Vodka Vs. Rum - What Are The Differences?
Vodka and rum are both distilled alcoholic spirits that can be made anywhere in the world but their ingredients, taste, and history are entirely different. Vodka is made mostly from grains and potatoes with a subtle, clean taste and rum is made from sugar cane juice or molasses, which is slightly sweeter with hints of caramel and vanilla among other notes.
Though not as versatile as vodka, white rum can be used in a variety of mixed drinks. Darker, aged rums tend to be sipped like whiskey or used in specific co*cktails like a Dark and Stormy.
Vodka’s roots date back to the 1400’s in what is now Russia and Poland. While most people associate Rum with the Caribbean, its origins are believed to be ‘arrack’ a distilled form of raw sugar found in the Delhi Sultanate, a Muslim Empire from the 1200’s that is now nothern India. Rum eventually made its way to Barbados and Martinique in the 1600’s via Dutch migrants wanting to cultivate sugar cane.
What Are The Similarities Between Rum and Vodka?
There are few similarities between Vodka and Rum beyond the fact that they can be made anywhere in the world unlike Tequila which must be made in Jalisco Mexico or Scotch Whiskey, which can only be made in Scotland.
White Rum, also referred to as Light Rum or Silver Rum is similar in appearance to vodka. This kind of rum is typically distilled and then aged briefly in plain oak casks or stainless steel tanks for up to one year. It is then filtered with charcoal to remove impurities and any traces of color to produce a clear spirit like vodka.
What Are The Differences In How Vodka & Rum Are Made?
Rum is loosely defined as fermented juice of sugarcane, sugarcane syrup, sugar cane molasses or other sugarcane by-products. Vodka is typically made from a mash of fermented grain or potato but can also be made from molasses, fruit, rice, barley, and soybeans.
Both spirits are distilled multiple times and then diluted with water to the desired proof. At this point, vodka is bottled or has flavor added and is then bottled. Rum may also be flavored as in spiced rum but is typically aged in oak casks or steel tanks. It may also be colored with caramel, or have molasses added.
Are Rum Hangovers Worse Than Vodka?
Hangovers are predominantly caused by how much you drink, rather than what you drink. However, congeners, which are impurities in the spirit from the distillation process are believed to also contribute to feeling hungover. Although it can vary by brand, vodka tends to have fewer congeners than rum. <h2> How Does Vodka Taste Different Than Rum? Rum tastes sweeter and smoother than vodka and may have caramel, vanilla, and other notes from barrel aging or added ingredients.
What Are The Calorie Differences Between Vodka and Rum?
The calories in vodka and rum are the same, 64 calories/oz but it may vary depending on brand and proof. If the rum is spiced or tastes discernibly sweeter than others, it likely has additional calories.
Does Rum Get You More Drunk Than Vodka?
Rum does not get you more drunk than vodka. It’s the amount of alcohol you consume in a given period of time, not the spirit per se that determines how drunk you get. For example a shot of vodka or rum (1.5 oz) will obviously enter the bloodstream faster than a co*cktail sipped slowly. The effects of alcohol and speed of intoxication varies between people, but even in the same person, factors such as weight, gender, food intake, and effervescence will have an impact.
Is Vodka or Rum More Popular?
Vodka is the most popular, top selling spirit today. Rum is often thought of as the most misunderstood spirit. This dubious designation may be the result of loose regulation and misleading labeling compared with spirits like Scotch or Tequila. Both quality and composition can vary widely even among the same types of rum.
What Is the Alcohol Difference Between Vodka and Rum?
Most vodka and rum is 40 to 50% ABV, which is 80 to 100 proof. Some brands of Overproof Rum are 57.5% to 87% ABV, the equivalent of 115 to 174 proof.
Is Vodka or Rum Healthier?
Although some people claim to get less hungover from Vodka, there is little factual evidence to suggest that vodka is healthier than rum or vice versa. It is the quality of the specific brand and lack of additives, not the spirit itself, that determines which is better for you.
