India, July 12 -- Other than being a beloved alcohol choice at parties, rum is also integral to cooking, and experts swear by its versatility. While it's used to enhance sauces, marinades and glazes on the one hand, it's also used for savoury delicacies. It's bond with desserts like rum cakes and chocolate rum balls is unmissable too. "My favourite rum-based offering is the Rum Wala Chicken, which is a fiery delicacy flambeed with dark rum. It blends rich Indian spices with the deep, smoky sweetness of aged rum," says chef Jatinder Pal, director food & beverage, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, Bengaluru. He adds that dark rum is rich with molasses, caramel, and spice notes and it seeps into the chicken. It adds a subtle sweetness, which "balances strong Indian spices like chilli, garam masala and black pepper". Besides being a flavour enhancer, rum is also a transformative ingredient. "Its natural sweetness and warm spiced undertones, especially in dark or spiced variants, lend themselves beautifully to slow-cooked preparations. From rum-braised pork to seafood with rum-infused butter sauces - it brings depth to a variety of cuisines," says Dinesh Rana, executive chef, Novotel Goa Panjim. He goes on to share how it can be used in Spiced Rum Glazed Grilled Lamb Chops: "I use a spiced rum glaze enriched with rosemary and brown sugar to coat the lamb. As it grills, the glaze caramelises over the meat, enhancing the char while sealing in juiciness. The subtle vanilla, cinnamon, and clove notes in the rum pair naturally with the boldness of lamb, creating a dish that is smoky, slightly sweet, and full of character." Dark or spiced rum is a go-to ingredient for marinades, sauces, and even savoury infusions, because it offers depth and smokiness that can transform the flavour profile of a dish. "It's effective in glazes, and braises, where it tenderises proteins and balances out bold spices," says Vardaan Marwah, chef partner, Farro, Pune, adding, "In savoury applications, I love using dark rum in rum-glazed chicken, it works beautifully with ingredients like soy, ginger, garlic, and brown sugar to create a sticky, umami-rich glaze." You can use a pepper rum marinade for grilled chicken, a rum reduction sauce over roasted duck, or even infuse it with herbs and citrus for a smoky dressing, adds chef Dinesh....