Coconut rum is an alcoholic beverage. It's composed of white rum flavored with coconut extract. White rum has a light, transparent color with a faint sweetness and a light-bodied composition. Unlike dark rum, which is aged in a charred oak barrel and sometimes colored with caramel to get a darkened color, white rums are aged either in metal or plain oak containers for a clearer result. Many white rums are flavored with fruits or other flavorings; in addition to coconut, some popular light rum flavors are lime, pineapple, cherry, banana, vanilla, and coffee.
Coconut rum has the distinct aroma of coconuts, and is used in many mixed drinks as well as desserts. One of the most popular types of coconut rum desserts is cake. One simple way to use coconut rum in a cake is to use the end of a wooden spoon can be used to make holes in a yellow cake still warm from the oven. A brown sugar and butter rum sauce can then be poured over the top to soak into the cake.
Pineapple upside down cakes may also be flavored with rum. Coconut rum can be added to the brown sugar-based sauce with pineapple rings that appears on the top when the cake is baked and turned upside down onto a serving plate.
Coconut flavored rum is a great addition to white cakes because it won't affect the cake's color. It can also be used to flavor frosting along with coconut extracts. Shredded coconut may be added on top of the frosting for extra flavor and texture.
Coquito, a popular eggnog-like Christmas drink in Puerto Rico, can be made with regular or coconut rum. It's flavored with coconut cream, milk, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Coconut rums can also be used as a variation of the usual dark rum and cola combinations; they could be mixed with non-cola soft drinks to maintain the light color. Coconut rum is a popular addition to alcohol-based punches made with fruit juices such as pineapple and mango. Coconut rums are also used as additions to the popular rum, pineapple, and coconut-flavored drink known as a Piña Colada.
Light rums such as coconut rum are especially associated with Puerto Rico, while darker versions are said to be of the Jamaican style. Dark rum has a stronger taste than light rums. Rums have a sugarcane juice and molasses base, and most rum is aged for at least a year.
