What can be used to remove color from short aged rums?

Activated charcoal is used to remove color from short aged rums effectively. This substance is highly porous and has the ability to adsorb impurities and colorants from liquids, thereby clarifying the rum and giving it a more neutral appearance. In the production process, particularly for rums that may have been aged in barrels that impart significant color or flavor, activated charcoal acts as a filtering agent that helps create a clearer and more refined final product.

In contrast, red wine would not be an effective method for decolorizing rum; instead, it would likely add its own color and flavor, which is the opposite of what is intended in this context. Wood chips, while they can modify the flavor of spirits through infusion, would not remove color and might actually contribute additional hues if used in the aging process. Fruit extracts are typically used to enhance flavor profiles rather than remove color; like red wine, they would introduce additional pigments to the rum rather than extracting or clarifying it.