Fat Washed Rum (Try This Recipe!)

Image of diy distilling how to fat wash rum

Rum is an incredible drink on its own. But, if you’re looking to add some flare to it, look no further than fat-washed rum.

Fat-washed rum is a liquor that’s infused with butter, coconut, or ghee. The mixture is left to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours and then chilled in the freezer. Once the fat has solidified, it’s separated from the alcohol through a coffee filter or any fine-meshed strainer.

Fat washing is one of the most effective ways to extract fat flavors while leaving a pleasantly oily mouth feel. It has gained such popularity among mixologists, so we decided to share with you how you can make this infusion at home.

Carry on reading about fat-washed rum and some recipes you can try.

What Exactly Is Fat Washing?

Fat washing is the process of infusing the flavors of a fatty substance into a spirit. It’s an old perfume maker’s technique of infusing plants into odorless fat and then using a solvent like alcohol to extract the essential oils

Mixologists employ a similar technique by melting fat like coconut oil or butter and pouring it into their desired spirit. From there, they allow the mixture to sit at room temperature so the alcohol can extract the fat’s flavors. The spirit is then chilled in a freezer and the solidified fat gets separated from the alcohol through a filter or fine strainer. The end product is a flavored spirit with an oily mouthfeel. 

The reason why this method works so well is that alcohol is an excellent solvent. It has polar and nonpolar molecules that effectively dissolve water and extract fatty flavors. 

What Does Fat Washed Rum Taste Like?

The taste of fat-washed rum depends on the fatty substance you decide to use.

For instance, if you decide to infuse your spirit with coconut oil, you’ll get a light-tasting spirit with a mild coconut aroma. When using sesame seed oil, you can expect a nutty-flavored rum. Or, if you wish to add butter, you’ll wind up with a savory caramel-flavored drink. 

So, it all depends on the taste you’re looking for. With alcohol being a good solvent, it will extract the deep notes of the oils. 

When consuming a fat-washed spirit, you’ll also experience an oily mouthfeel. Not in an unpleasant way, of course. If you use the correct fat-to-spirit ratios, you should expect a silky smooth oily mouthfeel.

What Types Of Fat Can You Use For Fat Washing?

There are various types of fat you can use for fat washing. Common choices for fat washing include:

  • Coconut oil 
  • Butter 
  • Olive oil 
  • Sesame oil 
  • Blue cheese 
  • Cheddar 
  • Peanut oil 
  • Rapeseed oil 

NOTE: While it’s fair to say any type of fat can be used, it’s important to mention that you should utilize one that tastes good. Most fat-washed spirits are added to cocktails and the sweetener livens up the flavor of the fat. So, if you think the chosen fat might spoil your drink, rather not use it. 

Popular Rum Fat Washing Combinations 

A few rum fat-washing combinations include:

  • Butter and rum 
  • Rum and Coconut oil 
  • Cheddar and rum 
  • Peanut oil and rum 
  • Rum and ghee

Fat Washing Ratios 

The rum-to-fat ratio will depend on the fat you’re using because some fats are generally more robust than others.

In his book, Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail, Dave Arnold recommends 120g (4oz) per 750ml of spirit for stronger fats like bacon, duck, and peanut butter, and 240g (8oz) per 750ml for milder fats like butter and coconut oil. 

But, what’s intensely flavored for one person might be bland and mellow for the next.

So, if it’s your first-time fat washing, we recommend you use a small amount of fat and adjust the ratio for every batch until you find a combination you’re happy with. 

How To Fat Wash Rum (3 recipes)

Fat washing rum is a simple process that takes not more than 24 hours. When using solid fat, make sure it’s melted before you infuse it with the gin. We’ve quoted 4oz (120g) of fat for each recipe, but feel free to adjust as desired. Here are three recipes you can try to fat-wash rum.

Equipment 

  • Pan (to melt solid fat)
  • Coffee filter, fine-meshed strainer, or cheesecloth 
  • Resealable wide-mouthed glass container or nonreactive plastic container 
  • Glass bottles (for storage)

Recipe 1: How To Fat Wash Rum With Butter

When using butter for fat-washing rum, we recommend you use unsalted butter. Salt from these fats will infuse into your spirit and won’t be removed by filtering – leaving behind a lingering saltiness in your spirit. Here’s how to fat-wash rum with butter.

Ingredients 

  • 25oz (750ml) rum 
  • 4oz (120g) unsalted butter

Method

  1. Heat and melt the butter.
  2. Pour the butter over the rum, seal the container and shake.
  3. Let the mixture rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  4. Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  5. Poke holes in the fat and pour the alcohol into a clean glass bottle lined with a coffee filter.
  6. Seal and store.

How To Fat Wash Rum With Butter

When using butter for fat-washing rum, we recommend you use unsalted butter. Salt from these fats will infuse into your spirit and won’t be removed by filtering – leaving behind a lingering saltiness in your spirit.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Barbadian
Keyword: Liquor, Rum, Spirits
Author: Tristan

Equipment

  • Pan (to melt solid fat)
  • Coffee filter, fine-meshed strainer, or cheesecloth 
  • Resealable wide-mouthed glass container or nonreactive plastic container 
  • Glass bottles (for storage)

Ingredients

  • 25 oz rum
  • 4 oz unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Step 1: Heat and melt the butter.
  • Step 2: Pour the butter over the rum, seal the container and shake.
  • Step 3: Let the mixture rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  • Step 4: Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  • Step 5: Poke holes in the fat and pour the alcohol into a clean glass bottle lined with a coffee filter.
  • Step 6: Seal and store.

Recipe 2: How To Fat Wash Rum With Burnt Butter 

While not entirely burnt, the butter used in this recipe is left to simmer until it picks up a dark caramel color. This toffee-like flavor works best with the rich notes of a dark rum. Here’s how to fat-wash rum with burnt butter.

Ingredients

  • 25oz (750ml) rum 
  • 4oz (120g) butter

Method

  1. Melt the butter on low heat.
  2. Stir for about 20 minutes until the butter turns dark caramel.
  3. Pour the butter over the rum, seal with a lid and shake.
  4. Let it rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  5. Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  6. Remove the container from the freezer. Then poke holes in the fat and filter through the coffee filter into a clean glass bottle.
  7. Seal and store.

How To Fat Wash Rum With Burnt Butter

While not entirely burnt, the butter used in this recipe is left to simmer until it picks up a dark caramel color. This toffee-like flavor works best with the rich notes of a dark rum.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Barbadian
Keyword: Liquor, Rum, Spirits
Author: Tristan

Equipment

  • Pan (to melt solid fat)
  • Coffee filter, fine-meshed strainer, or cheesecloth 
  • Resealable wide-mouthed glass container or nonreactive plastic container 
  • Glass bottles (for storage)

Ingredients

  • 25 oz rum
  • 4 oz butter

Instructions

  • Step 1: Melt the butter on low heat.
  • Step 2: Stir for about 20 minutes until the butter turns dark caramel.
  • Step 3: Pour the butter over the rum, seal with a lid and shake.
  • Step 4: Let it rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  • Step 5: Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  • Step 6: Remove the container from the freezer. Then poke holes in the fat and filter through the coffee filter into a clean glass bottle.
  • Step 7: Seal and store.

Recipe 3: How To Fat Wash Rum  With Coconut Oil 

Because coconut oil has a mellow flavor, this recipe works best with white rum. It’s light-bodied, so you’re better able to pick up the tropical, coconut flavor. Here’s how to fat-wash rum with coconut oil.

Ingredients 

  • 25oz (750ml) rum  
  • 4oz (120g) coconut oil

Method

  1. Melt the coconut oil – if it isn’t already melted.
  2. Pour the rum into the sealable jar.
  3. Pour the oil over the rum. Seal the jar and shake vigorously.
  4. Let the mixture rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  5. Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  6. Remove the container from the freezer. 
  7. Cut holes in the fat and pour the alcohol into a clean glass bottle lined with a coffee filter.

Fat Wash Rum  With Coconut Oil 

Because coconut oil has a mellow flavor, this recipe works best with white rum. It’s light-bodied, so you’re better able to pick up the tropical, coconut flavor. Here’s how to fat-wash rum with coconut oil.

Ingredients

  • 25 oz 750ml rum
  • 4 oz 120g coconut oil

Instructions

  • Melt the coconut oil – if it isn’t already melted.
  • Pour the rum into the sealable jar.
  • Pour the oil over the rum. Seal the jar and shake vigorously.
  • Let the mixture rest at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  • Place the container in the freezer for 24 hours.
  • Remove the container from the freezer.
  • Cut holes in the fat and pour the alcohol into a clean glass bottle lined with a coffee filter.

Conclusion

If you want to take your homemade rum cocktails from okay, to awesome, you should try fat-washing your liquor. It’s a fairly simple method and there’s a plethora of tasty fats you can infuse into your rum. From coconut oil to butter, you truly are only limited by your imagination. 

Once you’ve tried the recipes from this post, you can go ahead and experiment with fatty substances that might appeal to your taste buds, like ghee or peanut oil. 

Have you tried fat-washed rum? Tell us your favorite combinations in the comments section below!

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