Drinking culture for everyone has its own definition, but competent professional sommeliers and cavists understand thoroughly strong drinks, they can distinguish a surrogate from high-quality alcohol only by looking at it, and a sophisticated sense of smell allows us to unravel the mystery of the best drinks, intoxicating the mind and relaxing the body. There is a huge variety of hop drinks, many of which were once typical of a particular country and its inhabitants.
With the development of international relations, different goods began to spread to larger territories, including alcohol. So people from all over the world learned what French cognac, Scotch whiskey and Cuban rum are. It is simply impossible to reliably determine the nationality of this drink. There are different types of rum in many countries, but the most popular drink is produced in countries located in the Caribbean (Haiti, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Cuba).
Is rum a noble drink?
Now rum is on the list of the five most popular strong drinks, among which are vodka, whiskey, brandy and gin. Most people associate it not with noble lords savoring alcohol, but primarily with robbers and pirates. This is not surprising, because initially different types of rum were popular among sailors. The strength and cheapness of the drink contributed to its distribution on land. The geography of popularity expanded, as a result of which rum has won many fans around the world.
And if this drink was not originally pure or aromatic, now it boasts a large assortment, the types of rum directly depend on the methods of its manufacture, on the presence of various additives in the composition and the technology by which it is made. But despite the wide distribution, few people know how to actually drink "pirate fire water", what are the differences in its different types and why light rum is no worse than dark.
What types are there?
So what is the difference between rum? The species whose photos are the most popular varieties around the world. But there are many more, although in fact this drink can be divided into three main types:
- white;
- golden;
- dark (or, as it is also called, black).
The technology for preparing the beverage may be industrial or agricultural. And although in the view of the layman “industrial production” means ubiquitous computerization and the use of cutting-edge technologies, in fact, even in factories, a human hand is applied to the production of rum.
All varieties are made from sugarcane. At enterprises, the selection of raw materials is given very important attention. The best stalks of sugar cane are selected for the production of the drink, excessively dry, unripe or rotten plants are ruthlessly discarded. The next stage of production involves careful grinding and extraction of juice from the resulting mass. At the enterprise, the juice after it is condensed by boiling is slightly crystallized, and the sugar thus obtained is removed, leaving only thick molasses, which is then passed through a special copper alambic. The output is very strong (up to 80 degrees) alcohol, it is bred and get rum.
Even during the process of fermentation of cane section, special substances are added to the mass that accelerate the fermentation processes, and sometimes various flavorings.
Agricultural rum is twice passed through a distiller, while sugar crystals are not removed from the molasses, no impurities are added to it, and the output is a real strong drink that has gained popularity all over the world.
What is the difference between light rum and dark?
All alcohol obtained from cane juice is white after distillation. But the further process of aging is already an opportunity for connoisseurs to try different types of rum. In order to add notes of woody aftertaste to it, it is insisted in oak barrels, which add color and aroma. The longer the rum is in the barrel, the more rich the taste is different. So, a "young" drink matures within a few months, but it is not in oak, but in a metal barrel made of special stainless metal. The "light" rum is insisted on for a longer period (2-3 years), and the "old" is forced to stay in the cellars for more than three years, during which time it acquires its unsurpassed aroma and rich amber shade.
The alcohol obtained after distillation of cane juice has a very high degree, but the traditional strength of rum is 40 degrees. Reduce the "burning" of the drink by its dilution. To do this, use water, but only of the highest quality, clean, transparent as a tear.
Is white rum bad?
White rum in our country is quite undeservedly considered not good enough. However, such an opinion is erroneous and biased. It is this variety, due to its purity, that has the lightest taste. White rum is drunk undiluted, enjoying its softness.
For those who prefer mixes, white types of rum are suitable for compiling them. Drinks based on it do not burn the throat and do not give the taste of notes characteristic of alcohol aged in oak barrels. Classic cocktails based on white rum - “Bakkardi”, “Planter Punch”, “Free Cuba”.
How to buy the "right" rum?
The growing popularity of the drink leads to the fact that it is very easy to find counterfeit and low-quality samples of alcohol in the market. It is important to understand that the specifics of its production are not cheap. Therefore, rum cannot cost a penny. At the same time, its white variety is slightly cheaper than golden or dark, because it does not need a long exposure, but the price difference is insignificant. The most popular types of white rum are Bacardi, Cruzan, Ronrico, Havana Club and Malibu.
The dark one, aged in barrels for a rather long period, is in even greater demand among buyers. It is distinguished by a high alcohol content (its strength is from 44 to 50 degrees). First of all, these are the famous Capitan Morgan, Lamb's, Cruzan, and sometimes even crazier - Wood's Navy, its speed reaches 57 degrees, which makes it truly a devilish swill.
Popular brands
The rum producers presented above are among the most popular in the world. But this does not mean that the less well-known should not inspire confidence or are less in demand among true connoisseurs. Small enterprises sometimes produce very limited quantities of rum, bottles of which occupy a place of honor in the most expensive alcohol collections.
One of the well-known manufacturers is Bacardi. This brand has existed for more than a hundred years, during which many unique recipes were developed, according to which Bacardi rum is made . There are varieties of this drink for every taste: from lightly golden or white rum of 35-40 degree strength to the incredible Bacardi 151, which has 75 turns of alcohol.
The huge scale of production, the sale of more than 200 million bottles of rum annually is a sign of success and high quality of the brand, because the company makes its drink according to recipes that have been tested over the years.