Flavouring rum with spices

How to flavour rum with spices

Want to create your own delicious rum flavours at home? Infusing rum with spices is a simple yet rewarding way to craft unique spirits that reflect your tastes. Whether you enjoy rum neat, with cola or ginger beer, these tropical spice infusions will transform your drinking experience.

Why these spices work with rum

The spices in this blog have been carefully selected because they naturally complement rum. They are also in our starter and large Spice & Botanical kits for rum. These tropical spices grow in the same latitudes as sugar cane, rum's parent plant, creating exotic and harmonious flavour combinations.

Get ready to infuse

You'll need some lightly or non-spiced dark rum (perfect for infusions), some empty glass bottles or jars and a kitchen sieve for straining out the spices once you're happy with the flavour.

Two ways to infuse: By the bottle or by the glass

By the bottle: This method produces more effective results because longer infusion times allow flavours to develop fully. Splitting a bottle of rum three ways between clean condiment jars (jam jars are ideal) will also allow you to create several flavours at once while minimising the risk of dedicating an entire bottle to something you might not enjoy.

All you do is add the recommended quantity of spices to a jam jar or even, a half-bottle of rum if you can. Shake really well and leave for about 3-5 days, tasting daily. When you're happy with the flavour, sieve out the ingredients and serve!

By the glass: Perfect for quick experimentation or when you want a flavoured drink before the evening is out. Add a pinch of spice to your rum, let it sit for up to 60 minutes, then add any mixer and enjoy.

Six flavour combinations to try

Unlike when you're infusing Whisky where using just one spice is a better approach, we have found that rum is more open to taking a couple of spices in one infusion. Here are just six to get you started.

1. Orange & Fennel seeds

With this one, be careful to not overpower the citrus with fennel. Start with 1 heaped teaspoon of orange peel to ½ teaspoon of fennel seeds. In fennel is your thing, lightly crush the seeds with the back of a spoon before adding them.

2. Star Anise & Orange

The liquorice taste of star anise pairs beautifully with citrusy orange peel. Infuse 1 teaspoon of each ingredient in a jam jar for a really balanced, aromatic rum.

3. Cloves & Star Anise

This is a proper winter warmer. It's a combination that brings depth and complexity to rum. Add equal parts of star anise and cloves to the jar, 1 teaspoon of each works perfectly. Some people like to give the end result a burst in the microwave before adding it to a little milk to create a cocktail like a 'Rum Cow'. 

4. Coffee Beans & Orange

Infusing coffee beans in rum creates a delicious bitter-sweet drink. Adding orange peel results in a sophisticated bitter-sweet citrusy combination. Add 1 teaspoon of coffee and ½ teaspoon of orange to your jar and let the magic take place.

5. Cloves & Orange

Cloves impart subtle sweetness and warmth to rum, while orange peel complements them nicely. Add ½ teaspoon of cloves plus 1 teaspoon of orange peel to the jar.

6. Pink Peppercorns

Add just half a teaspoon of pink peppercorns to a jam jar of rum. Crushing the peppercorns lightly will add a little more punch. They add a sweet and hot taste to your rum and actually complement the subtle spice already present in the rum itself.

Tips to make the most of your rum flavouring

Don't dilute first: Alcohol absorbs flavour best when undiluted. For single drinks, add your mixer only after the rum has infused.

Keep combinations simple: Stick to no more than 2 spices per infusion to avoid overly complex flavours that compete rather than complement.

Balance with citrus: A slice of lemon or lime in your finished drink helps balance the flavours beautifully as well as giving a little visual appeal.

Taste daily: When infusing bottles, check your rum each day. This helps you catch it at the perfect moment before any spice becomes overpowering. Don't worry if you make a mistake the first time, this is all about exploration.

Start your rum infusion journey

The beauty of infusing rum with spices is that you can start small, experiment freely and create flavours that are uniquely yours. Whether you prefer the sweet warmth of cloves, the aromatic intrigue of star anise, or the bold character of coffee beans, there's a combination waiting to become your signature rum.

Which flavour will you create first? We'd love to hear from you at hello@naturalandnoble.co.uk.

Happy rum flavouring!