Is ‘additive-free’ rum about to boom?
As the Tequila sector cracks down on ‘additive-free’ claims, one producer is predicting rum will soon be under similar scrutiny.
For many years, certain Tequila brands have been keen to distinguish themselves by claiming to be free from additives.
The Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) allows producers to add up to 1% of additives without disclosing them on the label.
The Additive Free Alliance launched to certify Tequilas that do not use additives, however in March 2025 the CRT filed a lawsuit claiming the organisation was ‘misleading the public’.
The interest in additives has mainly been limited to Tequila thus far, however Steve Jefferson, the founder of Kuleana Rum Works, believes a similar movement in rum is on the horizon.
The rules for rum additives vary from country to country, however most nations allow caramel colouring. In some Caribbean countries, the US, the UK and the EU, a certain amount of sugar may be added after distillation.
Rum can contain artificial flavours, however it must be labelled as flavoured or spiced.
Agricole and rums with a protected origin generally have stricter rules.
“Consumer expectations are changing fast across spirits,” said Jefferson. “People want honesty in what they drink, and they’re rewarding producers who protect natural flavour rather than covering it up. Additive-free isn’t a trend – it’s becoming the standard, and rum is now facing that shift head-on.”
In an open letter, Jefferson defines an additive-free spirit as a liquid without colouring or flavouring. He wrote: “It’s simple: we don’t put anything in our rum after it comes out of the still. If it’s clear, it’s unaged. If it’s brown, that colour comes from time in used Bourbon and Cognac barrels – nothing else. Most ‘gold’ and ‘dark’ rums rely on colouring to get their hue.”
In terms of verification, Jefferson admitted that there isn’t a ‘single global standard’ for additive-free rums yet. However, his business reviews every rum it distils and blends “through a combination of independent lab analysis and supplier documentation”.
White Labs Analytical Lab tests its rums and reports total sugar levels below 0.5g per litre, which it claims is the natural range for spirits without added sugar.
It also asks rum producers that it works with to confirm the absence of additives through a product specification sheet, as well as through process audits and laboratory testing.
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