Rum
Compare and Buy Rum Online at Comparethedrinks. Chose by Brand/Producer and type such as White, Overproof, Flavoured and Spiced rum. Like any great spirit, rum speaks of its place. Every island has its own style, every country has its own flavour, and every distillery plays its own variations on each. Rum started life as a by-product of sugar. By the 17th century planters in the Caribbean had realised that they could maximise their profits if they distilled the thick molasses left over after sugar had been crystallised. Today, molasses remains the base for the majority of rums [see Rhum Agricole, below, for the exception to this rule]. It is first diluted with water, then yeast is added producing an alcoholic "wash". This is then distilled, most commonly in column stills into a light-flavoured spirit. Some producers, however, continue to use pot stills (like in malt whisky) which give a fuller-bodied, richer style. Aging (for gold rums and some white rums) takes place mostly in ex-bourbon barrels. It's hardly surprising that a spirit made from sugar cane is sweet, but rum is more than just a sugary drink. Its aromas suggest tropical fruits and banana, there's spice and vanilla from the oak and, in pot still and extra-aged examples, a rich, dark sultry power.
The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak and other casks. While there are rum producers in places such as Australia, India, Reunion Island, and elsewhere around the world, the majority of rum production occurs in and around the Caribbean and along the Demerara river in South America.
