Rum FAQs: Dietary Information
When consuming any food or drink it is important to be aware of the ingredients and alcohol content of each product, especially when you follow a specific diet or have a dietary intolerance. Find the answers to some of the most important and frequently asked questions about rum's ingredients and dietary information, including:
- Is rum vegan?
- Is rum gluten free?
- How much alcohol is in rum?
- Does rum contain sugar / how much sugar is in rum?
- How many calories are in rum?
- Does rum cure a cold / sore throat?
Is rum vegan?
If you have a vegan diet, your rum can stay on the table! Virtually every brand of rum is suitable for vegans.
The main exceptions are rums made with honey (such as Australia’s Adelaide Hills Gunnery Spiced White Rum and Spain’s Cayo Grande Club Ronmiel) and these usually mention ‘honey’ in the name or elsewhere on the bottle. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
Is rum gluten-free?
The Coeliac Disease Foundation states that distilled alcohol does not contain gluten peptides. As rum is distilled from sugar cane, it should be gluten-free. However, some flavoured and spiced rums may have had ingredients added which contain gluten or have been in contact with gluten. Rum cocktails and pre-mixed rum drinks may also contain gluten. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How much alcohol is in rum?
Unlike Scotch whisky, rum is not subject to strict rules on its alcohol content. Across the world, rums vary in alcohol by volume (ABV) from 37.5% to more than 80%, but most are at the lower end of this range - around 40% ABV. At 40% ABV this is approximately 1 unit of alcohol in a 25ml serving.
Where rum regulations do exist they vary from one country to another. In the USA, Chile and Venezuela, rums must have a minimum of 40% ABV, while in Colombia the minimum ABV is 50%. Always read the label or contact the producer for the specific ABV of each rum.
Does rum contain sugar?
Although rum is derived from sugar cane, no sugar makes it through the distilling process, so pure distilled rum should be sugar-free. However, many rum manufacturers add sugar to the rum before it is bottled in order to adjust the flavour, so the finished product could contain sugar. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How much sugar is in rum?
How much sugar is added to rum varies from one brand to the next. Some distilleries, like Jamaica’s Appleton Estate, add no sugar to their rums. A bottle of Havana Club 3 Años contains very little added sugar - about 3 grams. At the other end of the scale, a bottle of Venezuelan Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva 12 Años rum can include almost 30 grams (7 teaspoons) of added sugar. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How many calories in a shot / ounce of rum?
According to drinkaware.co.uk, a 25ml shot of 40% ABV rum contains 61 calories. This is approximately 65 calories in an ounce of rum – around 3% of your recommended daily calorie intake. The exact calorie content can vary from one rum to another - always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
Does rum cure a cold or sore throat?
Whilst this is a very frequently asked question, the answer is no. There are many old wives' tales and historically used 'home remedies', such as 'Old Irish Cure' – a mixture of whiskey, dark rum, fresh lemon juice, ginger and honey. However, alcohol can suppress your immune function and make it harder for your body to fight off infection. Alcohol should not be consumed when taking medication and it is also a diuretic which can make it more difficult to remain hydrated while recovering.
Rum should not consumed as a treatment for any illness or health concern or its symptoms. If you have any concerns about your health, please seek professional medical advice first.
If you have a vegan diet, your rum can stay on the table! Virtually every brand of rum is suitable for vegans.
The main exceptions are rums made with honey (such as Australia’s Adelaide Hills Gunnery Spiced White Rum and Spain’s Cayo Grande Club Ronmiel) and these usually mention ‘honey’ in the name or elsewhere on the bottle. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
Is rum gluten-free?
The Coeliac Disease Foundation states that distilled alcohol does not contain gluten peptides. As rum is distilled from sugar cane, it should be gluten-free. However, some flavoured and spiced rums may have had ingredients added which contain gluten or have been in contact with gluten. Rum cocktails and pre-mixed rum drinks may also contain gluten. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How much alcohol is in rum?
Unlike Scotch whisky, rum is not subject to strict rules on its alcohol content. Across the world, rums vary in alcohol by volume (ABV) from 37.5% to more than 80%, but most are at the lower end of this range - around 40% ABV. At 40% ABV this is approximately 1 unit of alcohol in a 25ml serving.
Where rum regulations do exist they vary from one country to another. In the USA, Chile and Venezuela, rums must have a minimum of 40% ABV, while in Colombia the minimum ABV is 50%. Always read the label or contact the producer for the specific ABV of each rum.
Does rum contain sugar?
Although rum is derived from sugar cane, no sugar makes it through the distilling process, so pure distilled rum should be sugar-free. However, many rum manufacturers add sugar to the rum before it is bottled in order to adjust the flavour, so the finished product could contain sugar. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How much sugar is in rum?
How much sugar is added to rum varies from one brand to the next. Some distilleries, like Jamaica’s Appleton Estate, add no sugar to their rums. A bottle of Havana Club 3 Años contains very little added sugar - about 3 grams. At the other end of the scale, a bottle of Venezuelan Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva 12 Años rum can include almost 30 grams (7 teaspoons) of added sugar. Always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
How many calories in a shot / ounce of rum?
According to drinkaware.co.uk, a 25ml shot of 40% ABV rum contains 61 calories. This is approximately 65 calories in an ounce of rum – around 3% of your recommended daily calorie intake. The exact calorie content can vary from one rum to another - always read the label or contact the producer for specific details on each rum.
Does rum cure a cold or sore throat?
Whilst this is a very frequently asked question, the answer is no. There are many old wives' tales and historically used 'home remedies', such as 'Old Irish Cure' – a mixture of whiskey, dark rum, fresh lemon juice, ginger and honey. However, alcohol can suppress your immune function and make it harder for your body to fight off infection. Alcohol should not be consumed when taking medication and it is also a diuretic which can make it more difficult to remain hydrated while recovering.
Rum should not consumed as a treatment for any illness or health concern or its symptoms. If you have any concerns about your health, please seek professional medical advice first.
Do you have another question about rum or rum storage? Let us know!
Also read our FAQs on Rum Storage.
Also read our FAQs on Rum Storage.