As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can confidently say that rum does not inherently taste sweet. Many people mistakenly assume that rum is sweet because it is often used in sweet cocktails or mixed with sugary ingredients. However, the sweetness in these drinks comes from the mixers, not the rum itself.
To understand why rum is not sweet, it's important to know how it is made. Rum is distilled from fermented sugarcane juice or molasses. During the fermentation process, yeast consumes the sugar in the mash and converts it into alcohol. This fermentation process is similar to what happens when making other alcoholic beverages like whiskey, tequila, brandy, or even beer.
After fermentation, the liquid is distilled to separate the alcohol from impurities and to increase its alcohol content. Straight off the still, freshly distilled rum has essentially no sugar in it. Any residual sugar from the fermentation process is left behind during distillation. So, even if the fermented mash had some sugar in it, very little would make it past the distillation process.
The lack of sugar in freshly distilled rum allows it to be versatile in terms of flavor. It can be aged in barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the spirit. The aging process can result in various flavor profiles, ranging from rich and caramel-like to dry and spicy.
Of course, there are different types of rum available, and some may have added sweeteners or flavors. However, these are not inherent qualities of rum itself but rather specific variations or additions made by the distillers.
I've had the opportunity to taste a wide range of rums, and I can tell you from personal experience that not all rums taste sweet. In fact, I've come across many rums that are dry or have a subtle sweetness rather than being outright sugary. This diversity in flavor is one of the reasons why rum is such an interesting and complex spirit to explore.
To summarize, while rum is often associated with sweetness due to its use in sweet cocktails, it is not inherently sweet. Straight off the still, freshly distilled rum has no sugar in it, and any perceived sweetness in certain rums comes from added ingredients or the aging process. The flavor profile of rum can vary widely, offering a range of tastes from dry to subtly sweet. So, the next time you enjoy a glass of rum, take a moment to savor its unique flavors without assuming it will be sugary.