🥃 RumChata Original
The core RumChata since 2009: Caribbean rum, dairy cream, cinnamon and vanilla in the style of horchata; 13.75% ABV in the US.
RumChata Original is the first and core version of RumChata cream liqueur, the product the brand started with in 2009. The taste is inspired by horchata: cinnamon and vanilla over Caribbean rum and dairy cream. According to Shanken News Daily, the strength in the US is 13.75% ABV, noticeably lower than most liqueurs.
The recipe was created by master blender Tom Maas. According to Shanken News Daily, the ingredients are dairy cream, rum and the brand's own sweet spice blend; the producer specifies that the rum is Caribbean and names cinnamon and vanilla among the spices. The brand now belongs to E. & J. Gallo.
Why this matters to you. Original is the reference point for the range: RumChata Pineapple Cream and RumChata Coconut Cream are built on the same base, but use fruit flavours instead of the emphasis on cinnamon. The liqueur contains milk, so people with an allergy to cow's milk protein should avoid it. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 13.75% ABV (US) |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 2009, Tom Maas |
| Raw material | Caribbean rum, dairy cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla |
| EU category | 33 - liqueur (in the EU from 15% ABV; RumChata in the US is lower, so in the EU it may have a different strength or category name) |
| Legal basis | US - TTB rules; in the EU a 'liqueur' is 15% ABV and above (Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 RumChata Original → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Rum, 🥛 Cream
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 RumChata, 🍸 Liqueurs
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Licor 43 Horchata, 🥃 Baileys, 🥃 RumChata Coconut Cream, 🥃 RumChata Coconut Cream, 🥃 RumChata Pineapple Cream, 🥃 RumChata Pineapple Cream
Frequently asked questions
Is RumChata Original a rum?
No. It is a cream liqueur: rum is only the base, to which dairy cream, sugar and spices are added. The US strength is 13.75% ABV, not 37.5% or more as in rum.
What is the strength of RumChata Original?
In the US it is 13.75% ABV, according to Shanken News Daily; in other countries check the label.
How does Original differ from Pineapple Cream and Coconut Cream?
The base is the same, Caribbean rum and dairy cream, but Original's main notes are cinnamon and vanilla, while the other versions feature pineapple or coconut.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Rum — A distillate of sugar-cane molasses, syrup or juice: in the EU at least 37.5% vol., no flavourings or added alcohol, up to 20 g/l of sugar.
- 🥃 Baileys — Irish cream liqueur from Diageo, created in 1974: Irish whiskey and Irish dairy cream with cocoa and vanilla; a product with the Irish Cream GI.
- 🥃 Licor 43 Horchata — A Licor 43 line inspired by Valencian horchata made from tiger nut; dairy-free since 2020; 16% ABV according to Difford's Guide.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 RumChata Coconut Cream · 🥃 RumChata Pineapple Cream · 🥃 Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur · 🥃 Kahlúa Chocolate Sips · 🥃 Tia Maria Cold Brew · 🥃 Baileys Chocolate
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- RumChata (official): Original (Caribbean rum, real dairy cream, vanilla, cinnamon; horchata-inspired)
- Shanken News Daily: Gallo acquires RumChata (06.04.2021; founded 2009 by Tom Maas; dairy cream, rum, sweet spice blend; 13.75 %; extensions incl. seasonal Peppermint Bark)
- Beverage Industry: RumChata Pineapple Cream (18.04.2024; 13.75 %; Caribbean rum and Midwestern dairy cream; joins Original and Coconut Cream in the permanent core lineup; success of Coconut Cream the previous year)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I (whisky; liqueur from 15 % vol.)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)