Agave Nectar – More neutral than honey
– Coconut Sugar – Natural, low glycemic option
– Cane Sugar – Sparingly sweeten to suit preference
– Licor 43 – Spanish vanilla liqueur
– Vanilla Extract – Enhance vanilla flavors
The infusion ingredients themselves should be providing adequate sweetness and flavor in most cases. But a touch of simple syrup or honey can provide a smoothing sweet effect if desired.
Should you refrigerate or store at room temperature?
The best storage method for a finished rum infusion depends on the ingredients used:
Room temperature storage is ideal for infusions using:
– Dried herbs and spices like cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, peppercorns, etc.
– Most chopped fruits and fruit juices with lower water content like berries, citrus, pineapples, mangos.
– Ingredients with higher alcohol and sugar content that inhibit microbial growth like coffee and chocolate liqueurs.
Refrigerated storage is best for infusions using:
– Fresh herb leaves like mint, basil that may wilt at room temp.
– Fruits and juices with very high water content that could spoil like melon, grapes.
– Dairy ingredients like chocolate, coconut or almond milk that can curdle.
The higher proof and sugar content of an infusion prevents most microbial issues at room temp. But refrigerator storage is recommended if any doubt on ingredient freshness and shelf stability.
Most fruit and aromatic infusions can be happily stored at room temperature with no issues. If refrigerating, allow to slowly come back to room temp before serving.
Conclusion
Infusing rum opens up a whole new world of flavors and custom craft cocktails. Fruits, herbs, spices, sweets and coffee lend their signature tastes and aromas to rum through an easy steeping process. With some quality rum, interesting ingredients and a little patience, you can create personalized infusions to enjoy on their own or mix into drinks. Filter fully after infusing and store properly based on the ingredients used. Then get creative mixing your homemade infusions into amazing cocktails to share and impress.