The history of rum is a fascinating one. It’s probably more interesting than the history of whiskey, in my opinion. There are so many different types of rum out there and people have been drinking rum for thousands of years. It’s not surprising that rum culture has developed into such a rich and varied industry over the years. It’s also not surprising that the fine folks of The Rum Shack have put together a fantastic collection of fascinating rum facts. So, let’s dive into the history of rum and find out how this potent spirit has maintained its popularity for so long!
The History of Rum
You might be surprised to learn that rum has been around as long as wine. The oldest written mention of rum was in a Chinese manuscript, which was written in 11th century AD. But, in fact, alcohol has been part of human culture for a very long time.
Paintings from ancient Egyptian tombs show people drinking wine and beer. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Chinese all drank wine. So did the ancient Mayans and Aztecs. The ancient Persians drank a fermented drink made from honey and rice. So did the ancient Arabs, who also had a drink called “raqi” which was made from grapes. And on and on we go.
Havana Club Rum
The history of rum is also the history of rum from the Caribbean and the island of Cuba. Cuban rum is the most famous Cuban rum and it’s made in the traditional sugar cane- and molasses-based style of rum production. But you can also find a range of Spanish and American rums on the market and many are equally as good as the Cuban variety. Habanos is an excellent example of a premium Cuban rum. There are also premium flavored rums on the market.
Havana Club rum is another one of these premium Cuban rums and it’s made using a unique method. Havana Club uses a combination of both column and pot still distillation to produce a smooth, lightly aged rum. Cuban rum production often involves the use of pot still distillation and this can give rums a harsher flavor. Havana Club’s pot still rum gives you a more delicate and mellow rum taste.
Dark Rum and Spiced Rum
You may well have heard that dark rum is the oldest type of rum and it’s sometimes called “traditional” rum. But the truth is that this type of rum has only been around for a very short time. Dark rum is usually made from molasses, which is a by-product of the sugar cane industry in the Caribbean. Spiced rum is another recent development and it’s made from molasses mixed with other flavors.
Dark rum is often mixed with cola. The cola softens the taste of the rum and makes it smoother. Spiced rum is often mixed with fruit flavors and can have a variety of other options. You can order spiced rums mixed with fruits like pomegranate, mango or passion fruit. You can also order spiced rums mixed with flavors like ginger, chili or honey.
Barbados Rum
Barbados rum started life as a British colony and Barbados is one of the most famous Barbados rums because it’s made in the British style by using a combination of both column and pot still distillation. The British also take the pour of their rums very seriously and Barbados rum is often aged in old American oak barrels.
So, if you want to get your hands on some of the best British rums around, Barbados is a great place to start.
Bourbon and Rum
Bourbon and rum are two very different things. Rum is made from molasses, cane and molasses, and bourbon is made from barley, rye and other grains. But you will find some very interesting rums mixed with bourbon. So, for example, you can find bourbon-aged rums. Bourbon-aged rums are often mixed with cola and other mixers to create a smoother flavor.
Bourbon and rum is often mixed with cola, cherry, or orange flavors. Cherry and rum is a classic combination. You can also get rum mixed with other fruits like pomegranate and other mixers like cola.
The Future of Rum
Rum has a long, rich history and it’s one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world. Rum is widely exported around the world and it’s also popular in some parts of the world where drinking alcohol is illegal. So, it’s easy to see why rum has maintained its popularity for so long.
There’s still a lot of rum out there and more is being produced every day. The biggest challenge for rum producers is to keep up with demand. The best way to do this is to produce a higher quality product. That way, people will be drinking your rum for longer.
Wrapping Up
There are many fascinating things about rum and the history of rum is one of them. The history of rum is a long and fascinating one and it’s full of fascinating facts. The future of rum is an interesting one as well and there are plenty of rum manufacturers who are keen to keep up with demand.