Rum 101
Rum is deeply associated with the Caribbean, which is easy to understand when you note the tremendous quantities of quality sugar cane grown in these
tropical islands and coastal nations. Cane sugar is integral to all varieties of Rum. From cane the distiller extracts pure, sweet cane juice and
wonderfully complex syrup known as molasses. Spirits produced by cane juice, as most commonly found in Rhum Agricole, differ from those produced from molasses and we will delve into
this topic in another section.
Rum is one of the most (if not the most) versatile spirits in the world. It comes in a wide array of styles from light to dark as well as exotic
spiced and flavored versions. Rum can be enjoyed straight or in a staggering number of classic and contemporary cocktails.
Cask aged versions of Rum have been attracting great attention lately and with good reason. Rum has been aged in cask nearly since its invention and
savvy consumers of brown/aged spirits have discovered that aged Rum is on par with the best single malt scotch whiskies, premium bourbons, and finest
cognac.
Many aged Rums include an age statement on their labels just like a single malt scotch whisky. However, don’t be quick to make comparisons on the age
alone. As you know, the climate in Puerto Rico or Panama is vastly different than that of Scotland. The intense heat and humidity of the Caribbean
forces the spirit to plunge deep with in the wood and remain there throughout the year. Whisky producers
refer to the loss of spirit via evaporation as the “angel’s share.” The angels of the Caribbean have a much greater thirst taking two to three times the volume of
aging spirit each year. In simple terms a 7 or 8-year-old Rum will often possess the maturity of a 12 to 15-year-old whisky.
Most important, Rum is for all seasons. When it’s hot, a refreshing and fruity Rum cocktail cools you. When you are relaxing after dinner, a glass of
aged Rums satisfies you, and when the temperature dips, a hot buttered Rum warms you. It’s time to meet Rum again for the first time.