Spirits: Rum Flashcards
What are the 4 main categories of Rum?
Light
Dark
Demerara
Rhum Agricole
Describe the character of Demerara rum. Where is it from?
Demerara rum is a light style unique to Guyana, where the spirit is distilled from molasses and sometimes aged for over a decade prior to release.
How is most light rum made?
In a continuous still, and charcoal filtered.
What is Rhum Agricole?
Rhum agricole must be produced from sugarcane juice (as opposed to Molasses) column distillation is mandated in Martinique.
likely aged in Limousin french oak
List 3 rums from Barbados
Mount Gay
Real McCoy
Plantation
List 2 rums from Martinique
Rhum J.M.
Rhum Clement
List 2 rums from Jamaica
Wrey & Nephew
Appleton Estate
List a rum producer from the Dominican Republic
Brugal
Ron Barcelo
Where is Gosling’s made?
Bermuda
Where is Bacardi made?
Puerto Rico and Mexico
originally from Cuba, that distillery now bottles under the name Caney
Where is Sailor Jerry made?
USVI
List 2 US rum distillers
Pilar - FL
Privateer
What is the most traditional way to distill rum?
pot still, batch distillation
dunder
residue left in pot still after distillation, Jamaican rum commonly adds dunder to active ferment to add more character to final distillate
ouillage and rum
Topping up of the barrels. In warm tropical places, the angels’ share accounts for about 10% loss per year - whereas a cooler place like Scotland only sees about 2%
spiced rum
rum spiced with vanilla, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Pepper, Aniseed. often sweetened
angostura rum
made in trinidad. same as bitters brand
they make Legacy, the most expensive rum in the world, $25k. blend of 7 rums, youngest is 17 years old
Gargano classification
proposed rum classification, similar to the scotch classifications
Pure Single Rum – Molasses 100% Batch Pot Still Distillation
Pure Single Agricole Rhum – Cane Juice 100% Batch Pot Still Distillation
Single Blended Rum – Blend of 100% Traditional Column and Pot Still rums
Traditional Rum – Traditional 100% Column Still Distillation
Modern Rum – Modern / Industrial Multi-Column Distillation
Pure = 100% Pot Still rum
Single = 100% Single Distillery rum
Where is Captain Morgan made?
Puerto Rico, but originally in Jamaica
El Dorado rum
made in Guyana
Wray and Nephew
made in Jamaica. known for overproof
Barbancourt
french rum
molasses
Martinique rums?
Rhum JM (first to produce agricole)
Clément
Trois Rivières
Neisson
all agricole producers
Ron Abuelo
rum from Panama
Brugal
rum from DR
Flor de Cana
rum from Nicaragua
Zacapa
rum from Guatemala
Cadenhead
scottish rum (they also make scotch)
rums from Cuba
Havana Club
Legendario
Ron Caney
rums from haiti
Rhum Barbancourt
Rhum 1716
Rhum Vieux Labbé
Martinique AOP - distillation
- fermented sugarcane juice comes to 3.5-7.5%
- distilled in column still
- additives: sugar, caramel, oak chips, water
Martinique AOP - aging
Blanc”: Min. 8 weeks in tank following distillation
“élevés sous bois”: Min. 12 months in oak with a minimum of 250 g/hl in volatile elements other than ethyl and methyl alcohol
“Vieux”: Min. 3 years in an oak cask of less than 650 liters with a minimum of 325 g/hl in volatile elements other than ethyl and methyl alcohol
VO: min. 3 years in oak barrels
VSOP/Réserve Spéciale/Cuvée Spéciale/Très Vieux: min. 4 years in oak barrels
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra Vieux/Grande Réserve: min. 6 years in oak barrels
Vintage: 6 years in an oak cask of less than 650 liters. Vintage indicates the year of distillation
must say Agricole on label
Navy Strength Rum
the association of rum and the Royal Navy began in 1655 when a Royal Navy fleet captured Jamaica. They changed the daily ration of liquor from French brandy to rum. Daily rum ration was called a tot (or totty). Diluted with water, it was called a grog.
supplied at a strength of 100 proof / 57% ABV- only strength that could be tested by the gunpowder test.
used in modern Britain to specify spirits bottled at 57% ABV.
Rum Rebellion
only military takeover of an Australian government. William Bligh became governor and tried to outlaw the use of rum as a medium of exchange (perceived problem of drunkenness). in 1808 the NSW Corps marched with bayonets to the Government House and placed him under arrest.
Martinique AOC - requirements for base material
Martinique Rhum must be produced from either Saccharum officinarum or Saccharum spontaneum, or hybrids of both sugarcane species
Sugarcane may not be irrigated between December 1 and the date of harvest; irrigation may only occur for a maximum 6 months from the date of planting
Synthetic fertilizers are prohibited
Sugarcane harvest may occur between January 1 and August 31
Minimum 14° Brix and ≥ 4.7° pH of sugarcane juice at harvest
Minimum 10 years of established field age for use of the AOC
Martinique AOC min abv
Min 40% (80 proof)
Martinique AOC fermentation vessel
Fermentation must occur in open tanks of 500 hl or less
Martinique AOC - abv of fermented sugar cane juice
3.5 - 7.5%
Martinique AOC - how long is fermentation?
Fermentation may not last longer than 120 hours
Martinique AOC -is enrichment allowed?
Enrichment, including the addition of molasses, sugar, or syrup is prohibited
Martinique AOC - when is distillation? vessel?
may occur b/t Jan 1 and Sept 5
continuous reflux column still
elements of continuous still
heating chamber
stripping column
condensation column
Martinique AOC - abv after distillation?
spirits must have alcohol content of 65-75%
Martinique AOC- authorized additives?
Sugar, Caramel, and Oak Chips may be used for final adjustment and coloring
Distilled and de-mineralized water may be added to reduce alcohol prior to bottling
Martinique AOC aging requirements
Blanc”: Min. 8 weeks in tank following distillation
“élevés sous bois”: Min. 12 months in oak with a minimum of 250 g/hl in volatile elements other than ethyl and methyl alcohol
“Vieux”: Min. 3 years in an oak cask of less than 650 liters with a minimum of 325 g/hl in volatile elements other than ethyl and methyl alcohol. incl VO, VSOP, XO:
VO: min. 3 years in oak barrels
VSOP/Réserve Spéciale/Cuvée Spéciale/Très Vieux: min. 4 years in oak barrels
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra
Vieux/Grande Réserve: min. 6 years in oak barrels
Vintage: 6 years in an oak cask of less than 650 liters. Vintage indicates the year of distillation
Martinique AOC label requirement
must include “Rhum Agricole” alongside “Martinique” on the label
Martinique AOC other label terms
“Blanc”: typically show fruity, floral, vegetative and spicy aromas; no color
“Ambré”: typically show woody, vegetative and spice aromas; straw/amber (paille) color
“Vieux”: typically show woody, fruity, spicy and balsamic aromas; honey- or dark-colored
Active distilleries Martinique
distilleries are said to be fumante (smoking) if it is still in operation
Depaz
JM
La Favorite
La Mauny
Neiesson
Saint James
Simon
inactive distilleries Martinique
these are former distilleries that are now focusing on blending and maturing rhum
Dillon
Clément
HSE (Habitation Saint Etienne)
Trois Rivières distillery has been transformed into a museum
sugar refinery in Martinique
the Galion factory is the only one.
bagasse
the dry dusty pulp that remains after juice is extracted from sugar cane or similar plants. Bagasse is often used as a fuel to provide energy to the facility.
“pitching” in fermentation
a term used in a brewery, it means adding yeast to the liquid being fermented
vésou
name for fresh sugarcane juice in the French West indies
vin (in rhum)
term in the distilling process for the fermented liquid that will be distilled. in Rhum - the vin is fermented vésou (sugarcane juice)
vinasse (rhum)
the liquid left after the distillation and removal of alcohol from the vin. can be used as a fertilizer or to produce biogas
ratooning
Harvesting techniques which leaves the root system along with part of the stem. This techniques simplifies field management and allows a stronger and earlier start of the next season. (rhum)
describe the main styles of rum
British (Darker style, richer - demerara molasses-based and pot stilled)
Guyana (demerara river) - smoky earthy (Lemon Hart 151);
Jamaica - funky banana,
Spanish (Cuba, Puerto Rico - lighter, molasses-based, column distilled), Light Rum
French - Rhum Agricole - Martinique, Guadeloupe (column distilled, sugar cane based)
