Rum vs. Whiskey
The main difference between rum and whiskey is that rum is a spirit distilled from byproducts of sugarcane or molasses, whereas whiskey is a distilled spirit fermented from grain mash.

Key Differences
Rum is stored in stainless steel tanks, while whiskey normally comes in aged varieties in oak casks.
Rum generally has 40%of an alcohol content; on the contrary, whiskey sometimes has 40% of alcohol content but sometimes have 60% of alcohol.
Rum is created by fermenting sugarcane, whereas whiskey is formed by distilling grain mash and fermenting process.
Rum originated in west indies, whereas whiskey was generally originated in Ireland but started to make in Scotland when got popular.
Rum is spicy or sweeter, and rich in taste and flavor than whiskey; on the other hand, whiskey comes with a taste evocative of the barrels in which it has been aged and have an aromatic smell.
Rum has been found to comfort the symptoms of arthritis and to increase the mineral level of bones; conversely, a whiskey which is helpful to regulate the body’s glucose level.
Rum is dark, light, and in golden color variations; on the flip side, whiskey appears as golden in color.
Comparison Chart
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Rum usually refers to a spirit distilled from byproducts of sugarcane or molasses.
Whiskey is usually formed by distilling grain mash such as rye, barley, wheat, or corn and fermenting process.
History
Produced in Latin America and the Caribbean
Generally originated in Ireland but started to make in Scotland when got popular
Ingredients
Fermenting sugarcane, molasses, or honey
Distilling grain mash such as rye, barley, wheat, or corn
Varieties
Dark rum, light rum, and golden rum
Scotch, single malt whiskey, scotch whiskey, bourbon.
Storage
Stored in stainless steel tanks
Normally comes in aged varieties in oak casks
Taste/Flavor
Spicy or sweeter, and rich in taste and flavor than whiskey
Comes with a taste evocative of the barrels in which it has been aged and have an aromatic smell
Alcohol Content
40% of alcohol content
40% of alcohol content but for a very rare variety, it can be stronger going up to 60% of alcohol content
Health Benefits
To comfort the symptoms of arthritis and to increase the mineral level of bones
Develops ellagic acid during the aging process which is helpful to regulate the body’s glucose level
Distillation Process
Go through a double distillation process
Go through once distillation process
Rum and Whiskey Definitions
Rum
An alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented molasses or sugarcane.
Whiskey
An alcoholic liquor distilled from grain, such as corn, rye, or barley, and containing approximately 40 to 50 percent ethyl alcohol by volume.
Rum
Intoxicating beverages.
Whiskey
A drink of such liquor.
Whiskey
A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley).
Rum
Presenting danger or difficulty.
Whiskey
A drink of whiskey.
Rum
(uncountable) A distilled spirit derived from fermented cane sugar and molasses.
The Royal Navy used to issue a rum ration to sailors.
Whiskey
(historical) A light gig or carriage; a tim-whiskey.
Rum
(countable) A serving of rum.
Jake tossed down three rums.
Whiskey
(international standards) nodot=1 NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.}}
Rum
(countable) A kind or brand of rum.
Whiskey
Same as Whisky, a liquor.
Rum
A queer or odd person or thing.
Whiskey
A light carriage built for rapid motion; - called also tim-whiskey.
Whiskey
A liquor made from fermented mash of grain
Rum
Any odd person or thing.
Rum
(rare) The card game rummy.
Rum
(obsolete) Fine, excellent, valuable.
Having a rum time
Rum
Strange, peculiar.
A rum idea; a rum fellow
Rum
A kind of intoxicating liquor distilled from cane juice, or from the scummings of the boiled juice, or from treacle or molasses, or from the lees of former distillations. Also, sometimes used colloquially as a generic or a collective name for intoxicating liquor.
Rum
A queer or odd person or thing; a country parson.
Rum
Old-fashioned; queer; odd; as, a rum idea; a rum fellow.
Rum
Distilled from fermented molasses
Rum
A card game based on collecting sets and sequences; the winner is the first to meld all their cards
Rum
Beyond or deviating from the usual or expected;
A curious hybrid accent
Her speech has a funny twang
They have some funny ideas about war
Had an odd name
The peculiar aromatic odor of cloves
Something definitely queer about this town
What a rum fellow
Singular behavior
Rum vs. Whiskey
Rum is created by fermenting sugarcane, molasses, or honey and go through a double distillation process, whereas whiskey is formed by once distilling grain mash such as rye, barley, wheat, or corn and fermenting process. Clear rum is kept in stainless steel tanks, and dark rum has been aged, generally used in whiskey barrels, while whiskey normally comes in aged varieties in oak casks. Rum is spicy or sweeter, and rich in taste and flavor than whiskey; on the other hand, whiskey comes with a taste evocative of the barrels in which it has been aged and have an aromatic smell. Rum generally has 40%of an alcohol content; on the contrary, whiskey sometimes has 40% of alcohol content, but for a very rare variety, it can be stronger going up to 60% of alcohol content. Rum has been found to comfort the symptoms of arthritis and to increase the mineral level of bones; conversely, whiskey develops ellagic acid during the aging process which is helpful to regulate the body’s glucose level. Rum is dark, light, and in golden color variations; on the flip side, whiskey appears as golden in color. Rum was basically in Latin America and the Caribbean, whereas whiskey was generally originated in Ireland but started to make in Scotland when got popular so after that whiskey is called Scotch or Scotch whiskey.
What is Rum?
Rum is an alcoholic beverage, either directly made from by-products of sugar cane or sugar cane juice through a process of distillation and fermentation. Rum generally has 40%of an alcohol content. The distilled rum is then usually aged in oak barrels. Rum is generally produced in Latin America and the Caribbean. Besides these, some countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Austria, Canada, India, and the United States, etc. also count in producing rum. The rum used to play an important role in culture and history of the West Indies, the Maritimes, and the Royal Navy.
Various Variations in Rum
- Light Rum: which is commonly used in mixtures of cocktail and
- Dark Rum: is generally used for cooking but can also consume straight.
- Premium Rum: is consumed straight or with ice.
- Spiced Rum: is basically kind of dark rum added with flavorings like pepper, cinnamon, and aniseed.
- Gold Rum: is usually amber in color and aged in white oak barrels.
What is Whiskey?
Whiskey is an alcoholic beverage formed by distilling varieties of grain mash such as rye, barley, wheat, or corn and a fermenting process. The beverage which is distilled is then aged in typically made of charred white oak wooden casks as it does not mature in the bottle. Whiskey sometimes has 40% of alcohol content, but for a very rare variety, it can be stronger going up to 60% of alcohol content.
Grades of Whiskey
- Single Malt Whiskey: it is formed from a single type of grain and generally passed through a single distillery.
- Cask Strength Whiskey: it is bottled from the cask and a rare whiskey, basically only a little diluted or undiluted.
- Blended Malt Whiskey: this whiskey is usually a blend of different malt whiskeys from different distilleries.
- Blended Whiskey: it is made from a mixture of grain and malt whiskeys along with caramel, flavoring, and neutral spirits.
- Single Cask Whiskey: a bottle of whiskey which is aged in a single cask with the cask number categorized on the bottle.