Rum

White (light) is unaged or filtered clear — clean, for mixing. Gold is barrel-aged for caramel and vanilla notes. Dark is aged longest for rich molasses and toffee. Spiced is infused with cinnamon, vanilla and other spices.

White rum — it's clean and light, so the lime and mint lead instead of the rum. It's also the base for a piña colada.

Yes — rum is distilled from sugarcane or molasses, so it's naturally grain-free and gluten-free. Spiced and flavored rums add ingredients, so check the label if you're sensitive.

The base ingredient. Rum is made from sugarcane or molasses, giving a sweeter profile; whiskey is made from grain. Both take their color and depth from barrel aging.