Rum Guide
What Is Rum?
Rum is a distilled spirit made primarily from sugarcane byproducts — usually molasses, but sometimes fresh sugarcane juice or sugarcane syrup. It originated in the Caribbean and became one of the world’s defining spirits through colonial trade, naval history, and cocktail culture.
Rum is incredibly broad stylistically. Depending on where and how it’s made, it can be:
Light and crisp
Rich and funky
Grassy and vegetal
Sweet and dessert-like
Smoky and oak-driven
A Short History of Rum
Early Origins (1600s)
Rum production began in the Caribbean during the 17th century, especially in sugar-producing colonies like:
Barbados
Jamaica
Cuba
Sugar plantations produced huge amounts of molasses, previously considered waste. Enslaved workers and plantation operators discovered it could be fermented and distilled into alcohol.
Barbados is often credited as the birthplace of commercial rum production.
The Age of Sail & Colonial Trade
Rum became central to:
The British Royal Navy
Caribbean trade
Colonial economies
Transatlantic “Triangle Trade”
The British Navy issued daily rum rations (“tot”) to sailors for centuries until 1970.
Rum was also deeply tied to slavery and plantation economies, an essential but painful part of its history.
Modern Rum
In the 20th century:
Cuban-style light rum fueled cocktail culture
Tiki bars popularised tropical drinks
Premium aged rums emerged
Modern craft distilleries revived traditional methods
Today, rum ranges from inexpensive mixing spirits to premium sipping bottles comparable to whisky or cognac.
White Rum
Usually:
Light bodied
Filtered after aging
Clean and subtle
Common in:
Mojitos
Daiquiris
Piña Coladas
Typical Style
Vanilla
Citrus
Light sugarcane sweetness
Famous Producers
Bacardí
Havana Club
Don Q