Rum

Rum is created from fermented sugarcane by-products. It was Christopher Columbus who first brought sugarcane via the Canary Islands to the island of Hispaniola.Sugar mills sprang up all around the Caribbean. It was eventually discovered that molasses once fermented could be distilled into alcohol.





* There are several theories on the origin of the name. Some say that Rum could be from the French word for aroma - arome, from the Latin word for sugarcane - saccharum officinarum, or from Rom - meaning gypsy.

* From the 17th century to the 1960's, the British Navy issued sailors a daily ration of rum to ease the hardships of a life at sea. Grog eventually evolved to temper its incredibly high, 160, proof.
* By the 18th century, rum replaced gin as the drink of choice in England. Rum bars and rum punches took the country by storm.
* Its popularity grew so strong in American colonies that the threat of a rum tax helped set off the famous Boston Tea Party. Rum’s role as America’s favorite tippler lasted all the way up to prohibition. Scotch then crept in as the nation’s choice.
* Due to rumrunners' activities during Prohibition, the waters off of Long Island were known as "Rum Row".

* By law, Puerto Rican rum, "ron" must be aged at least 1 year.