# An overview: sugar content in rum **URL:** \ **Category:** Rums around the world\ **Created:** [March 15, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508 "2023-03-15T15:07:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oliver](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/oliver/32/33024_2.png) [@Oliver](https://community.rumx.com/u/Oliver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/1 "2023-03-15T15:07:52Z")
Rum is a complex spirit that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. However, **many rums contain hidden sugars** that can affect the taste and quality of the drink. The addition of sugar to rum is a controversial topic, with some arguing that it enhances the flavor and aroma, while others believe it masks the true essence of the spirit. To address this issue, the rum community has developed a method of testing for hidden sugars using hydrometer tests. The purpose of this thread is to collect published hydrometer tests and present them in an organized way. **Overview (work in progress):** - [Hydrometer Tests – RumShopBoy.com](https://rumshopboy.com/hydrometer-tests/?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) (October 2022) - [Rum Relevations: Sugar List](https://www.rumrevelations.com/sugar-list?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) (March 2021) - [DRECON](http://www.drecon.dk?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) (December 2018) - [The Fat Rum Pirate: Hydrometer Tests](https://thefatrumpirate.com/hydrometer-tests-2?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) (April 2015) - [Capn Jimbo’s Rum Project](http://rumproject.com/rumforum/viewforum.php?f=32&utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) (April 2015) What is your opinion on the topic of rum sugaring? **Update:** this topic eventually grew into two dedicated overviews on RumX: - [Sweetened rums](https://rumx.com/en/categories/sweet-rum/?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) - [Unsweetened rums](https://rumx.com/en/categories/unsweetened/?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum) The discussion below remains the best background read. ---
**Author:** ![Oliver](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/oliver/32/33024_2.png) [@Oliver](https://community.rumx.com/u/Oliver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/2 "2023-03-15T15:09:21Z")
Matt also wrote some critical points on the subject recently: [The Problem with Rum Sugar Lists](https://www.rumwonk.com/p/the-problem-with-rum-sugar-lists) ---
**Author:** ![Henry](https://community.rumx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/df705f/32.png) [@Henry](https://community.rumx.com/u/Henry)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/3 "2023-03-15T15:18:11Z")
Thanks for the overview! > [@Oliver](#): > > What is your opinion on the topic of rum sugaring? I don’t buy sugared rum but drink it from time to time when visiting friends who mainly drink sugared rum. I don’t have that big of a problem when a company sweetens their rum as the market is obviously there for it. But they should write the sugar content on their label so that everyone knows what they are buying. Not every bottling is listed in the sources you mentioned and only people like us visit these websites possibly letting the beginner and average consumer believe that this quite significant difference in rum doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Schnubbii](https://community.rumx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Schnubbii](https://community.rumx.com/u/Schnubbii)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/4 "2023-03-15T15:43:22Z")
I think transparency is key. The problem I have with Matt’s article is, if old lists/measured sugar values in these are doing the producers injustice because they reduced their sugar content, this is really on them because they should have been transparent about this in the first place. It’s not the job of Rum afficionados to measure sugar content and keep the information up to date. That said, no shame enjoying or offering dosed rum (for example I occasionally like to drink Companero as a guilty pleasure as well), but you should know what you drink / be transparent about what you offer. ---
**Author:** ![les](https://community.rumx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/db5fbb/32.png) [@les](https://community.rumx.com/u/les)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/5 "2023-03-17T23:30:59Z")
i agree I try and stay away from rums that are sweet and full off sugar …if a rum has suger it has to be a little bit for me so it’s hardly noticeable when you are drinking it only time I am not fussed is if I am mixing rums but has a sipping guy .I don’t want a suger bomb ---
**Author:** ![lukasdrinkinghabits](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/lukasdrinkinghabits/32/25_2.png) [@lukasdrinkinghabits](https://community.rumx.com/u/lukasdrinkinghabits)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/6 "2023-04-25T13:16:28Z")
my favorite site is: [https://www.alko.fi/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/Alko-OnlineShop-Site/en\_US/-/EUR/ViewParametricSearch-PagingAll?SearchTerm=\*&PageSize=12&SortingAttribute=priceWithPant-desc&PageNumber=5&SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D\*%26ContextCategoryUUID%3DUt\_AqHh4h7QAAAFVW2Mcppid%26OnlineFlag%3D1&SkipToId=product-tile-104497&SkipNextSeed=true](https://www.alko.fi/INTERSHOP/web/WFS/Alko-OnlineShop-Site/en_US/-/EUR/ViewParametricSearch-PagingAll?SearchTerm=*&PageSize=12&SortingAttribute=priceWithPant-desc&PageNumber=5&SearchParameter=%26%40QueryTerm%3D*%26ContextCategoryUUID%3DUt_AqHh4h7QAAAFVW2Mcppid%26OnlineFlag%3D1&SkipToId=product-tile-104497&SkipNextSeed=true) it’s the Finish alcohol monopolist which does laboratory tests on every spirit they sell. They only have mainstream brands, but they keep them up to date and are very reliable. And additionally, they do it for all kinds of spirits. So I found out that pink gin is a category where sugar up to 65g/l isn’t unusual. ---
**Author:** ![les](https://community.rumx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/db5fbb/32.png) [@les](https://community.rumx.com/u/les)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/7 "2023-04-27T02:17:25Z")
very good find 👍just been looking ---
**Author:** ![Kudzey](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/kudzey/32/4243_2.png) [@Kudzey](https://community.rumx.com/u/Kudzey)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 9:47am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/8 "2023-08-15T09:47:22Z")
Involuntarily I performed a sugar test yesterday. I poured 2 glasses of rums for photo shooting and forgot about them overnight. It turns out that Centenario has attracted four fruit flies whereas none drown in the nearby Plantation XO 😁 ![IMG_20230815_113952](https://community.rum-x.com/uploads/default/original/2X/4/43d31b8a5e77949137cb04556bfe261ff6c09274.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MoparRules](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/moparrules/32/27754_2.png) [@MoparRules](https://community.rumx.com/u/MoparRules)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 10:04am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/9 "2023-08-15T10:04:25Z")
that’s a very good test 🪰🪰🪰🪰😂 ---
**Author:** ![venomino](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/venomino/32/8742_2.png) [@venomino](https://community.rumx.com/u/venomino)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 10:48am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/10 "2023-08-15T10:48:00Z")
q.e.d. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lot-NAS](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/lot-nas/32/14717_2.png) [@Lot-NAS](https://community.rumx.com/u/Lot-NAS)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/11 "2023-08-15T11:42:08Z")
This seems to contradict my observation. Based on several involuntary incidents, our fruit flies are seemingly favouring Hampden 🧐 ---
**Author:** ![Kudzey](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/kudzey/32/4243_2.png) [@Kudzey](https://community.rumx.com/u/Kudzey)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/12 "2023-08-15T11:44:40Z")
I remember having a fierce fight with them over a glas of New Yarmouth 😁. More research has to be undertaken 😉. ---
**Author:** ![Portman](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/portman/32/15659_2.png) [@Portman](https://community.rumx.com/u/Portman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/13 "2023-08-15T13:29:20Z")
Call me fruit fly 🤝 ---
**Author:** ![KevinDK](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/kevindk/32/27503_2.png) [@KevinDK](https://community.rumx.com/u/KevinDK)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/14 "2023-08-15T13:31:53Z")
They also really like Jamaican rums 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LukaZiga](https://community.rumx.com/user_avatar/community.rumx.com/lukaziga/32/18673_2.png) [@LukaZiga](https://community.rumx.com/u/LukaZiga)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/15 "2025-05-26T18:29:28Z")
> **[The Sweet Rum Nonsense Of Diplomatico & Friends](https://www.rumrevelations.com/post/the-sweet-rum-nonsense-of-diplomatico-friends?utm_source=rumx&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rumx-forum)** > > It’s a long weekend here in Canada, as Monday is Victoria day. A good time for a quick update about the sugar list. Turns out though that there is more writing inspiration in my tank than I thought, so this story is everything but quick. As usual,... Top article 👌 ---
**Author:** ![JinRai](https://community.rumx.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@JinRai](https://community.rumx.com/u/JinRai)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.rumx.com/t/an-overview-sugar-content-in-rum/7508/16 "2026-09-19T19:52:49Z")
Great blog post and I can only agree. I started with a Botucal in my early twenties — had no idea what I had in front of me. But the Amazon reviews must be right, don’t they? The extreme sweetness, zero depth, and the thin finish put me off right away. I only touched that bottle one more time after that. A few years later I discovered real quality in whisky, back then the Glenfarclas 21 and 25. Then a bit later I switched over to rum. Foursquare, Appleton, and El Dorado (the versions already without sugar) taught me what depth, long finish, and in my opinion good quality really means. For me, rum with sugar just doesn’t work. At best for a few cocktails or mindless drinking. But to each their own 🙂