A smooth, creamy liqueur with hints of cinnamon and vanilla, RumChata is served over ice, in coffee, or as an ingredients in mixed drinks. There are several flavors available. It’s only second in popularity to Bailey’s Irish Cream.
No, RumChata is not vegan. It’s made with real dairy cream from milk fat taken from Wisconsin pasture-raised cows, along with rum and spices for a deliciously creamy drink. There are several alternatives to RumChata on the market that are vegan, including Bailey’s Alamande, Besos De Oro, Bomb Bon, and Marks & Spencer Chocolate and Coconut Cream Liqueur.
Let’s talk about the origins of the RumChata and the simple ingredients in this drink. We’ll discuss popular RumChata products and drinks. Then, we’ll present several vegan alternatives and some ways of making your own!
Contents
History
RumChata is a fairly new drink, made in Wisconsin since 2009. The location is perfect for the second ingredient – the best dairy cream in the nation. The name implies vegan as a Horchata is a plant milk beverage popular worldwide, but the cream disqualifies it completely.
Agave Loco, LLC. owns Rumchata and uses dairy in several of its other drinks, including Cow Rum Creams and Travis Hasse Liqueurs. RumChata is its most successful endeavor.
A Word about Horchata
Horchata is a popular drink originating in Spain and Portugal. It’s made with some type of plant-based milk, often tiger nuts or rice and sugar. Different cultures add vanilla or cinnamon for a sweeter taste. Horchata is a non-alcoholic beverage served hot or cold, alone or mixed with coffee.
RumChata Ingredients
The ingredients in RumChata are hand selected from all over the world.
- Caribbean Rum is a toasted liqueur made from boiling sugar cane, molasses and skimming from sugar production. Then the molasses-cane juice is fermented and then distilled in wooden casks for a rich, dark color. Top shelf Caribbean Rum is distilled up to five times.
- Secret Spice Mix includes cinnamon and vanilla for aroma and flavoring.
- Rich Heavy Cream is obtained from Wisconsin dairy cows. They work with a large commercial dairy in Wisconsin to ensure the cream and rum work perfectly together.
How do I Serve RumChata?
RumChata is kind of an equivalent to Bailey’s Irish Cream but made from rum instead of whiskey. It’s so creamy it can be served alone, in specialty shots, or in other mixed cocktails.
Here are a few drinks listed on their website:
- Coffee RumChata – Combine 1-part RumChata, 1 part coffee, and 1 part Malibu Rum.
- Café con Chata – Combine 1 ½ ounces RumChata and 1 cup of freshly brewed hot coffee.
- Iced Lemon Latte – Combine 1 ½ ounce RumChata Limon and 5 ounces of Iced Latte.
- Pumpkin Pie Martini – Combine two parts RumChata, 1 part vanilla vodka, and pumpkin syrup or pumpkin pie filling.
- RumChata Root Beer Float – Combine 1-part RumChata and three parts Root Beer.
Why do some RumChata Drinks Curdle?
RumChata is made of heavy cream, and mixing it with high acidic juices or soft drinks is a natural process. It will still taste delicious; it just looks a little funny.
RumChata Nutritional Information
RumChata Original
Ingredients:
- Caribbean Rum
- Real Dairy Cream
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 fl oz):
- 14% Alcohol by Volume
- 140 Calories
- 4g Fat (2.5g Saturated)
- 10mg Cholesterol
- 25mg Sodium
- 16g Carbohydrates (10g Sugars)
- 1g Protein
- 4% RDI Vitamin A
RumChata Limon
The 5th best-selling liqueur in the United States. Add it to coffee, flavored vodkas, and non-alcoholic seltzers.
Ingredients:
- Caribbean Rum
- Real Dairy Cream
- Vanilla
- Sweet Lemons
Nutrition Facts:
- 14% Alcohol by Volume
- No nutrition information is listed on their website
RumChata Peppermint Bark
Enjoy this in the winter months. This is a limited-edition flavor.
Ingredients:
- Caribbean Rum
- Real Dairy Cream
- White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Candy Cane flavors
Nutrition Facts:
- 14% Alcohol by Volume
- No nutrition information is listed on their website
RumChata Cold Brew FrappaChatta
One of the first alcoholic iced coffees, FrappaChata, is available in mocha or original flavors. Even though coffee is the main ingredient, the caffeine levels are similar to decaffeinated coffee.
12.5% Alcohol by Volume (25 proof)
Ingredients:
- Arabica and Robusta Coffees
- RumChata
Nutrition Facts (per 4.5 fl oz):
- 220 Calories
- 5g Fat (3g Saturated)
- 15mg Cholesterol
- 20g Carbohydrates (14g Sugars)
- 1g Protein
- 8mg Calcium
- 30mg Potassium
Alternatives to RumChata
Bomb Bom
100% gluten-free and vegan. Nilli Vanilli tastes like cookies and cream. The Fully Baked version is a little lighter and less sweet with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or THC. It’s got a chocolate undertone.
Nilli Vanilli Bomb Bom
Ingredients:
- Caribbean Rum
- Almond milk
- Natural Cookie Flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 fl oz):
- 90 Calories
- 3g Fat
- 6g Sugar
- 14% Alcohol by Volume
Fully Baked Bomb Bom
Ingredients:
- Caribbean Rum
- Hemp Seed Milk
- Natural Brownie and Cookie Flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 fl oz):
- 89 Calories
- 3g Fat
- 5g Sugar
- 2% Alcohol by Volume
Baileys Almande Almondmilk Liqueur
Bailey’s Irish Cream using Almond Milk. This is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. 13% Alcohol by Volume or 26 Proof. It does contain soy and almond for those who are allergic.
Ingredients:
- Irish Whisky
- Almond Milk
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Almond Essence (extracted from crushed almonds)
- Cane Sugar
- Purified Water
- Vanilla
Nutrition Facts (per 3.4 fl oz):
- 149 Calories
- 9g Fat
- 7mg Sodium
- 7g Carbohydrates (12g Sugar)
- 4g Protein
Besos De Oro
A blend of Brandy and Spanish Horchata, it is plant-based and gives you an intense chocolate flavor. It is gluten and nut-free and 100% free from animal products. Vegan certified.
The Horchata is made from tiger nuts – which isn’t a nut, but a small dried edible tuber of a grass-like plant grown in the ground like a potato.
Ingredients:
- Andalusian Brandy
- Horchata from the northeastern coast of Spain
- Chocolate Flavoring
- Sugar
- Water
Nutrition Facts:
- 18% Alcohol by Volume
- No other nutritional information was provided.
Arctic Blue Oat
Made in Finland, this is a creamy vegan liqueur made with oats and gin. It is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. There is an aroma of bilberries – wild arctic blueberries, along with scents of vanilla and cardamom.
Ingredients:
- Gin
- Oat milk
Nutrition Facts:
- 17% Alcohol by Volume
- 170g/liter
- 200 Calories per 100ml
Marks & Spencer Chocolate and Coconut Cream Liqueur
It’s vegan with a blend of chocolate and coconut cream flavors.
Ingredients:
- Alcohol
- Water
- Maltodextrin
- Sugar
- Coconut Oil
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Flavorings
- Plain Caramel
Nutrition Facts:
- 64 Calories per 25ml
- 12% Alcohol by Volume
Licor 43 Horchata
Spanish-based, Licor 43 is a blend of 43 natural ingredients. It’s described as citrus, botanic, sweet, and floral. Blended with a Horchata, it is vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Licor 43 (ingredient’s list proprietary)
- Horchata made with tiger nuts
Nutrition Facts:
- 31% Alcohol by Volume
- No other facts listed
Almondaire Almond Based Crème Liqueur
Dairy-free, gluten-free, this liqueur is for the almond lovers!
Ingredients (not listed):
- Almond-based
- A creamy blend of chocolate, vanilla, and almond flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 1.5 oz):
- 9% Alcohol by Volume
- 83 Calories
Homemade RumChata
To create a vegan RumChata, you need to replace one ingredient – the heavy cream. You have several options.
Start with plant-based milk. You can buy this from the grocery store or make your own:
- Rice Milk – Soak 1 1/3 cups of uncooked white rice in 2 cups of water overnight. Then drain the rice, add 5 cups of water, and a pinch of salt. Strain it all through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Almond Milk – Soak 1 1/3 cups of raw almonds overnight. Drain the water and add 5 cups of fresh water. Blend the mixture to break up the almonds. Strain the almonds through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Oat Milk – Soak 1 1/3 cups of rolled oats in 5 cups of water for 30 minutes. Blend until the water is creamy. Strain the oats through a cheesecloth.
You can also use Soy Milk or Coconut Milk as well.
To achieve a thicker consistency that resembles cream, you’ll want to add a thickener. Each milk mixes differently with a different thickener.
Here are some suggested combinations:
- Almond milk and cornstarch
- Soy milk with silken tofu
- Oat milk with vegan yogurt
- Coconut Milk with coconut cream
- Rice Milk with vegan creamer
Then, you are ready to make your Homemade RumChata.
- Add 5 cups of vegan milk to a bowl.
- Blend the milk and a cinnamon stick for 30 seconds. Then remove the cinnamon.
- Add ½ cup of the thickener of your choice (when using cornstarch, use 1 Tbsp of cornstarch and ½ cup of water for the thickener), 2/3 cup of sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Mix this with 1 ¼ cups of rum.
Note: These are just guidelines. You’ll want to experiment with different kinds of milks and thickeners to suit your personal taste. Browse the internet for more recipes. Nutrition and ingredients in your Homemade RumChata will vary greatly.
Related Questions
Is RumChata Gluten-Free?
Maybe, while the ingredients in RumChata are definitely gluten-free, they do not claim the distinction. The manufacturer states that RumChata is processed on equipment that may come into contact or may have been used to process ingredients containing gluten. So, there is a chance of cross-contamination that you need to be aware of. A few of the alternatives mentioned above are certified gluten-free.
Can you serve RumChata frozen?
Yes, RumChata can be frozen in ice cube trays. Then stick it in a blender for a refreshingly frozen cocktail.
Can I drink RumChata Straight?
Yes, it’s delicious over ice. Pretty much anytime you think of using Bailey’s, RumChata will work just as well, in hot or cold drinks or by itself.
Do you Need to Keep RumChata in the Refrigerator?
No, the homogenization of the rum and cream allows it to be kept at room temperature.