History Rum

1 history

1.1 origins
1.2 colonial america
1.3 naval rum
1.4 colonial australia

history
origins

the precursors rum date antiquity. development of fermented drinks produced sugarcane juice believed have first occurred either in ancient china, , have spread there. example of such drink brum. produced malay people, brum dates thousands of years. marco polo recorded 14th-century account of wine of sugar offered him in area became modern-day iran.

the first distillation of rum took place on sugarcane plantations of caribbean in 17th century. plantation slaves first discovered molasses, byproduct of sugar refining process, fermented alcohol. later, distillation of these alcoholic byproducts concentrated alcohol , removed impurities, producing first true rums. tradition suggests rum first originated on island of barbados. however, in decade of 1620s, rum production recorded in brazil. liquid identified rum has been found in tin bottle found on swedish warship vasa, sank in 1628.

a 1651 document barbados stated, chief fuddling make in island rumbullion, alias kill-divil, , made of sugar canes distilled, hot, hellish, , terrible liquor.

colonial america

pirates carrying rum shore purchase slaves depicted in pirates own book charles ellms

after rum s development in caribbean, drink s popularity spread colonial north america. support demand drink, first rum distillery in british colonies of north america set in 1664 on present-day staten island. boston, massachusetts had distillery 3 years later. manufacture of rum became colonial new england s largest , prosperous industry. new england became distilling center due technical, metalworking , cooperage skills , abundant lumber; rum produced there lighter, more whiskey. rhode island rum joined gold accepted currency in europe period of time. estimates of rum consumption in american colonies before american revolutionary war had every man, woman, or child drinking average of 3 imperial gallons (14 l) of rum each year.

to support demand molasses produce rum, along increasing demand sugar in europe during 17th , 18th centuries, labor source work sugar plantations in caribbean needed. triangular trade established between africa, caribbean, , colonies support need. exchange of slaves, molasses, , rum quite profitable, , disruption trade caused sugar act in 1764 may have helped cause american revolution. in slave trade, rum used medium of exchange. example, slave venture smith, history later published, had been purchased in africa 4 gallons of rum plus piece of calico.

the popularity of rum continued after american revolution, george washington insisting on barrel of barbados rum @ 1789 inauguration.

rum started play important role in political system; candidates attempted influence outcome of election through generosity rum. people attend hustings see candidate appeared more generous. candidate expected drink people show independent , republican. in 1833 mississippi state senate election, 1 candidate, judge edward turner, poured drinks , socialized people. more personal , appeared if going win. other candidate, methodist parson named dick stewart, announced not pouring drinks , have as wanted; dick stewart won.

eventually restrictions on sugar imports british islands of caribbean, combined development of american whiskey, led decline in drink s popularity in north america.

naval rum


wrens during world war ii serving rum sailor tub inscribed king god bless him - robert sargent austin



rum grog

rum s association piracy began british privateers trading on valuable commodity. of privateers became pirates , buccaneers, fondness rum remained, association between 2 being strengthened literary works such robert louis stevenson s treasure island.

the association of rum royal navy began in 1655, when british fleet captured island of jamaica. availability of domestically produced rum, british changed daily ration of liquor given seamen french brandy rum.

navy rum blended rum mixed rums locally produced in west indies. varies in strength 95.5 proof (47.75% abv) 114 proof (57% abv).

while ration given neat, or mixed lime juice, practice of watering down rum began around 1740. minimize effect of alcohol on sailors, admiral edward vernon had rum ration watered producing mixture became known grog. while many believe term coined in honor of grogram cloak admiral vernon wore in rough weather, term predates famous order. originates in west indies, perhaps of african etymology. royal navy continued give sailors daily rum ration, known tot, until practice abolished after 31 july 1970.

today, tot (totty) of rum still issued on special occasions, using order splice mainbrace , may given queen, member of royal family or, on occasions, admiralty board in uk, similar restrictions in other commonwealth navies. recently, such occasions have included royal marriages or birthdays, or special anniversaries. in days of daily rum rations, order splice mainbrace meant double rations issued.

a legend involving naval rum , horatio nelson says following victory , death @ battle of trafalgar, nelson s body preserved in cask of rum allow transportation england. upon arrival, however, cask opened , found empty. [pickled] body removed and, upon inspection, discovered sailors had drilled hole in bottom of cask , drunk rum, hence term nelson s blood being used describe rum. serves basis term tapping admiral being used describe surreptitiously sucking liquor cask through straw. details of story disputed, many historians claim cask contained french brandy, whilst others claim instead term originated toast admiral nelson. variations of story, involving different notable corpses, have been in circulation many years. official record states merely body placed in refined spirits , not go further detail.

the royal new zealand navy last naval force give sailors free daily tot of rum. royal canadian navy still gives rum ration on special occasions; rum provided out of commanding officer s fund, , 150 proof (75%). consumed on order spirits . order splice mainbrace (i.e. take rum) can given queen commander-in-chief, occurred on 29 june 2010, when gave order royal canadian navy part of celebration of 100th anniversary.

rum consumed mixed gunpowder, either test proof of alcohol ration (if alcohol diluted, gunpowder not ignite after being soaked alcohol) or seal vow or show loyalty rebellion.

colonial australia

beenleigh rum distillery, on banks of albert river near brisbane, queensland, circa 1912

rum became important trade in period of colony of new south wales. value of rum based upon lack of coinage among population of colony, , due drink s ability allow consumer temporarily forget lack of creature comforts available in new colony. value of rum such convict settlers induced work lands owned officers of new south wales corps. due rum s popularity among settlers, colony gained reputation drunkenness, though alcohol consumption less levels commonly consumed in england @ time.

australia far away britain convict colony, established in 1788, faced severe food shortages, compounded poor conditions growing crops , shortage of livestock. realized might cheaper india, instead of britain, supply settlement of sydney. 1817, 2 out of every 3 ships left sydney went java or india, , cargoes bengal fed , equipped colony. casks of bengal rum (which reputed stronger jamaican rum, , not sweet) brought in depths of every ship india. cargos floated ashore clandestinely before ships docked, british marines regiment controlled sales. against direct orders of govenors, had ordered searching of every docking ship. britons living in india grew wealthy through sending ships sydney laden half rice , half bad spirits.

rum intimately involved in military takeover of australian government, known rum rebellion. when william bligh became governor of colony, attempted remedy perceived problem drunkenness outlawing use of rum medium of exchange, in response bligh s attempt regulate use of rum, in 1808, new south wales corps marched fixed bayonets government house , placed bligh under arrest. mutineers continued control colony until arrival of governor lachlan macquarie in 1810.