What Types of Rum to Make Rum Cake With

Rum is a sugarcane-based liquor first made in the Caribbean in the 17th century. It is made from cane juice or molasses, water and yeast by a process of fermentation. The rum then is aged in wooden barrels and caramel often is added. The majority of the world's rum production still takes place in the Caribbean, but it is also made in countries like U.S., Australia and Canada. Rum is a popular ingredient in many foods, including rum cake, although there are certain brands of rum that work better in rum cake.

Tortuga rum is made in the Cayman Islands and is the primary ingredient in Tortuga rum cakes, a commercially available cake that is made and shipped from the Cayman Islands. While these cakes use premium rum that is barrel-aged for 5 years and is not available to the public, Tortuga rum works well in a homemade rum cake.

There are several varieties of Bacardi rum available, but Bacardi Superior is a good choice for rum cake because it is a little lighter, smooth and has been aged for up to 2 years.

Whalers Rum is made in Hawaii and comes in several flavors, including coconut, vanilla and dark rum. Try the coconut or vanilla flavors for a different twist on the rum cake flavor, or use the dark rum for a traditional tasting cake.

Cruzan rum is made on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are several flavored Cruzan rums as well as a traditional dark rum. Experiment with the different flavors to create different varieties of rum cake. Cruzan Aged Dark Rum is a favorable choice for traditional rum cake.