Rum is a strong drink, shrouded in a halo of secrets and adventures. Today we will try to make it closer and more familiar for a simple Ukrainian and tell about the features of products in the distant past and in the present.
The origins
When the first prototype of modern rum was created, it is not known exactly, but the first company that took up its production appeared already in 1664 in North America. Quickly enough, this business became very profitable, so local manufacturers were interested in and had the opportunity to improve the quality of their drinks. Until the mid-18th century, it was rum from these regions that was considered the highest quality.
Jamaican traditions
In the mid-17th century, Britain invaded Jamaica. This event leads to the fact that brandy leaves the diet of British sailors and local rum appears. This drink had a strength of 80 degrees and perfectly helped protect the body from intestinal infections. At first, severe sailors drank rum in its pure form, but over time, at the request of the authorities, they began to dilute it with water or lemon juice. Until 1970, every British sailor had a daily intake of rum – it was about 300 ml.
Australian rebels
In the 18-19th century, rum was a huge success in Australia. In fact, this strong drink helped the local colonists come to terms with the harsh conditions of local life. Rum was so popular and widespread that it even began to be used as a monetary unit for the exchange of goods. Because of this, the governor of New South Wales in the 18-6th year imposed a ban on cash transactions with rum. This caused a real rebellion, as a result of which the governor was ousted from his post, and the colonists seized power in this region until 1810.
From dirt to Kings
Until about the middle of the 19th century, only dark rum was produced in Australia and the Caribbean. For a long time, he was considered a poop for the poor, until Don Bacardi, the founder of the iconic brand today, got down to business. He modernized distillation technology, began to withstand rum in oak barrels and introduced effective carbon filtration. Thanks to this, the quality of the drink has seriously improved, it has become softer, and pleasant caramel notes have appeared in the taste. So, he managed not only to change the reputation of the drink but also to create a leading global company.
