General Rum Lesson

WHAT IS RUM?

For all practical purposes, rum types are not determined by definition, but by geography. Puerto Rican rums must come from Puerto Rico. Virgin Island rum from the Virgin Islands. Jamaican rums from Jamaica, etc. In general, rums from Spanish-speaking areas are light rums; those from English-speaking areas, dark rums; although Jamaica, to take one example, can and does produce light rums.

HOW RUM IS MADE

Rum is produced in any area where sugar cane can grow. The area best known for its rum is, of course, the Caribbean. The Spanish-speaking countries in the area produce lighter rums, generally speaking, than the English-speaking countries. Thus, such countries as Puerto Rico and, before Castro, Cuba were known for their light, dry rums.

Jamaica and the British colonial areas were known for their dark, pungent rums. The Virgin Islands are also known for their light, dry rums. Recently, a Hawaiian rum, light and dry, has been introduced into the US.

In short, rum is a distillate of the by-products of sugar cane. The key requirement for rum is that it must not be distilled at less than 80 proof and that it must be distilled from the fermented juice of sugar cane, sugar cane syrup sugar cane molasses or other sugar cane products and must possess the taste, aroma and characteristics generally attributed to rum. Thus, rum comes from those areas of the world in which sugar cane can grow.