Spirits - Rum Flashcards

1
Q

All spirits start with a plant. What plant is used to produce rum and where is it from?

A

Sugarcane, originally from Southeast Asia, brought to Caribbean by the Spanish in 1501.

-By the mid 1500s there were over 3,000 sugar mills in the islands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why was sugarcane brought to the Caribbean?

A

Sugarcane is very labor intensive. The active slave trade in the Caribbean made it an ideal place to grow sugarcane/process sugar.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

When did rum production really ramp up in the Caribbean?

A

In the 1700s when America began to compete to heavily on Tobacco & Cotton.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where can rum be produced?

A

Rum can be produced anywhere, but the Caribbean still accounts for 80% of production.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who grows the most sugarcane in the world?

A

Brazil. First brought there by Portuguese slave traders.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the six main categories of rum?

A

-light (also called
white, silver, or platinum)

gold (also called amber),

Black (also called dark)

añejo (also called aged or
premium),

overproof

flavored.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is light rum?

A

Clear or blonde rum that is distilled from sugarcane syrup or molasses (filtered)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is gold rum?

A

Light rum that has been barrel aged for some period of time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is Anejo rum?

A

A more premium category of gold rum, longer aging (not legally) and more intensity of flavor.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is black rum?

A

Also known as ‘dark’ rum, this is rum distilled from molasses and heavily colored with a combination of dark caramel and charred barrels.

May also have additional molasses added for sweetness & body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is overproof rum?

A

Undiluted rum. The US prevents rum from over 155 proof from entering the states.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is Rhum Agricole?

A

Rum from the Island of Martinique (similar styles produced on other islands). Distilled from fresh sugarcane juice rather than syrup. Must be column distilled.

Rhum Agricole can go from harvest to bottle in less than 48 hours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is Aguardiente?

A

A fruit and/or sugarcane distillate made on Iberian Peninsuala and throughout South America. Most famous in Columbia where it is flavored with Anise.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe Admiral Rodney HMS Royal Oak Rum

A

Aged Rum from St. Lucia. 12 year average in Ex Bourbon Barrels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the Appleton Estate Rums

A

Appleton Estate is the estate that founded Jamaican rum production. 1655/1749.

The sugarcane is estate grown (400ha) and processed. Pot distilled, bigger funkier style than Spanish cousins.

The 50 year celebrates 50 years of Jamaican independence, only 800 bottles produced.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the Bacardi Facundo Collection - Neo, Eximo, Exquisito, Paraiso

A

Don Facundo Bacardi founded Bacardi 150 years ago. 12,000 bottle production total

Neo - 3/5/8 year blend aged white rum

Eximo - 10/12 Aged Rum

Exquisito - 7/9/23 Years old, Finished in Sherry Casks

Paraiso - Top of the collection. 40 selections of 16/23 year old narrowed down from 200 by Tasters/Chairman. Finished in Cognac cask.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was the most famous spirit used for Punch Production?

A

Batavia Arrack from the Island of Java, Indonesia. Sugarcane and red rice distillate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe Banks ‘5 Island’ Rum

A

21 different rums from 5 Islands - Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Java & Guyanya*

The Java component is Batavia Arrack.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why is Guyana considered to be part of the Caribbean?

A

Guyana was the only South American country to be a British Colony, which brought it into the same cultural fold as the Caribbean. Like many British Colonies there was a large influx of Indians/Africans and the official language is English.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is Mama Juana?

A

A traditional homemade drink in the DR consisting of Dominican Rum (usually Brugal), red wine, honey, herbs & spices.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Describe Brugal 1888 vs Papa Andres

A

Brugal is the most iconic rum brand in the DR, founded by Andres Brugal, an immigrant from Catalonia.

The rums from Brugal get all their character from the aging process, as they come off the still at 190 proof.

Brugal has some of the best access in the world to premium ex-sherry barrels.

1888 is aged 14 years on average in Bourbon, European then finished in Oloroso Sherry.

Papa Andres is the most premium rum from Brugal. Blended by 5th generation master distiller from he family’s private rum stocks. Only 1,000 released per year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Does St. Lucia produce sugarcane?

A

No, it is usually imported from Guyana.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is molasses?

A

A by-product of sugar production. It is the (still) sweet dark caramelized liquid
leftover after sugar crystals were extracted.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why did Martinique start producing Rhum Agricole

A

The French were constantly at war with England and many other European countries in the late 18th and early 19th century. This led to blockades of their sugar supply in Caribbean.

France pivoted to local sugar beets almost entirely by 1870, leaving Martinique with no market.

No market = no need to process sugar = distill directly from pressed sugarcane.

1902- Mount Pelee erupts, destroying many Molasses distilleries, leaving room for rural Agricole producers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What two islands besides Martinique produce Rhum Agricole?

A

Guadalupe

Marie Galante

26
Q

What is a creole column still?

A

An artisanal column still used for Rhum Agricole production. Closer in aromatic intensity to Pot than Industrial column still

27
Q

Is higher proof off a still indicative of lower flavored rum?

A

‘Distillation proof’ alone is not an adequate indicator of the congener counts or aromatic profile of a spirit. You must take into account number of plates & base material.

28
Q

How does ‘big house’ industrial rum production differ from artisanal rum production?

A

Biggest difference is use of enormous & efficient 5 column stills with many plates, resulting in very neutral rum.

29
Q

Describe Chairman’s Reserve Rum

A

From SLD

Pot/Column distilled, 5 year average, bourbon barrel finish

30
Q

What is particular about Venezuelan rum production?

A

Artificial ingredients/colorings are forbidden and all of the source material must be from Venezuela

31
Q

Describe Diplomatico ‘Reserva Exclusiva’

A

Made entirely from Sugarcane Honey (concentrated juice, but not quite Molasses). Up to 12 years of age on component rums.

40 grams RS!

32
Q

What is Demerara

A

A historical region on the North Coast of South America that is now part of Guyana. This was the original source of British Naval Rum

33
Q

Describe El Dorado Rum

A

El Dorado is a line of rum from Demerara Distillers Limited, the last Guyanese rum producer. Made in part in the last wooden stills in the world.

34
Q

What is Guyanese rum like

A

Only made by one remaining producer, the DDL. Second only to Jamaican rum in terms of richness and intensity.

35
Q

Describe Lemon Hart & Son, 1804

A

Lemon Hart was the original supplier of British Naval Rum, it was started in Cornwall then moved to London. Today all of the rum is produced/aged in Guyana but bottled in Canada.

1804 is their original expression. Reference point for British black rum.

36
Q

Describe Lemon Hart & Son ‘Blackpool’ & 151

A

Lemon Hart’s spiced rum, Bourbon barrel aged then spiced.

Lemon Hart 151 is referenced as the original overproof Tiki Rum

37
Q

Describe Mount Gay XO Reserve

A

Great value!

Mount Gay is the oldest operation rum distillery, 1703

Sourced molasses from across Caribbean

Native Yeast Strain, Mixed Still production. 8-15 years old, bourbon & Cognac barrels.

38
Q

Describe Plantation Rum as a producer

A

Plantation is owned by Ferrand cognac, they source specific casks of special rum and also produce their own

39
Q

Describe Plantation ‘Trinidad’ 2005 Rum

A

Made by Trinidad Distillers. 11 years in ex bourbon, 3 in cognac. Citrus punchy aromatics.

40
Q

Describe Plantation ‘Original Dark’ Rum

A

A blend of 1-3 year Barbados rum with 10-15 year high ester Jamaican rum.

41
Q

Describe Plantation ‘Pineapple’ Rum

A

Flavored rum with integrity.

Pineapple rinds are infused in Plantation 3 Stars rum, then further distilled in Ferrand Copper Pot Stills. Meanwhile, the fruit is infused in Plantation Original Dark rum. Both the distillate and the fruit infusion are finally blended together.

42
Q

Describe Rhum JM ‘VSOP’ Rum

A

Top tier Rhum Agricole. Sugarcane is source from volcanic slopes of Martinique.

The VSOP is aged for 3 years in re-charred ex bourbon barrels

43
Q

What is Samaroli?

A

Samaroli is a family owned private bottler of rare spirits, based in Rome.

44
Q

Describe Samaroli ‘Caribbean Soul’ 1998 rum

A

A single cask bottled in Scotland in 2016. Dry & Clean, very complex. Just 200 bottles produced.

45
Q

Describe Samaroli ‘Guadeloupe’ 1998 Rum

A

A single cask bottled in Scotland in 2015. Molasses based. 290 bottles produced.

46
Q

Describe Ten to One Rums

A

Brand launched in 2019 by a native Trinidadian. Blending across the Islands. The Caribbean dark features 8 year old rums on average.

47
Q

Describe Ron del Barralito ‘Two Star’ Rum

A

Oldest distillery in Puerto Rico, 1880. Antithesis to Bacardi.

Dry, Masculine but medium weight style aged for 3 years.

Rarely seen outside of PR, before big cash infusion in 2018.

48
Q

Why are sugarcane/sugar beets unique relative to other plants?

A

They store energy in the form of sucrose rather than starch. Good news for us!

49
Q

Does sugarcane variety and terroir matter when it comes to rum production?

A

Yes for Agricole, no for molasses based rums (barring yield etc.)

50
Q

When is sugarcane harvested?

A

Between January and July. Manual harvesting is an extremely arduous job. Most of the world’s sugarcane is still hand harvested.

51
Q

What is Blackstrap Molasses?

A

The molasses after a 3rd boil for sugar crystal extraction. This is what goes for rum production as it isn’t cost effective to keep extracting sugar.

52
Q

What percentage of rum is made from Molasses?

A

90%

53
Q

What effect do long fermentations have on rum flavor?

A

More ester production

54
Q

What is stillage?

A

The leftover solids from a distillation run. Stillage is used in bourbon production to sour mash.

55
Q

What is dunder?

A

An ingredient in Jamaican rum production (Mixture of Stillage, Molasses, Cane Vinegar & Water). Put into a bit to create a funky soup that allows for intense ester production. Also known as Muck.

56
Q

Is black rum typically aged?

A

While some is aged most is heavily caramelized young/unaged rum.

57
Q

Which country is considered to have started Caribbean rum production?

A

Barbados

58
Q

How did Bacardi end up in Puerto Rico?

A

Bacardi was originally based in Cuba but had satellite distilleries in PR & Mexico. When the Cuban revolution 1953-1959 resulted in all Cuban distilleries being seized by the government.

59
Q

Who is the Arechebala family?

A

The family that originally owned Havana Club, fled to Bermuda after revolution.

60
Q

What is the Bacardi Bill?

A

The Bacardi Bill (1998) nullifies any trademarks for companies that have been seized by foreign governments (I.E. Havana Club, Cuba).

This allowed the Arechebala family to resume production of Havana Club in the US.

61
Q

How many distilleries are currently operating in Jamaica?

A
  1. Worthy Park, Hampden, Appleton Estate, New Yarmouth (AKA Wray & Nephew, sister estate to Appleton)
62
Q

When was St. Lucia settled and by who?

A

1550s, François Le Clerc, or “Peg Leg.” First pirate to be documented as having a wooden peg leg.