As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with some insights into the freezing point of rum. Rum, like many other alcoholic beverages, has a lower freezing point than water due to its alcohol content. The specific temperature at which rum freezes can vary depending on the alcohol percentage.
In general, the freezing point of a beverage is determined by its alcohol by volume (ABV) or proof. The higher the alcohol content, the lower the freezing point. Rum typically has an alcohol content ranging from 40% to 50% ABV, which is equivalent to 80 to 100 proof.
At 40% ABV, which is the standard for most commercial rums, the freezing point of rum is estimated to be around -10°F (-23°C). This means that if you were to place a bottle of 80 proof rum in a freezer with a temperature lower than -10°F, some of the water content in the rum would start to freeze.
However, it's important to note that the freezing point of rum can be influenced by factors such as impurities, sugar content, and other additives. These factors can slightly alter the freezing point, but the general range of -10°F to -15°F (-23°C to -26°C) is still applicable for most standard rums.
Now, it's worth mentioning that I have personally never witnessed rum freezing completely solid. Even when stored in a freezer for an extended period, the rum will become very cold but remain in a liquid state. This is because the alcohol in the rum acts as an antifreeze, preventing the water molecules from fully crystallizing.
When you take the rum out of the freezer, it will still be cold, but undamaged. The taste and quality of the rum should not be affected by the freezing process, as long as the bottle was sealed properly and there were no extreme temperature fluctuations during freezing and thawing.
The freezing point of rum is approximately -10°F (-23°C) for a bottle with an alcohol content of 40% ABV. However, due to the antifreeze properties of alcohol, rum rarely freezes completely solid, even at lower temperatures. So feel free to enjoy your cold rum straight from the freezer without worrying about any significant changes in its characteristics.