White Rum substitutes

The closest substitute for White Rum is Gold Rum, which works but the drink will taste a little different. A little richer. Cachaça and Rhum Agricole also work. In a pinch, use Vodka.

Swap it in 49 drinks Low and zero proof Questions

What to use instead of White Rum

Substitute	How much	Strength	Typical drink
Gold RumWorks, tastes different A little richer. Same amount	Same amount	37.5–40% ABV	About the same
CachaçaWorks, tastes different Grassier and funkier. Same amount	Same amount	38–48% ABV	About the same
Rhum AgricoleWorks, tastes different Grassier. Same amount	Same amount	40–55% ABV	+2 points
VodkaLast resort Neutral; loses the rum character. Same amount	Same amount	37.5–50% ABV	About the same

Almost the same: most people won’t notice. Works, tastes different: still a good drink, just a different one. Last resort: better than skipping the drink. Typical drink: the usual change in ABV, in percentage points, across the drinks below.

Swap it in your drink

Pick a substitute to see how much to pour in each drink with White Rum, how strong the drink ends up and when to adjust the sugar.

How they compare

White Rum vs Gold Rum
Property	White Rum	Gold Rum
Strength	37.5–47% ABV	37.5–40% ABV
Taste	Sweet, Smooth, Light banana, Coconut hints	Smooth, Caramel, Vanilla, Light spice
Aroma	Light sugarcane, Vanilla hints, Tropical fruit, Clean	Caramel, Vanilla, Light oak, Tropical fruit
Finish	Clean, Light, Slightly sweet	Medium, Sweet, Warming

White Rum vs Cachaça
Property	White Rum	Cachaça
Strength	37.5–47% ABV	38–48% ABV
Taste	Sweet, Smooth, Light banana, Coconut hints	Grassy, Sweet cane, Funky, Vegetal
Aroma	Light sugarcane, Vanilla hints, Tropical fruit, Clean	Fresh grass, Sugarcane, Tropical fruit, Vegetal
Finish	Clean, Light, Slightly sweet	Clean, Grassy, Medium

Low and zero proof

An alcohol-free bottle can’t simply replace White Rum: without the alcohol the drink needs rebalancing. These versions are worked out for you.

Already have one of these?

If you have Havana Club 3 Años, Planteray 3 Stars, Diplomatico Planas, Bacardi Superior or Flor de Caña 4 Year, you don't need a substitute: they are all White Rum. How they differ

What is White Rum?

White rum is a light, clean spirit made from sugarcane or molasses, essential for mojitos and daiquiris. It's typically aged briefly and filtered to remove color.

All 49 drinks with White Rum

Got White Rum? It also replaces

Questions about White Rum substitutes

What is the best substitute for White Rum?

Gold Rum is the closest substitute for White Rum, though the drink will taste a little different. A little richer. Use the same amount.

What can I use instead of White Rum in a Bacardi Cocktail?

Gold Rum: swap 45ml (1½ oz) of White Rum for 45ml (1½ oz) of Gold Rum.

Is there an alcohol-free substitute for White Rum?

Not one for one: without the alcohol the drink needs rebalancing. Instead, there are zero-proof versions of the Daiquiri, Mai Tai, Mojito, Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri made with non-alcoholic bottles.

Which White Rum brands can I use?

If you have Havana Club 3 Años, Planteray 3 Stars, Diplomatico Planas, Bacardi Superior or Flor de Caña 4 Year, you don't need a substitute: they are all White Rum. They differ in style and price, not in how you use them.

Does Gold Rum instead of White Rum change how strong the drink is?

Barely. In the 49 drinks on this page that use White Rum, Gold Rum changes the strength by less than one percentage point.

Out of White Rum?

Proof knows these swaps. Tell it which bottles you have and it shows the drinks you can still make.

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