Bacardi Gold Vs Bacardi White Rum: What's The Difference?

The mere mention of Bacardi rum, with its signature bat crest, may have you picturing sandy beaches and a refreshing mojito packed with plenty of mint. While this classic cocktail hinges on a rum like Bacardi, you may be wondering which type to reach for and what the difference is between Bacardi White and Bacardi Gold. The answer is a decidedly different flavor profile that all comes down to aging.

Bacardi White, which is labeled as Carta Blanca on the bottle, is also known as Bacardi Superior. Bacardi has been producing this flagship rum since 1862, and it starts with molasses from sugarcane that is fermented before being distilled and charcoal-filtered. Bacardi Gold, labeled Carta Oro, has an additional step to its manufacturing process in which the rum ages for one to two years in oak barrels, giving it a slightly bolder, more complex flavor and darker golden color. Essentially, while the white tastes smooth, the gold tastes richer.

Though you may feel forced to choose one singular spirit for a given cocktail, the truth is that a libation is often made more interesting and complex by crafting drinks with more than one type of rum. For practical purposes, Bacardi White has more of a clean and light profile that plays well in simple beachy cocktails like a Mojito or Pina Colada. In contrast, Bacardi Gold is well-suited to drinks with more complexity and depth, like a tropical Mai Tai, a Cuba Libre, or for sipping neat. 

Whichever rum cocktail you choose, it is certain to be more elegant than the original rum cocktail, which British sailors used to stretch rum rations and ward off scurvy. The good news is that there is no wrong answer or hard-and-fast rule. Let your palate be your guide. Who knows? You may invent your very own signature rum cocktail in the process. Whether you use Bacardi Carta Oro or Carta Blanca, you can dub it Carta [your surname here].