What percent of alcohol does a rum need to be classified rum?

There's no single, universally accepted percentage of alcohol required for a spirit to be classified as rum. The definition of "rum" varies by region and regulatory bodies.

Here's a breakdown:

* EU Regulations: The European Union defines rum as a spirit produced by distilling fermented sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, or molasses. It must have an alcohol content of at least 37.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume).

* United States: The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) defines rum as a spirit distilled from fermented sugarcane juice, sugarcane syrup, or molasses. There is no minimum ABV requirement for rum in the US.

* Other Countries: Many other countries have their own regulations for rum, with varying minimum ABV requirements.

Therefore, while 37.5% ABV is common in many countries, you can find rums with lower ABV in places like the U.S.

It's important to check the label of the specific rum you are interested in to determine its alcohol content.