The Fascinating Connection Between Rum and Molasses and the History (2024)

FAQs

Why is molasses used in rum? ›

Another advantage of using molasses is that its high sugar content forces distillers to mix it with water so that fermentation can take place. In addition, molasses rums are generally distilled at a higher level than pure cane juice rums.

In this triangular trade, rum provided the currency: Enslaved Africans were purchased with rum, then moved by boat to the Caribbean to harvest sugar cane. Sugar, as mentioned previously was core ingredient in rum, and this rum was then produced and shipped back to Africa, to purchase more slaves.

The more slave traders and slaves who wanted rum, the more sugar production was needed in order to produce molasses. The more sugar you need the more slaves you need to produce that sugar on the islands. More slaves means more demand for rum from both the slaves and slave traders.

Rum figured in the slave trade of the American colonies: slaves were brought from Africa and traded to the West Indies for molasses; the molasses was made into rum in New England; and the rum was then traded to Africa for more slaves. British sailors received regular rations of rum from the 18th century until 1970.

By far the majority of rums are produced from molasses - known as 'rhum traditional', but also sometimes rather unkindly described by producers of rhum agricole as 'rhum industriel' (industrial rum). Rum can also be made from cane syrup, made by boiling cane juice to remove some of its water content.

Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak.

Alcohol as a Weapon of Degradation and Exploitation

Intoxication of slaves was promoted during harvest and holidays through the provision of large quantities of cheap, concentrated alcohol. Drunkenness was assured via the sponsorship of drinking contests among the slaves.

The alcohol content of rum and vodka is very similar. Rum typically has an ABV of 40%, while vodka usually has an ABV of around 35%. However, there are some rum varieties that have an ABV as high as 50%.

The word “Rum”

The name may have derived from “Rumbullion,” meaning “a great tumult or uproar". Some claim that Rum's name comes from the large drinking glasses used by Dutch seamen known as “Roemers”. Other theories suggest Rum is a contraction of the word “saccharum”, Latin for “sugar”, or “arôme”, French for aroma.

Which is the best rum in the world? ›

... home to the oldest distilled spirit in the world - rum. Barbados is considered the birthplace of rum, and Mount Gay distillery - founded in 1703 - is believed to produce the oldest rum found anywhere in the world. Today's connoisseurs always appreciate a gift bottle of Mount Gay Rum Extra Old.

To make a batch of BACARDÍ's delicious rum requires just three ingredients: molasses from sugarcane, yeast and water. The water dilutes the molasses enough for BACARDÍ's unique strain of yeast (which we keep locked up in special refrigerators) to ferment.

Molasses is an agro-industrial by-product during processing of sugarcane and sugarbeet into sugar, often used in alcohol distilleries due to the presence of high levels of fermentative sugars such as glucose, sucrose and fructose (16), being an optimal carbon source for the microorganism metabolism.

The main difference between molasses rums and cane juice rums lies in their flavor profiles. Molasses rums are typically richer and more complex, with deeper and more robust flavors, while cane juice rums are lighter and more delicate, with fresher and more vibrant tastes. Another difference is the production process.

Plantation Rum Barbados 5 ans is a signature blend from French brand Plantation. This molasses rum from Barbados comes from the West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD). After a 3-day fermentation, the molasses is distilled both in columns and in traditional pot-stills.