Spirits: Rum

Rum Bottles

Rum, an alcoholic drink determined to have a place in history, even the dark parts of history, it was involved in the slave trade, part of the triangular trade which also included molasses. More than any other alcoholic drink, rum was associated with pirates and smugglers. The spirit was also associated with the British Royal Navy, an association that began in 1655 when Jamaica was captured by British sailors. Once ashore, the drink was so available that the seamen began drinking it instead of the brandy to which they were accustomed. Prior to the late 1800s rums were usually dark and heavy. Don Facondo Bacardi Masso, a Spanish businessman who immigrated to Cuba, created the first commercial white rum in 1862. The majority of the world’s rum production occurs around the Caribbean, Central America and South America. It is made from sugar cane or its by-products such as molasses, juice or cane syrup. Each nation has its own specific procedures for its production, using different raw materials, fermentation and aging processes which will influence the final taste of the product. Rum is distilled in copper pot stills and continuous stills. No other spirit offers the varieties of flavours or the taste experience of rum.

Styles of Rum