History of Rum

Series Summary

Alcohol has been a cultural staple of the West for thousands of years. As many as six and a half thousand years ago, wine was a large part of Greek culture and religion. Beer is probably equally as old, being brewed by royalty and peasants since the birth of European civilization. Monasteries were early producers and distributors of beer during the Dark Ages. By the 8th and 9th centuries, Muslim alchemists had produced distilled alcohols and “spirits” that became popular beverages. The American tradition of alcohol is centered on the bar, known in England and English-speaking countries as a Public House, or pub. The bar is a focal point of social life and the various mating rituals of American adults. Rum is a tropical liquor that mixes easily with fruits and herbs. In this free drink mixing video series, an expert bartender demonstrates mixing the eight most popular rum drinks. Learn the history of rum, as well as where it is produced and distilled. Then, learn to mix such concoctions as daiquiris, Hurricanes, and Mai Thais. The party never ends with these festive rum cocktails.

Video Transcript

"The history of rum is the history of sugar. Rum originated from cane cuttings brought over by Columbus in 1493, on his second voyage, from Europe. He originally brought these cane cuttings from the Canary Islands, to what is now known, as the Caribbean Islands, more specifically, Haiti and Dominican Republic. Rum was also widely used for medicinal purposes. It was widely used by the pirates for a cure, and also a preventative measure for scurvy. It was utilized to kill toxins and purify water. And they also made it a concoction, called grog. It was made up one half water and one half, very strong rum, one hundred and sixty proof, which is not really heard of today. That was utilized to prevent and cure scurvy, which is a form of the vitamin D deficiency. The British caught wind of this cure for scurvy, and utilized it, for the pirates. And they, it was actually used as a staple by the British Navy up until 1969, for medicinal uses. And, in short, that's a brief history of the origination of rum."