Does Rum Make You Dumb? Not If You Know the Facts!
Rum makes you dumb. Or so the popular cheer tells me. So it makes me wonder. How did pirates get so much done?
“C’mon it’ll be fun!” My friend implored. (He was right. It was fun.)
What was fun you ask? Well, a trip to JazzFest in New Orleans. Then a quick jaunt over to Disney World in Orlando. Followed by a trip down to the Florida Keys and Key West. Just a little weekend getaway. Actually, it took about 2 weeks.
And one of the over arching themes of this adventure was – Rum!
We didn’t set out on a rum drinking adventure. It was more of live music and debauchery adventure. But somehow rum took over and at times even led the way.
So what is Rum? How did it come to be so popular in that part of the world? Why is some rum clear and others dark?
Like most alcohols rum is made from the most popular and abundant local crops. In the Caribbean and surrounding areas this is sugar cane. Florida is the largest cane producer in the United States. Worldwide it is the largest crop by production quantity.
Which of course means when the question comes up, “Hey, what are we gonna do with all this sugar cane?”
“Let’s make rum!”
Before we go on it should be pointed out that sugar cane is used to make many alcoholic beverages, not just rum. You can make Falernum, Cachaca, Basi and other regionally popular alcohols. But for now we’ll focus on rum.
Most rums are made in Americas and the Caribbean but it is also made in India and the South Pacific. Most rum is made from molasses which is a thick gooey product of the sugar cane.
The word ‘Rum’ is said to have come from the English word “rumbullion’ which was a beverage made with sugar cane stalks. It may also have come from the Dutch word ‘Roemer’ which means drinking glass. ’Rummers’ being the glasses the Dutch sailors drank from.
Rum played a big part in the trade between the Americas and Europe. Not only was the sugar being traded but the rum was too. And sadly, the slave trade became a big part of that as well.
There are no standard categories for rum. Different countries have their own rules. Some require minimum aging of 8 months, like Mexico. Others countries may require at least 2 years.
Rums can be light, dark, gold, silver, white, flavored, spiced etc.
Interestingly most light rums are made by Spanish speaking countries like Bacardi in Puerto Rico. While darker rums come from the English speaking countries like Myers’s rum from Jamaica.
Rum has had many popular periods in the U.S. Perhaps one of the most popular drink ever is the Rum and coke. Usually made with a light Rum like Bacardi. (Bacardi/Light Rum/Puerto Rico) It’s a sweet treat! The rum mixes with the coke in a perfect balance. It’s a great drink for beginning bartenders because the guest tells you exactly what’s in the drink. Easy!
Of course it gets complicated if someone orders a Cuba Libre. I remember my first days of bartending and learning this drink. Sounds exotic and difficult? Nope! It’s a rum and coke – with a squeeze of lime! That’s it! Some people might like a little lime juice added to it as well.
Rum also had a great popularity in the states with the rise of the Tiki bar culture. After World War II and the Korean War military veterans that served in and around the South Pacific came home and tried to recreate the tropical fun bars they discovered while they were over there. Soon in the US bars started popping up appropriating (some would argue – misappropriating) tropical themes and culture.
Many of these bars are world famous like Don the Beachcombers which became a chain of restaurants. Theres also hundreds popular local places like Tiki Ti in Los Angeles or surprisingly Sip’n Dip in Great Falls, Montana!
For our crazy adventure we started off in New Orleans for JazzFest. We landed in the afternoon and hit the ground running! First stop was Pat O’Briens in the French Quarter. The cocktail they’re famous for is the Hurricane. A super sweet delight that’ll make you fell like a hurricane blew through your brain.
In it’s purest form it’s a delicate combination of Rum, lemon juice, passion fruit juice and a little simple syrup or grenadine.
At Pat O’Briens it’s made with a made powder mix like Kool-Aid, by the gallons in large buckets! (Or at least it was when I was there so many years ago!) All that mattered to us, and most tourists, is that it had rum in it. Lots of it! If you’re looking for a super refined cocktail this isn’t it. If your looking for a fun time in New Orleans however, this is the drink!!
After a few days of fun and great music in New Orleans we made or way down to Key West. It was here we latched on to Pina Coladas at Mallory Square. People just sat around drinking Pina Coladas and watched the sun set. Every night the crowd would break out in applause as the sun disappeared over the horizon.
Pina Coladas are pineapple juice, coconut and rum. Blended up into a slushy sweet shake that takes away all your pains and transports you to another world.
Making our way back north we ended up in the Everglades. Why we thought that a trip to a swamp in the muggy spring was a good idea I’ll never know! But it was fascinating and beautiful and full of mosquitoes! But we learned about and enjoyed Rum Runners on a screened in patio!
Rum Runners are a popular drink throughout Florida and the south. They have light and dark rums, banana and berry liqueurs, orange and pineapple juices. Easy to drink. Maybe too easy!
We escaped the Everglades and made it back to the relative safety of Miami Beach. Here we embraced the super popular Mojito. Mojito’s are an intoxicating blend of silver rum, lime juice, simple syrup, soda and mint. They are light and refreshing and the perfect drink for a hot day by the pool or on the beach. We enjoyed more than a few as we sat and watched all the beautiful people of Miami parading by on the Boardwalk!
Great people watching indeed!
Rum is a great liquor with a rich and varied history. There are all kinds of rums to try and sample to get you in the Caribbean spirit.
I look forward to the chance to visit again and explore even more regions and sample and learn about their particular rums and traditions. Until then I’ll sip my Pina Colada and dream.
Have you been to the Caribbean or another tropical location? What rums have you tried? Let us know in the comments below!
