Whether you’re team gin or all about the rum, there’s no denying these two spirits have some serious star power behind the bar. They’ve both been around for centuries, have bold, unmistakable personalities, and work beautifully in a whole range of cocktails. But how do they actually compare?
From ingredients and flavour to how they’re made and what they pair best with, here’s everything you need to know about gin vs rum—plus a surprising cocktail that brings both together in one glass.
Gin is a distilled spirit that gets its signature flavour from juniper berries—though that’s just the beginning. It often includes other botanicals like coriander, citrus peel, angelica root and spices, which gives each gin brand or expression its own unique twist.
To be officially classed as gin, it has to be made with a neutral base spirit and dominated by juniper. But aside from that, gins can be flavoured with almost any ingredient. You can stick to a classic like Beefeater London Dry, or experiment with fruity or flavoured gins like Beefeater Pink Strawberry.
Rum, on the other hand, starts from an entirely different place. It’s distilled from sugarcane by-products like molasses or sugarcane juice, which instantly gives it a warmer, sweeter base.
Where gin is about botanical complexity, rum leans into its richness. The aging process (or lack of) creates different styles, from light white rums to dark aged varieties full of toasty vanilla, spice and caramel notes. Most rum comes from the Caribbean and Latin America, where sugarcane is abundant—think Jamaica, Barbados and Cuba.
Both gin and rum go through distillation, but the processes look pretty different.
Gin is usually made by redistilling a neutral grain spirit with botanicals. In a classic London Dry, all those botanicals are added before distillation. No flavours are added afterwards—everything comes from the distillation process itself, making it clean, dry and complex.
Rum is made by fermenting sugarcane or molasses with yeast, then distilling the resulting liquid. Lighter rums are usually column-distilled, while darker, more flavourful rums are often pot-distilled and aged in barrels. This aging can last from a few months to several years, deepening the flavour.
If you’re wondering what gin vs rum tastes like, they’re worlds apart.
So while gin brings the bite, rum brings the warmth.
You can sip both gin and rum neat (especially if they’re premium), but most people enjoy them in cocktails. Here’s how they usually show up:
Gin is often more botanical and structured, making it great for sharp, spirit-forward cocktails. Rum, being more mellow, leans into long, smooth serves.
But the real fun starts when you start mixing things up. Gin’s depth of flavour means it works in any serve. Here’s a few of our gin twists on classic rum cocktails:
Can’t decide between gin and rum? You don’t have to.
The Jamaican Rum Negroni is a bold spin on the classic Negroni that brings both spirits together. Sly Augustin, founder of legendary London tiki bar Trailer Happiness, designed this exquisite little twist on our favourite gin cocktail exclusively for Beefeater Gin.
It swaps out the usual equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari for a pour of Jamaican wine aperitif, such as Wray & Nephew Red Label, and a cinnamon stick garnish for extra spice.
It’s rich, bittersweet and totally balanced—perfect for sipping with friends when you’re in the mood for something unexpected.
Honestly? It depends on your mood. If you’re into crisp, dry cocktails with a botanical edge, gin’s your go-to. It’s ideal for sharp, citrusy drinks and G&T moments to enjoy with friends. If you’re after something rounder, richer or tropical, rum might be your bet.
And if you’re really having fun with it, try mixing both in one cocktail. Who says you have to choose?
Craving a new twist on your go-to drink? Explore Beefeater’s full cocktail collection and shake up your next night in.
