Rum Flashcards
1
Q
What are the distillation requirements for rum in the US?
A
Must be distilled at less than 190 proof.
2
Q
What are the distillation requirements for rum in the EU?
A
Must be distilled at less than 192 proof.
3
Q
What are the bottling requirements for rum in the US?
A
Bottled at no less than 40% ABV
4
Q
What are the bottling requirements for rum in the EU?
A
Bottled at no less than 37.5% ABV
5
Q
Are sweeteners allowed to be added to rum?
A
In the US no, in the EU up to 20 g/liter.
6
Q
What is Rhum agricole?
A
A subcategory of rum in the EU, for rum produced from raw sugarcane juice and limited certain production areas primarily in French Overseas departments.
7
Q
What are the requirements for a rum to be labeled tradicional or traditionelle in the EU?
A
Produced exclusively from raw materials grown in the region.
Distilled at less than 90%ABV
Contains a prescribed level of volatile substances (225 g/hl or more)
Is unsweetened.
8
Q
What is the grass family that sugarcane is a part of?
A
Gramineae
9
Q
What species of sugar cane is most used in the production of rum?
A
Saccharum officinarum
10
Q
What is the weight percentage of the sugar in harvested sugarcane?
A
10-13%
11
Q
How is sugarcane made into sugarcane juice?
A
The cane is washed and chopped into fine pieces. It is then milled and crushed with added water to extract the sugar from the cane. The juice is then filtered to remove any pieces of cane.
12
Q
What percentage of rum worldwide is made from raw sugarcane juice?
A
About 10%
13
Q
What is Rhum Agricole?
A
Rum made from raw sugarcane juice.
14
Q
After the initial preparation of sugarcane for rum production, what is the sugar concentration?
A
Around 16%
15
Q
What is Rhum Industriel?
A
A rum made from molasses.
16
Q
How is sugarcane juice turned into molasses for use in rum?
A
Through evaporation, until the sugar concentration reaches 60%. It is then boiled and concentrated until sugar crystals are formed.
17
Q
How are the sugar crystals separated from the molasses in rum production?
A
A centrifuge.
18
Q
What are the grades of molasses in rum production?
A
Grade A - Highest percentage of remaining fermentable sugar.
Grades B-D - Decreasing percentages
Blackstrap molasses - lowest in quality and sugar content.
19
Q
How is a mash created for fermentation in rum production?
A
The sugarcane juice or molasses is diluted with water to get to a level that will allow the yeast to ferment the sugary liquid.
20
Q
What is natural fermentation in rum production?
A
The use of wild, naturally occurring yeast for fermentation. Due to high sugar content often necessary to use cultured yeast to finish.
21
Q
What results from slower fermentation of rum?
A
The creation of more esters, resulting in rums with more aromatic character and fuller flavor.
22
Q
What is a retort in rum production?
A
A unique style of pot still distillation using a series of copper vessels placed between pot still and condenser, concentrates the vapors.
23
Q
Where are retorts most used?
A
Jamaican rum production.
24
Q
Is there an aging requirement for rum?
A
No
25
What percentage of rum aged in wood barrels may evaporate yearly?
Up to 10%
26
Where is Rhum Agricole produced?
Primarily in the West Indies, mainly Guadeloupe and Martinique. Small amount on La Reunion Island and Madeira.
27
Where is rum made from cane juice (other than Rhum Agricole) produced?
Haiti, Grenada, Brazil, and the Virgin Islands.
28
What are the main categories of Jamaican rum?
Common Cleans
Plummers
Wedderburns
Continental Flavoreds
29
What are Common Clean Rums?
Jamaican rums with the lowest level of esters. Light and floral.
30
What are Plummers?
Jamaican rums with a medium ester level. Has tropical fruit aromas and more structure than Common Cleans.
31
What are Wedderburns?
Medium high ester Jamaican rums. More flavorful and structured than Plummers.
32
What are Continental Flavoreds?
The most aromatic and flavorful Jamaican rums, often with medicinal or tropical fruit aromas. Originally exported for use in blending, often consumed as is in Jamaica. Long, slow fermentation.
33
What is dunder?
Highly acidic, yeast rich foam leftovers that remain in the stills after rum distillation is complete.
34
What is a muck pit?
A wooden tank, tub or pit where Dunder is stored.
35
What is muck in Jamaican rum production?
The result of the concentration of dunder, a bacteria and ester rich concentrate.
36
What are Skimmings?
The sugar and mineral rich froth residue created during the boiling and concentration of sugarcane juice.
37
When was the Jamaican Rum GI established?
2016
38
What are the geographic limitations for the fermentation and distillation of Jamaica Run GI?
It is limited to the parts of the island in the limestone aquifer water basins (about half the island).
39
What is required of a rum to bear the label term "Certified Geographical Indication" and "Jamaica Rum"?
It must be tested and approved by the technical committee of the Jamaica Rum and Spirits Traders Association.
40
What is the only AOC for rum?
Rhum de la Martinique AOC
41
What are the requirements for the ingredients in Rhum de la Martinique?
Two main species and hybrids of these approved for use - Saccharum Officinarum and Spontaneum. There are limits on sugarcane yield and strict standards for harvesting and processing.
42
What is required for the fermentation of Rhum de la Martinique?
Must take place in open tanks, beneath the temperature of 101ºF, and completed within 120 hours.
43
What are the requirements for distilling Rhum de la Martinique?
Must occur in a specific style of continuous still with three elements - a heating chamber, stripping column and a condensation column.
44
Is rectification allowed in the production of Rhum de la Martinique?
No
45
What is the ABV of a new-make spirit of Rhum de la Martinique?
Between 65% and 75%.
46
What are the three main styles of Rhum Martinique?
Rhum Martinique Blanc
Rhum Martinique Élevé Sous Bois (Cask-aged)
Rhum Martinique Vieux (Extra aged)
47
What is Rhum Martinique Blanc?
A colorless rum aged for a minimum of 6 weeks in vats or tanks, no oak aging required.
48
What is Rhum Martinique Élevé Sous Bois?
A cask-aged rum that has been oak-aged for at least twelve months.
49
What is Rhum Martinique Vieux?
A rum that has been oak aged for at least three years in oak with a capacity of the than 650 liters.
50
What are the aging designations for Rhum Martinique?
VO - 3 years in oak
VSOP - 4 years in oak
XO - 6 years in oak.
51
What are the requirement for a Rhum Martinique to have vieux on the label?
It must have been aged in oak for at least three years in a barrel with a capacity of less than 650 liters.
52
What is Rhum de Sucrerie de la Bale du Galion GI?
A rum produced in Martinique by a single distillery in the Galion Bay area. Approved for 3 styles of rum molasses or cane syrup based.
53
What are the three types of rum produced in Rhum de Sucrerie de la Baie du Galion GI?
Blance (white)
Brun (6 months in oak barrels)
Grand Arôme (unaged, high ester rum)
54
What is Grand Arôme?
An unaged, highly aromatic rarely seen high-ester rum produced with Vinasse (residuals left over form earlier distillations, like dunder in Jamaica)
55
What is Vinasse?
Term used in Martinique (Rhum de la Baic du Galion) meaning residuals left over from previous distillation, similar to dunder in Jamaica.
56
What type of rum does Guadeloupe produce?
Rhum Agricole
Molasses based rum
57
Does Guadeloupe have and AOC?
No, but it does have a GI for its agricultural rhum.
58
What is Marie-Galante?
The smaller of the islands making up Guadeloupe.
59
Describe Guadeloupe.
A French overseas department made up of two islands, Basse Terre (larger) and Marie-Galante.
60
What are the three rum producers on Marie-Galante (the smaller island) of Guadeloupe?
Rhum Bielle
Distillerie Poisson (Rhum du Pere Labat)
Domaine de Bellevue (Rhum Magalda)
61
Describe the history of the rum industry of Trinidad and Tobago.
In the 1700s began to cultivate sugarcane and made rum from molasses. Had close to 50 distilleries producing rum for the British Navy. As subsidies waned, so did production. By 1950, only a handful remained.
62
What is the Caroni Distillery
A rum producer in Trinidad and Tobago from 1918 until 2002.
63
What is puncheon rum?
An overproof traditional rum produced in Trinidad, may have as high as 75% ABV.
64
What are some rums produced in Trinidad?
Fernandez Black Label
Angostura Single Barrel Reserve Rum
Portion of base for Kraken Black Spiced Rum
65
What rums are produced on St. Croix?
Cruzan Rum
Captain Morgan
66
Who was Captain Morgan rum named after?
Sir Henry Morgan, a Welsh privateer.
67
When and by whom was Cruzan Rum founded?
1769 (as Estate Diamond) by the Nelthropp family.
68
What is the Société du Rhum Barbancourt?
A Haitian rum producer founded in 1862 by Dupré Barbancourt, and Frenchman from the cognac producing region of Charente.
69
How is Rhum Barbancourt produced?
From sugarcane juice via double distillation. Some aged in a way similar to cognac.
70
What is Clairin?
A traditional Haitian rum made by hundreds of tiny distilleries in Haiti. Uses sugarcane varieties native to Haiti, is hand-harvested, uses natural yeast, and is distilled in small batches.
71
At what ABV is Clairin typically bottled?
50% (distillation proof) with no water or other additives added after distillation.
72
What is Demerara Rum?
A rum produced in Guyana, used in "navy blends".
73
What is the only distillery remaining in the Demerara area?
Diamond Distillery - operated by Demerara Distillers Limited.
74
What brands of rum does Diamond Distillery produce?
El Dorado Rum
Diamond Reserve Rum
75
Where is the last fully operating wooden continuous Coffey still located?
Demerara Distillers (Diamond Distillery)
76
What is the EHP wooden still?
The last remaining fully working wooden continuous Coffey Still, built in 1880.
77
What is a French Savalle still?
A four column metal still made by Armand Savalle in the 19th century.
78
What are the Demerara vat stills?
Two wooden pots stills over 250 years old, owned by Demerara Distillers Limited.
79
When was the GI for Demerara Rum registered?
2021
80
What is Demerara Rum GI?
A rum fermented and distilled in the Demerara region of Guyana, produced using either sugarcane juice or (more commonly) molasses.
81
What are the aging and bottling requirements for Demerara Rum?
May be aged and bottled outside of Demerara, except for a few expressions (Cask Aged Demerara Rum, Special Reserve Demerara Rum, and Grand Special Reserve Demerara rum).
82
What is the base material for most rum produced in Barbados?
Molasses
83
What is Mount Gay?
The world's oldest documented rum brand located in Barbados.
84
When was Mount Gay founded?
1703
85
What is Bajan See-through?
A term sometimes used for Barbados White Rum
86
Where did George Washington reportedly order a barrel of rum from for his inauguration?
Barbados
87
What is Foursquare Rum Distillery?
A Barbados distillery opened in 1996 on grounds of former sugar plantation dating back 350 years. Produces high quality rums including some aged in specialty barrels (cognac, bourbon, Zinfandel, port).
88
Who was Bill McCoy?
A famous rum runner of the prohibition era.
89
What types of rum are produced in Mauritius?
Until 2006, only molasses-based. Now sugarcane juice allowed. Also make Island Rum
90
Where is Mauritius?
In the Indian Ocean 1200 miles off the southeast coast of Africa.
91
Who was Pierre Charles Francois Harel?
Founded the first distillery in Mauritius.
92
What is Island Rum (from Mauritius)?
A flavored rum infused with pineapple, coconut, passion fruit, vanilla, and other local products.
93
What is Cachaça?
A Brazilian rum produced from sugarcane juice.
94
What is Caipirinha?
A popular tropical drink made from Cachaça.
95
What is the minimum ABV required in Brazil for Cachaça?
38% ABV. If imported to US must be 40%.
96
Besides sugarcane or molasses, what other product is allowed to be used in the production of Cachaça?
A percentage of corn or corn syrup.
97
For how long has Venezuela produced rum?
Over 300 years.
98
What is the Denominacion de Origen Ron de Venezuela?
A set of standards for Venezuelan rum.
99
What are the requirements for Ron de Venezuela?
100% Venezuelan grown sugar
Must be diluted to 120 proof before enters the barrel, must be aged in white oak (max 150 liters) for a minimum 2 years. Must be bottled between 40% and 50% ABV.
100
What are the three main rum regions in Venezuela?
Central West Region
Central Region
East Coast
101
Describe the Central West Venezuela Rum region.
Produces 80% of Venezuelan rum. Fruity and sweet.
102
What percentage of Venezuelan rum is produced in the Central Region?
15%
103
Describe the East Coast region of Venezuelan rum production.
Produces 5% of Venezuelan Rums
Have a unique minerality - saltiness
104
What are the leading brands of rum from Nicaragua?
Flor de Caña (Compaña Licorera)
Ron Fortuna
Mombacho
105
How are most rums in Nicaragua produced?
Molasses-based and column-distilled. Wood aging is slower.
106
Describe the typical Puerto Rican rum.
Lighter in style, delicate, clean, floral notes. Produced in continuous column stills, highly purified. May be filtered to remove color from aging.
107
What are some brands of Puerto Rican rum?
Bacardi (larges)
Ron Llave
Ron Palo Viejo
Don Q
Ron del Barrilito
108
What is vino de caña?
The Cuban name for the fermented molasses that will be distilled.
109
What are maestros roneros?
Cuban rum masters.
110
What is the most widely distributed Cuban rum?
Havana Club
111
Who was Jose Arechabala?
Founded Havana Club.
112
What are some brands of Cuban rum?
Havana Club
Ron Santero
Santiago de Cuba
113
What is the confusion with the name Havana Club?
There is also a Havana Club Puerto Rican rum produced by Bacardi. There is ongoing litigation involving this.
114
How is New England Style rum made?
From imported Caribbean molasses, in pot stills aged in oak for short periods of time with high congeners.
115
What are independent rum bottlers?
Rum brands that purchase and bottle their rum from all over the world.
116
What are some examples of independent rum bottlers?
Habittion Velier (Genoa, Italy)
Bristol Classic Rum (Bristol, England)
Smith & Cross (London)
117
What rums have GI indications?
Martinique (AOC)
Jamaica
Venezuela
Cuba
Guyana
118
What are the color classifications for rum?
White
Amber/Gold
Dark
119
What are the categories of rum based on historical associations?
French Style
British Style
Spanish Style
120
What is French Style rum?
Originally modeled on French brandies. Produced using sugarcane rather than molasses. More grassy, fruity and floral notes.
121
Which areas produce French style rum?
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Martinique
Grenada
122
When was the use of sugarcane juice instead of molasses first used in French style rums?
Between 1810 and 1815.
123
What is British Style rum?
Dark, rich and heavy in style, with fully body and pungent aroma.
124
What countries produce British style rum?
Jamaica
Guyana
Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago
St. Lucia
125
What is Spanish Style rum?
The lightest style of rum, made in continuous column stills with clean, floral, and delicate aromas.
126
What countries produce Spanish style rum?
Cuba
Puerto Rico
St. Croix
Guatemala
Dominican Republic
Nicaragua
Panama
Columbia
Venezuela
127
What is flavored rum?
In the US, a rum may be flavored and must be bottled at 30% minimum ABV. If there is a predominant flavor, it must appear on the label. EU rums cannot be flavored.
128
What is a flavored rum considered in Europe?
It is classified as an "other spirit drink" or if sweetened a liqueur.
129
What is Navy Rum?
Not legally defined, often used to describe a particular style of amber-colored, high proof, flavorful rum. Refers to its inclusion in British sailors "daily tot", a ration of spirits/beer/wine.
130
What is Black Tot Day?
July 31, 1970, the day when the Royal Navy put an end to the daily rations of alcohol.
131
What is grog?
Rum diluted with water and lime juice, helped combat drunkenness and prevent scurvy.
132
What is Pusser's?
A "navy style" rum created by Charles Tobias, replicating the blend of five West Indian rums that was once the basis for Royal Navy rations,
133
Rums from what countries make up the traditional blend of navy style rum?
Guyana
Jamaica
Barbados
Trinidad
134
What is Overproof Rum?
Rum bottled at 62.5-75% ABV. Often used in rum punches. Also used for flambe.
135
What is Ronmiel de Canarias?
A GI status rum based liqueur from the Canary Islands. Flavored with at least 2% honey, diluted with water to be between 20-30% ABV.
136
What is Batavia Arrack?
A spirit produced in Indonesia from sugarcane and red rice, fermented with local yeast. Pot stilled and unaged.
137
What is Seco Herrerano?
The national beverage of Panama, triple distilled from sugarcane, often compared with vodka.
138
What is Tuzemak?
A traditional Czech spirit produced from potatoes or sugar beets. Typically sweetened and flavored, eg with cinnamon, anise, or caramel.
139
What is Charanda?
A sugarcane distillate produced in Mexico. Has DO status in Mexico. Allowed to be bottled at 35-55%, so doesn't always meet US or EU rum standards.
140
What are some popular rum based drinks?
Cuba Libre
Daquiri
Mojito
Caipirinha
141
What are some aromas present in darker rums?
Molasses, maple, toffee, spice, vanilla, caramel, wood.
142
What are some typical aromas of light colored rums?
Sugar, banana, flowers, vanilla
143
What are some tastes of darker rums?
Caramel, brown sugar, butterscotch, tobacco.
144
When was rum first made on the islands of Jamaica and Barbados?
As early as the mid-1600s.
145
