Updated April 2026.
Rum is cane. Whiskey is grain. US rum comes from sugarcane products, distilled below 190 proof, bottled at ≥40% ABV. Whiskey comes from a grain mash; bourbon and rye also need new charred oak and a US address. A 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink either way. “Which is better” is not a TTB class. US spiced rum is often 35% — read the neck.
Scotch and Irish are other whiskey laws (place + three years). Dark rum color can be caramel without an age statement. Related: rum, whiskey, bourbon vs whiskey.
Cane vs grain
| Rule | Rum | Whiskey |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Sugarcane / molasses / juice | Grain mash (corn, rye, barley, wheat) |
| Oak | Optional unless an age is claimed | Required for most types |
| Typical US ABV | 40% (some spiced 35%) | 40–50% common; barrel-proof higher |
| 1.5 oz at 40% | 1.00 drink | 1.00 drink |
A 750 mL 40% bottle is about 17 standard drinks. Four 1.5-ounce pours are four drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Pour math: rum / whiskey.
Sources
- TTB 27 CFR 5.151 (rum); 5.143 (whiskey).
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented ranking or MSRP.
- (27 CFR 5.151)
- (27 CFR 5.143)