Rum is a spirit distilled from a fermented mash of sugarcane juice or molasses. It is often aged in wood barrels, but this is not a requirement. Rums can be made into a variety of colors and styles, including white, amber, spiced and dark rum. Styles are often categorized by the geographic region where they are from. For example, dark rums can have different taste profiles depending on where they are produced. Origin: The history of rum is linked to the development and expansion of sugar cane to the New World. Spanish settlers arriving in the West Indies (Caribbean) easily fermented the molasses residue from sugar production, then distilled the mash to what we know as rum.