Overpoof Rum

We are frequently asked why the business it called Overproof Bakes, this is because all our cakes and dessert treats are infused with white overproof rum.

The terminology is not known to all, so we decided to give you an overview on overproof rum. In the simplest terms, an overproof rum is any rum that contains more than 50 percent alcohol by volume.

Rum distilling techniques evolved around the 16th and 17th centuries when explorers travelled to the New World. There, they discovered the Caribbean Islands, which proved to have an excellent climate for growing sugar cane. Sugar cane farms popped up around Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, Grenada, St. Croix, and surrounding islands. Molasses, a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process, is used to make rum. Island locals discovered that by distilling molasses, they could create a new alcoholic drink. Documents from Barbados dated to the 1630s mention this new liquor, referring to it as “kill devil.”  Rum in colonial New England replaced brandy because of the amount of money required to get the brandy from France to the Americas.

Countries, including Great Britain, Spain and France, controlled the Caribbean colonies. Their control heavily influenced how rum was manufactured. In the 1700s, the British Royal Army gave rations of rum called “tots” to its sailors. Navy Rum, a mixture of different rums with a relatively high ABV, was born.

Rum typically contains 35% to 40% ABV. However, overproof rums are significantly higher in alcohol. Most overproof rums taste very sweet and fruity but have an intense burn because of the high ABV. Surprisingly the higher alcohol content does not make overproof undrinkable. Some people sip overproof rum neat or over ice. It is also popular in cocktails.

Many rum distillers produce overproof rums that fall in-between Navy strength and 151 rums. We chose the distinctive tasting rum Jamaican rum manufactured by Wray & Nephew to infuse into our cakes. Wray & Nephew which was founded 1825 in Jamaica, is known for its White Overproof Rum with a 63% ABV.