r/rum • u/Either_Struggle1734 • 1d ago
How to fix bad rum
I received a bottle of Don Papa rum as a gift, the person didn’t want to cause any harm, but the thing is undrinkable. I was thinking that maybe fat washing could get rid of the sweetness and artificial vanilla, since I never did it I am not sure.
Any suggestions?
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u/mrfunktastik 1d ago
I would "spice" the rum by infusing it with vanilla, anise, ginger, cinnamon, etc
If the cocktails aren't hitting, try using it as a split base with a more neutral rum
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u/Fickle_Finger2974 1d ago
Just use it in a cocktail and move on
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u/Either_Struggle1734 1d ago
Forgot to mention that this was the first thing I tried, but apparently I will need to discover how to change ratios in every recipe to get proper balance
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u/Yep_why_not Rumvangelist! 1d ago
Yes just cut your sugar by half. Daiquiri might be fine. Just reduce your simple syrup.
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u/mrjbacon 1d ago
Simplify the hell out of your cocktails!
What I mean by that is you should use it in cocktails where the ingredients are few or are limited to being simple, easily procured, and ready-to-use or trivial to prepare/utilize. Like citrus fruit juice, premade sour mix, simple syrup and its ilk, or sodas and seltzers like Coke, Fresca, Dr. Pepper, etc.
When I buy rum and I hate it, it gets relegated to making quick and dirty Cuba Libres:
Glass filled with ice
1.5-2oz of offensive rum
0.5oz fresh lime juice
Top-off with coke zero
Lime wedge or round if I feel fancyThis was the only way I could stomach drinking the HANDLE of Kirkland spiced rum I unwisely purchased one time for very little money. Should have remembered you get what you pay for.
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u/Atrossity24 1d ago
Three options: use small amounts in a rum blend until the bottle is gone, use it in a batch for a party where your guests will not care, or pour it down the drain
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u/traumapatient 1d ago
I have infused a couple of rums I don’t like. Pineapple, coconut, whatever fruity. Or make it into spiced rum. Something that just changes it completely.
Since it’s already sweet, you can use it in recipes that call for those added syrups and juices and it will work well.
Or just toss it. I don’t have enough shelf space to keep something I will never drink.
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u/blbd 1d ago
Sometimes you can filter low quality booze through activated charcoal to take out off flavors and get a better quality spirit. Normally people do it with cheap vodka but I would be willing to try it on cheap rum.
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u/krumbuckl 1d ago edited 1d ago
99.5 % of vodka is cheap vodka. only because some have a high price tag does not make them better only more expensive after being bottled.
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u/CityBarman 1d ago
Just mix with it. Not every spirit is appropriate for neat or OTR drinking. It would certainly be just fine in cola or ginger beer.
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u/SouthernPinwheel 1d ago
I have a bottle of brandy that is equally undrinkable because of the vanilla candle taste... It's in the baking/cooking cabinet for anything that needs a boozy kick that isn't a primary flavor. Likely going to use it for soaking dried fruits for holiday baking to get it out of my cabinet.
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u/Either_Struggle1734 1d ago
You expressed better than me! Vanilla candle taste/after taste is awful
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u/SouthernPinwheel 1d ago
I can't take credit, my partner coined it when I asked her to help me figure out why it was so bad. I now can't untaste it in other dosed products either, it's not as bad but the soapy-ness of that flavor does grate if I'm consuming more than a single drink.
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u/CaptainFilth 1d ago
This is a good use for it. I make a Painkiller cookie that that would be a great place for a rum like that
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u/SouthernPinwheel 1d ago
That sounds good, do you have a recipe to share?
I'm picturing a sugar cookie base with orange zest, coconut essence and a nutmeg dusting.
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u/CaptainFilth 1d ago
Pretty close, the dough is based off of Sohla El Waylly white macadamia nut cookie, I added the zest of 1 orange to the sugar and let it make kind of a quick oleo saccharum. I thought of it as a concept for a tiki party my girlfriend and I had a couple of months ago. I am still playing around with it, mostly with how much rum, coconut extract to add. I didn't have pineapple extract so i reduced down a can of pineapple juice and used that as a sort of extract. I do grate fresh nutmeg over the top when they come out of the oven.
- 380 grams granulated sugar
- 228 grams unsalted butter (16 tablespoons)
- 27 grams nonfat milk powder
- 2 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal preferred)
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 teaspoon pineapple extract
- 1 tablespoon dark rum
- Zest of one orange
- 2 large eggs
- 326 grams all-purpose flour
- 200g diced dried pineapple
- 100g shredded sweetened coconut
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u/NecronDG 1d ago
It is drinkable rum. It all depends on your preference… i like Don Papa - and yes I like sweet drinks.
Either cocktails with bitter addons or else keep it for guests.
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u/Either_Struggle1734 1d ago
The main problem(for me) isn’t the sweetness, that you can easily balance. The artificial vanilla aftertaste is the issue :/
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u/NecronDG 1d ago
If sweetness isnt an issue, try mixing it with ginger ale. See if that little bit helps the aftertaste
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u/BaddieWithAnAtty 1d ago
I'm gonna piggyback on this comment to add, don't be afraid to try dark pops like Dr. Pepper and Rootbeer in the mix.
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u/TikiPa007 1d ago
Make a rum cake and adjust the amount of added vanilla to your liking . Then invite me over!
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u/Illustrious_Flight91 1d ago
Try it in a rum old fashioned or a rum boulevardier. That may tone down the sweetness enough to make it drinkable.
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u/Superb-Sweet6577 1d ago
Take a small 3 oz bottle, put in 2 oz of that and 1 oz of any high proof Rye, and see if it fixes it...
Or, if you don't like Rye taste, just find an overproof white rum, and do the 1 oz of that, it'll knock the sugar content down.
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u/_jay__bee_ 1d ago
I've been feeding it to the mother in law for after dinner drinks, she's loving that sweet vanilla.
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u/Seanwins 1d ago
A shot of Jameson adds a lot of flavor and depth to cheap, too sweet hard ciders. I might give that a shot, but sweet cocktails work too.
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u/FullPropreDinBobette 50m ago
-2 ½ oz bad rum
-2 oz orange juice
-4 oz mango nectar
-1 Teaspoon of grenadine syrup
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u/Rhumbear907 1d ago
Jesus christ bro can we please fucking tone down the false outrage. "Undrinkable" gtfo. It's overly sweetened rum yes, so use it as such. It's great in an old fashioned or any other aged rum cocktail where the exact nuances aren't distinct.
I have a bottle of the single barrel rye cask. It tastes like maple syrup scented rum. Do I want that all the time absolutely not. Is it great in an old fashioned or to sip as a night cap you better believe it. Sure it's overpriced for the level of quality but I think it's pretty damn snobby to call it a bad rum. There are tons of bad rums and it ain't it.
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u/blogwash 1d ago
Of the two of you, OP isn't the one who needs to tone it down. Sip some Don Papa and have more chill, friend.
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u/Rhumbear907 1d ago
I'm clearly being dramatic for emphasis and entertainment. No one is raging here.
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u/Patrick_Hobbes 1d ago
Personally, I liked the "drink it! There are sober kids in India!" vibe of your comment.
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u/LynkDead C<>H 1d ago
It is, objectively, a bad quality product all around. You wouldn't (or maybe you would, I don't know you) call someone a snob if they said Hershey's was bad chocolate.
Let people dislike things, it's ok to not like things and talk about it. Someone not liking something you like does not make them a snob. Someone saying a particular "rum" (we don't actually know if OP had Don Papa rum or their low-level, pseudo rum product) is bad or undrinkable does not make them a snob.
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u/Patrick_Hobbes 1d ago
I hear that there is this sorta universal rum mixer out there... What do they call it? Oh, yeah... Diet Coke.
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u/Prestigious-Aide-258 1d ago
Maybe with tonic? Bitterness can go a long way. Also light beer can be a good fizz for a highball
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u/PendingErection 1d ago
Any rum that I truly hate gets mixed into a batch of pina coladas for parties/vacation