Well if you weren’t able to
relax yesterday, havin’ a drink of today’s celebration might do the trick! It’s
National Rum Day!
Rum is “a distilled
alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane byproducts, such as molasses, or
directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation.
The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels.” The first
known rums were distilled in the 17th century on the sugarcane
plantations in the Caribbean. This was the result of slaves discovering that
the molasses created from refining the sugar from the plantations could be fermented
and turned into alcohol. It is believed that Barbados is the “official”
birthplace of rum, but records indicate that Brazil may, in fact, be the actual
place of origin. Soon after, this choice beverage to many began to spread
throughout all of the British colonies.
Fun Rum Fact: Prior to the American
Revolutionary War, every man, woman, AND child consumed, on average, 3 gallons
of rum each year! In fact, the demand for rum increased so greatly that it
resulted in the Sugar Act in 1764, and may have been a contributing factor to
the spark of the American Revolution!
Rum is now produced all over the world. And,
with that, comes each areas take on how to produce the best drink. Similarities
appear, however, in areas that share commonalities. For example, most
Spanish-speaking areas produce smoother-tasting rums, while many
English-speaking ones are known for rums with a fuller taste and notes of
molasses flavour. There are also various grades of rum. To learn more about the
different grades of rum, click here.
Now that you’re educated, why not take a second
to vote on today’s poll. Click here
to do so!
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