Aged rums
Rum from French West Indies only benefits from the appellation "rhum vieux" - aged rum- when it has spent at least 3 years - and up to 40 years - in oak barrels. These barrels have sometimes contained other alcohols such as whisky or cognac, which gives a particular taste to old rum. During its stay in the cask, the liquid is enriched with tannin and thus gives an old rum with a woody flavor. This type of rum has an alcohol content starting at 40% and this can go up to 75%, as for Over Proof type rums.