Caribbean rum, circa 1941

Rum is a distilled beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses and sugarcane juice by a process of fermentation and distillation. Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae Molasses or Treacle is a thick Syrup by-product from the processing of the Sugarcane or Sugar beet into Sugar. JUICE is a widely used non-commercial Software package for editing and analysing phytosociological data Fermentation in Food processing typically refers to the conversion of Sugar to Alcohol using Yeast under Anaerobic conditions Distillation is a method of separating Mixtures based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling liquid mixture The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak and other barrels. The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container traditionally made of Wood Staves and bound with Iron Hoops The The majority of the world's rum production occurs in and around the Caribbean islands and in several South American countries, such as Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil, though there are rum producers in places such as Australia, Fiji, India, Reunion Island, Mauritius, and elsewhere around the world. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Réunion ( French: Réunion or formally La Réunion; previously Île Bourbon) is an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République

Beenleigh Rum Distillery, on the banks of the Albert River near Beenleigh, Queensland. ca. 1912

Rum is produced in a variety of styles. Light rums are commonly used in cocktails, while golden and dark rums are appropriate for drinking straight, as a brandy, or for use in cooking as well as cocktails. Light rum (also known as "silver" or "white" rum is a dry light-bodied Rum, light in color and lightly sweet in flavor A cocktail is a style of Mixed drink. Originally a mixture of distilled spirits, Sugar, Water, and Bitters, the word has gradually Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine Premium brands of rum are also available that are made to be consumed neat or on the rocks.

Rum plays a part in the culture of most islands of the West Indies, and has famous associations with the British Royal Navy and piracy. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering Rum has also served as a popular medium of exchange that helped to promote slavery along with providing economic instigation for Australia's Rum Rebellion and the American Revolution. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another The Rum Rebellion, also known as the Rum Puncheon Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" [1].

Etymology

The origin of the word rum is unclear. A common claim is that the name was derived from rumbullion meaning "a great tumult or uproar". ^[1] Another claim is that the name is from the large drinking glasses used by Dutch seamen known as rummers, from the Dutch word roemer, a drinking glass. Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname ^[2] Other options include contractions of the words saccharum, Latin for sugar, or arôme, French for aroma. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[3] Regardless of the original source, the name was already in common use by May 1657 when the General Court of Massachusetts made illegal the sale of strong liquor "whether knowne by the name of rumme, strong water, wine, brandy, etc. The Massachusetts General Court (formally styled The General Court of Massachusetts) is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. , etc. "^[3]

In current usage, the name used for a rum is often based on the rum's place of origin. For rums from Spanish-speaking locales the word ron is used. A ron añejo indicates a rum that has been significantly aged and is often used for premium products. Rhum is the term used for rums from French-speaking locales, while rhum vieux is an aged French rum that meets several other requirements.

Some of the many other names for rum are Nelson's Blood, Kill-Devil, Demon Water, Pirate's Drink, Navy Neaters, and Barbados water. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British ^[4] A version of rum from Newfoundland is referred to by the name Screech, while some low-grade West Indies rums are called tafia. Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation Newfoundland Screech is a particularly strong Liquor, sold in Newfoundland and originally imported from Jamaica, which enjoys fame in many parts of The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Tafia is a kind of cheap Rum made from Sugarcane juice The history of rum dates back to the 17th century on vast sugarcane Plantations established in

History

Origins

The precursors to rum date back to antiquity. Development of fermented drinks produced from sugarcane juice is believed to have first occurred either in ancient India or China,^[1] and spread from there. An example of such an early drink is brum. Produced by the Malay people, brum dates back thousands of years. Malays (Melayu are an Ethnic group of Austronesian peoples predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast ^[5] Marco Polo also recorded a 14th-century account of a "very good wine of sugar" that was offered to him in what is modern-day Iran. Marco Polo ( September 15 1254 – January 9 1324 at earliest but no later than June 1325 was a Venetian trader and explorer For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. ^[1]

The first distillation of rum took place on the sugarcane plantations of the Caribbean in the 17th century. Plantation slaves first discovered that molasses, a by-product of the sugar refining process, can be fermented into alcohol. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Molasses or Treacle is a thick Syrup by-product from the processing of the Sugarcane or Sugar beet into Sugar. A by-product is a secondary or incidental product deriving from a Manufacturing process a Chemical reaction or a biochemical pathway and is not the primary product ^[6] Later, distillation of these alcoholic by-products concentrated the alcohol and removed impurities, producing the first true rums. Tradition suggests that rum first originated on the island of Barbados. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Regardless of its initial source, early Caribbean rums were not known for high quality. A 1651 document from Barbados stated, "The chief fuddling they make in the island is Rumbullion, alias Kill-Divil, and this is made of sugar canes distilled, a hot, hellish, and terrible liquor". ^[6]

Colonial America

After rum's development in the Caribbean, the drink's popularity spread to Colonial America. The term colonial history of the United States refers to the history of the land that would become the United States from the start of European settlement to the time of independence To support the demand for the drink, the first rum distillery in the colonies was set up in 1664 on present-day Staten Island. Staten Island (ˌstætənˈaɪlənd is a borough of New York City situated primarily on the island of the same name Boston, Massachusetts had a distillery three years later. ^[7] The manufacture of rum became early Colonial New England's largest and most prosperous industry. ^[8] New England became a distilling center (due to the superior technical, metalworking and cooperage (barrel making) skills and abundant lumber); the rum produced there was lighter, more like whiskey, and was superior to the character and aroma of the West Indies product. Anyone who could afford it much preferred it to the Caribbean product. Rhode Island rum even joined gold as an accepted currency in Europe for a period of time. Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 ^[9] Estimates of rum consumption in the American colonies before the American Revolutionary War had every man, woman, or child drinking an average of 3 Imperial gallons (13. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Imperial units or the Imperial system is a collection of units first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824 5 liters) of rum each year. The litre or liter (see spelling differences) is a unit of Volume. ^[10]

To support this demand for the molasses to produce rum, along with the increasing demand for sugar in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, a labor source to work the sugar plantations in the Caribbean was needed. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system A triangular trade was established between Africa, the Caribbean, and the colonies to help support this need. Triangular trade is a historical term indicating Trade between three ports or regions ^[11] The exchange of slaves, molasses, and rum was quite profitable, and the disruption to the trade caused by the Sugar Act in 1764 may have even helped cause the American Revolution. The Sugar Act (citation 4 Geo III c 15 officially called the American Revenue Act, passed on April 5, 1764, was a revenue-raising Act Year 1764 ( MDCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" ^[10]

The popularity of rum continued after the American Revolution with George Washington insisting on a barrel of Barbados rum at his 1789 inauguration. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Year 1789 ( MDCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[12] Eventually the restrictions on rum from the British islands of the Caribbean combined with the development of American whiskey led to a decline in the drink's popularity. Whisky (uisge-beatha or whiskey (uisce beatha or fuisce) refers to a broad category of Alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented

Naval rum

Rum's association with piracy began with English privateers trading on the valuable commodity. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A privateer was a private Warship authorized by a country's Government by Letters of marque to attack foreign shipping As some of the privateers became pirates and buccaneers, their fondness for rum remained, the association between the two only being strengthened by literary works such as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (13 November 1850–3 December 1894 was a Scottish novelist poet and travel writer, and a representative of Neo-romanticism in Treasure Island is an adventure Novel by author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold" ^[13]

The association of rum with the British Royal Navy began in 1655 when the British fleet captured the island of Jamaica. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. With the availability of domestically produced rum, the British changed the daily ration of liquor given to seamen from French brandy to rum. Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine ^[14] While the ration was originally given neat, or mixed with lime juice, the practice of watering down the rum began around 1740. Year 1740 ( MDCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap To help minimize the effect of the alcohol on his sailors, Admiral Edward Vernon directed that the rum ration be watered down before being issued, a mixture which became known as grog. Edward Vernon ( "Old Grog") (12 November 1684 &ndash 30 October 1757 was an English naval officer The word grog refers to a variety of Alcoholic beverages The word originally referred to a drink made with water or " small While it is widely believed that the term grog was coined at this time in honor of the grogram cloak Admiral Vernon wore in rough weather ^[15], the term has been demonstrated to predate his famous orders with probable origins in the West Indies, perhaps of African etymology (see Grog). The manufacture of Textiles is one of the oldest of human technologies. The word grog refers to a variety of Alcoholic beverages The word originally referred to a drink made with water or " small The Royal Navy continued to give its sailors a daily rum ration, known as a "tot," until the practice was abolished after July 31, 1970. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[16]

A story involving naval rum is that following his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson's body was preserved in a cask of rum to allow transport back to England. The Battle of Trafalgar ( 21 October 1805) was a historic sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Upon arrival, however, the cask was opened and found to be empty of rum. The pickled body was removed and, upon inspection, it was discovered that the sailors had drilled a hole in the bottom of the cask and drunk all the rum, in the process drinking Nelson's blood. Thus, this tale serves as a basis for the term Nelson's Blood being used to describe rum. It also serves as the basis for the term "Tapping the Admiral" being used to describe drinking the daily rum ration. The details of the story are disputed, as many historians claim the cask contained French Brandy whilst others claim instead the term originated from a toast to Admiral Nelson. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine A toast is someone or something in Honor of which people usually have a drink the drink or honor itself or the act ( Pledge) of indicating that honor ^[17] It should be noted that variations of the story, involving different noteable corpses, have been in circulation for many years.

Colonial Australia

See Also: Rum Rebellion

Rum became an important trade good in the early period of the colony of New South Wales. The Rum Rebellion, also known as the Rum Puncheon Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history The value of rum was based upon the lack of coinage among the population of the colony, and due to the drink's ability to allow its consumer to temporarily forget about the lack of creature comforts available in the new colony. The value of rum was such that convict settlers could be induced to work the lands owned by officers of the New South Wales Corps. Due to rum's popularity among the settlers, the colony gained a reputation for drunkenness even though their alcohol consumption was less than levels commonly consumed in England at the time. ^[18]

When William Bligh became governor of the colony in 1806, he attempted to remedy the perceived problem with drunkenness by outlawing the use of rum as a medium of exchange. Vice-Admiral William Bligh FRS RN (9 September 1754 – 7 December 1817 was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator Year 1806 ( MDCCCVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In response to this action, and several others, the New South Wales Corps marched, with fixed bayonets, to Government House and placed Bligh under arrest. The mutineers continued to control the colony until the arrival of Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810. Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB (31 January 1762 – 1 July 1824 Scottish Gaelic spelling Lachlan MacGuaire) British military officer Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year ^[19]

Caribbean light rum

Until the second half of the 19th century all rums were heavy or dark rums that were considered appropriate for the working poor, unlike the refined double-distilled spirits of Europe. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar In order to expand the market for rum, the Spanish Royal Development Board offered a prize to anyone who could improve the rum making process. This resulted in many refinements in the process which greatly improved the quality of rum. ^[20] One of the most important figures in this development process was Don Facundo Bacardí Massó, who moved from Spain to Santiago de Cuba in 1843. Don Facundo Bacardí Massó ( Facund Bacardí i Massó) (1814 – May 9 1887) was a Spanish – Cuban Rum businessman Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Santiago de Cuba is the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island nation of Cuba Year 1843 ( MDCCCXLIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Don Facundo's experiments with distillation techniques, charcoal filtering, cultivating of specialized yeast strains, and aging with American oak casks helped to produce a smoother and mellower drink typical of modern light rums. It was with this new rum that Don Facundo founded Bacardí y Compañía in 1862. Bacardi is the world's largest family-owned spirits company best known as a producer of Rums including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday ^[21]

Categorization

Dividing rum into meaningful groupings is complicated by the fact that there is no single standard for what constitutes rum. Instead rum is defined by the varying rules and laws of the nations that produce the spirit. The differences in definitions include issues such as spirit proof, minimum aging, and even naming standards.

Examples of the differences in proof is Colombia, requiring their rum possess a minimum alcohol content of 50 ABV, while Chile and Venezuela require only a minimum of 40 ABV. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as abv or ABV) is a standard measure of how much alcohol ( Ethanol) is contained in an Alcoholic beverage Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Mexico requires rum be aged a minimum of 8 months; the Dominican Republic, Panama and Venezuela require two years. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Naming standards also vary, Argentina defining rums as white, gold, light, and extra light. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Barbados uses the terms white, overproof, and matured, while the United States defines rum, rum liqueur, and flavored rum. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[22] In Australia Rum is divided into Dark Rum (Under Proof known as UP, Over Proof known as OP, and triple distilled) and White Rum.

Despite these differences in standards and nomenclature, the following divisions are provided to help show the wide variety of rums that are produced.

Regional Variations

Within the Caribbean, each island or production area has a unique style. For the most part, these styles can be grouped by the language that is traditionally spoken. Due to the overwhelming influence of Puerto Rican rum, most rum consumed in the United States is produced in the Spanish-speaking style. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

• Spanish-speaking islands traditionally produce light rums with a fairly clean taste. Rums from Cuba, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Venezuela are typical of this style. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

• English-speaking islands and countries are known for darker rums with a fuller taste that retains a greater amount of the underlying molasses flavor. Rums from Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, the Demerara region of Guyana, and Jamaica are typical of this style. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Demerara in South America was one of the original British colonies that were joined into the colony of British Guiana, now Guyana. Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea.

• French-speaking islands are best known for their agricultural rums (rhum agricole). These rums, being produced exclusively from sugar cane juice, retain a greater amount of the original flavor of the sugar cane and are generally more expensive than molasses-based rums. Rums from Haïti, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and Martinique are typical of this style. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq Marie-Galante is an island of the Caribbean Sea located in the Guadeloupean archipelago Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km²

Cachaça is a spirit similar to rum that is produced in Brazil. Cachaça (ˌkaˈʃasɐ is the most popular distilled Alcoholic beverage in Brazil. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Seco, from Panama, is also a spirit similar to rum, but also similar to vodka, since it is triple distilled. The Indonesian spirit Batavia Arrack, or Arrak, is a spirit similar to rum that includes rice in its production. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Arrack is an Alcoholic beverage that is distilled mainly in South Asia and South East Asia from fermented Fruit, ^[23] Mexico produces a number of brands of light and dark rum, as well as other less expensive flavored and unflavored sugar cane based liquors, such as aguardiente de caña and charanda. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Charanda is a alcoholic liquor derived from sugar cane similar to Rum. In some cases cane liquor is flavored with mezcal to produce a pseudo-tequila-like drink. Mezcal (from Nahuatl mexcalli, "earth roast maguey hearts" wrongly known as 'mescal' is a Mexican distilled spirit protected by International Tequila is an agave-based spirit made primarily in the area surrounding Tequila, in the northwest of Guadalajara and in the highlands (

A spirit known as Aguardiente, distilled from molasses and often infused with anise, with additional sugarcane juice added after distillation, is produced in Central America and northern South America. Aguardiente ( Spanish) aguardente ( Portuguese) or augardente ( Galician) is the generic name for alcoholic drinks between 29 and 45 '''Anise''' or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the second syllable ( Pimpinella anisum) is a Flowering plant in the family Apiaceae South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ^[24]

In West Africa, and particularly in Liberia, cane juice (also known as Liberian rum ^[25] or simply CJ within Liberia itself^[26], is a cheap, strong spirit distilled from sugar cane, which can be as strong as 86 proof^[27]. Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire

Within Europe, a similar spirit made from sugar beet is known as tuzemák (from tuzemský rum, domestic rum) in the Czech Republic and Kobba Libre on the Åland Islands. Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L a member of the Chenopodiaceae family is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of Sucrose.

In Germany, a cheap substitute of dark rum is called Rum-Verschnitt (literally: cut rum). Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. This distilled beverage is made of genuine dark rum (often from Jamaica), rectified spirit, and water. A rectified spirit or rectified alcohol is highly concentrated Ethanol (drinking alcohol which has been purified by means of rectification (repeated distillation Very often, caramel coloring is used, too. Caramel coloring is Caramel used as a Food coloring; it is made by controlled heating of Sugar, generally in the presence of Acids or Alkalis The relative amount of genuine rum it contains can be quite low since the legal minimum is at only 5 percent, but the taste of Rumverschnitt is still very similar to genuine dark rum. In Austria, a similar rum called Inländerrum or domestic rum is available. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich

Grades

Example of dark, spiced, and light rums.

The grades and variations used to describe rum depend on the location that a rum was produced. Despite these variations the following terms are frequently used to describe various types of rum:

• Light Rums, also referred to as light, silver, and white rums. In general, light rum has very little flavor aside from a general sweetness, and serves accordingly as a base for cocktails. Light rums are sometimes filtered after aging to remove any color. The Brazilian immensely popular Cachaça belongs to this type. Cachaça (ˌkaˈʃasɐ is the most popular distilled Alcoholic beverage in Brazil.

• Gold Rums, also called amber rums, are medium-bodied rums which are generally aged. These gain their dark color from aging in wooden barrels (usually the charred white oak barrels that are the byproduct of Bourbon Whiskey). Whisky (uisge-beatha or whiskey (uisce beatha or fuisce) refers to a broad category of Alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented

• Spiced Rum: These rums obtain their flavor through addition of spices and, sometimes, caramel. Most are darker in color, and based on gold rums. Some are significantly darker, while many cheaper brands are made from inexpensive white rums and darkened with artificial caramel color.

• Dark Rum, also known as black rum, classes as a grade darker than gold rum. It is generally aged longer, in heavily charred barrels. Dark rum has a much stronger flavor than either light or gold rum, and hints of spices can be detected, along with a strong molasses or caramel overtone. It is used to provide substance in rum drinks, as well as color. In addition to uses in mixed drinks, dark rum is the type of rum most commonly used in cooking.

• Flavored Rum: Some manufacturers have begun to sell rums which they have infused with flavors of fruits such as mango, orange, citrus, coconut, and lime which is a lime rum found in Sweden. Mangoes belong to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous species of tropical fruiting Trees in the Flowering plant family Anacardiaceae An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family These serve to flavor similarly themed tropical drinks which generally comprise less than 40% alcohol, and are also often drunk neat or on the rocks.

• Overproof Rum is rum which is much higher than the standard 40% alcohol. Most of these rums bear greater than 75%, in fact, and preparations of 151 to 160 proof occur commonly.

• Premium Rum: As with other sipping spirits, such as Cognac and Scotch, a market exists for premium and super-premium rums. Cognac (ˈkɒnjæk named after the town of Cognac in France, is a Brandy produced in the region surrounding the town Scotch whisky is Whisky made in Scotland. In Britain the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified These are generally boutique brands which sell very aged and carefully produced rums. They have more character and flavor than their "mixing" counterparts, and are generally consumed without the addition of other ingredients.

Production methodology

Unlike some other spirits, such as Cognac and Scotch, rum has no defined production methods. Cognac (ˈkɒnjæk named after the town of Cognac in France, is a Brandy produced in the region surrounding the town Scotch whisky is Whisky made in Scotland. In Britain the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified Instead, rum production is based on traditional styles that vary between locations and distillers.

Fermentation

Sugarcane is harvested to make sugarcane juice and molasses. Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae

Most rum produced is made from molasses. Within the Caribbean, much of this molasses is from Brazil. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld ^[12] A notable exception is the French-speaking islands where sugarcane juice is the preferred base ingredient. ^[1]

Yeast and water are added to the base ingredient to start the fermentation process. Yeasts are a growth form of eukaryotic Microorganisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with about 1500 Species currently described While some rum producers allow wild yeast to perform the fermentation, most use specific strains of yeast to help provide a consistent taste and predictable fermentation time. ^[28] Dunder, the yeast-rich foam from previous fermentations, is the traditional yeast source in Jamaica. Dunder is the yeast-rich foam leftovers from one batch of rum that is used to start the yeast culture of a second batch Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. ^[29] "The yeast employed will determine the final taste and aroma profile," says Jamaican master blender Joy Spence. ^[1] Distillers that make lighter rums, such as Bacardi, prefer to use faster-working yeasts. Bacardi is the world's largest family-owned spirits company best known as a producer of Rums including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. ^[1] Use of slower-working yeasts causes more esters to accumulate during fermentation, allowing for a fuller-tasting rum. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least ^[28]

Distillation

As with all other aspects of rum production, there is no standard method used for distillation. While some producers work in batches using pot stills, most rum production is done using column still distillation. A pot still is a type of Still used in distilling spirits such as Whisky or Brandy. A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of Still that consists of two Columns invented ^[28] Pot still output contains more congeners than the output from column stills and thus produces a fuller-tasting rum. ^[1]

Aging and blending

Many countries require that rum be aged for at least one year. An aging barrel is a barrel used to age Wine or distilled spirits such as Whiskey, Brandy, or Rum. This aging is commonly performed in used bourbon casks,^[28] but may also be performed in stainless steel tanks or other types of wooden casks. Bourbon is an American Whiskey, a type of distilled spirit, made primarily from Corn and named for Bourbon County Kentucky. Due to the tropical climate common to most rum-producing areas, rum matures at a much faster rate than is typical for Scotch or Cognac. Scotch whisky is Whisky made in Scotland. In Britain the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified Cognac (ˈkɒnjæk named after the town of Cognac in France, is a Brandy produced in the region surrounding the town An indication of this faster rate is the angel's share, or amount of product lost to evaporation. An aging barrel is a barrel used to age Wine or distilled spirits such as Whiskey, Brandy, or Rum. Evaporation is the process by which Molecules in a Liquid state (e While products aged in France or Scotland see about 2% loss each year, rum producers may see as much as 10%. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ^[28] After aging, rum is normally blended to ensure a consistent flavor. As part of this blending process, light rums may be filtered to remove any color gained during aging. For darker rums, caramel may be added to the rum to adjust the color of the final product. Caramel (pronounced /ˈkærəmɛl/ or /ˈkɑrməl/ refers to a range of confections that are Beige to dark brown in Color, derived from the

In cuisine

Besides rum punch, cocktails such as the Cuba Libre and Daiquiri have well-known stories of their invention in the Caribbean. For other meanings of 'Cuba Libre' see Cuba libre (disambiguation The Cuba Libre (IPA /'kuβ̞a'liβ̞ɾe/ in Spanish kjuːbʌ liːbɹeɪ/ Daiquiri (properly spelled with an acute accent on the final letter and pronounced but commonly anglicized to and written without the accent is a family of Cocktails whose Tiki culture in the US helped expand rum's horizons with inventions such as the Mai Tai and Zombie. Tiki culture refers to a mid-20th-century theme used in Polynesian style restaurants and clubs originally in the United States and then to a lesser degree around the world The Mai Tai is a well-known Alcoholic Cocktail purportedly invented at the Trader Vic's " Polynesian-style " restaurant in Oakland The Zombie is an exceptionally strong Cocktail made of fruit juices Liqueurs and various Rums so named for its perceived effects upon the drinker Other well-known cocktails containing rum include the Piña Colada, a drink made popular by Rupert Holmes' song "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)",^[30] and the Mojito. The piña colada ( Spanish, strained pineapple piña, pineapple + colada, strained is a sweet Rum -based Cocktail made with Rupert Holmes (born February 24, 1947) is an American - British Composer, Singer-songwriter, Musician and " Escape " (later known as " Escape (The Piña Colada Song " was the highest-charting hit for Rupert Holmes, released off his album Mojito () is a traditional Cuban Highball. A mojito is traditionally made of five ingredients white rum, Sugar (traditionally Sugar cane Cold-weather drinks made with rum include the Rum toddy and Hot Buttered Rum. For the beverage made from the sap of various species of palm tree see Palm wine. ^[31] In addition to these well-known cocktails, a number of local specialties utilize rum. Examples of these local drinks include Bermuda's Dark and Stormy (Gosling's Black Seal rum with ginger beer), and the Painkiller from the British Virgin Islands. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Ginger beer is a type of carbonated Soft drink or occasionally Alcoholic beverage flavored primarily with Ginger, Lemon and The British Virgin Islands ( BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico.

Rum may also be used as a base in the manufacture of liqueurs. A liqueur is a sweet Alcoholic beverage, often flavored with Fruits, Herbs Spices Flowers Seeds Roots Plants Spiced Rum is made by infusing rum with a combination of spices. A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive Another combination is jagertee, a mixture of rum and black tea. Jagertee is an invigorating drink made by mixing Rum into black Tea. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market

Rum may also be used in a number of cooked dishes. It may be used as a flavoring agent in items such as rum balls or rum cakes. Rum balls are a truffle-like confection being sweet dense balls flavoured with Chocolate and Rum. Rum is commonly used to macerate fruit used in fruitcakes and is also used in marinades for some Caribbean dishes. Fruitcake (or fruit cake) is a Cake made with chopped Candied fruit and/or dried Fruit, nuts and Spices and optionally soaked Marination, also known as marinating, is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned often acidic liquid before cooking Rum is also used in the preparation of Bananas Foster and some hard sauces. Bananas Foster is a Dessert made from Bananas and Vanilla Ice cream, with the sauce made from Butter, Brown sugar, Hard sauce is a cold dessert Sauce made by creaming or beating Butter and Sugar with Rum, Brandy, Whiskey

Ti Punch is short for "petit punch", little punch. The Ti'Punch (or Créole Ti Punch) is a rum-based mixed drink that is especially popular in Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, and other This is a very traditional drink in the French-speaking region of the Caribbean.

See also

• List of rum producers
• List of Puerto Rican rums
• List of cocktails
• Bay rum
• Rum-running
• Rum row
• Cachaça
• American Whiskey Trail
• Seco Herrerano

Notes

References

• Blue, Anthony Dias (2004). The Complete Book of Spirits : A Guide to Their History, Production, and Enjoyment. HarperCollins. HarperCollins is a Publishing company owned by News Corporation. ISBN 0-06-054218-7.  
• Clarke, Frank G. (2002). The History of Australia. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31498-5.  
• Cooper, Rosalind (1982). Spirits & Liqueurs. HPBooks. ISBN 0-89586-194-1.  
• Pack, James (1982). Nelson's Blood: The Story of Naval Rum. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-944-8.  
• Tannahill, Reay (1973). Food in History. Stein and Day. ISBN 0-8128-1437-1.  

Further reading

• Curtis, Wayne (2006). And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails. Crown.  (author interview)
• Williams, Ian (2005). Rum: A Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776. Nation Books.   (extract)
• Broom, Dave (2003). Rum. Abbeville Press.  
• Arkell, Julie (1999). Classic Rum. Prion Books.  
• Coulombe, Charles A (2004). Rum: The Epic Story of the Drink that Changed Conquered the World. Citadel Press.  
• Smith, Frederick (2005). Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History. University Press of Florida.   (Introduction)

External links

History & Information

• Rum History
• Ministry of Rum

Reviews

• El Machete's Rum Reviews
• RND Rum Reviews
• RumReviews.com
• Scottes' Rum Pages
• Bilgemunky's Rum Reviews
• Capn Jimbo's Rum Project
• Refined Vices