A Diverse World of Rums

A Little About Rums

What Czech people have known as rum for decades has little to do with it. The so-called domestic rum is usually made from alcohol flavored with rum essence, while real rum is made by distillation from molasses or sugar cane juice.

Rums are usually divided into three basic types - clear (or white), which is used mainly as a component of cocktails, pale (or gold), which are left to ferment and matured in wooden barrels for a longer period of time, and dark, which often remain in barrels for many years and are characterized by their full, strong taste. However, this distinction is somewhat complicated by the caramel coloring, which has recently become customary for lower quality rums.

Rum does not have a precise production process. It varies according to the production location or local customs and traditions.

Rum Destinations

We naturally associate Caribbean with rums, which is logical, because rum was born there and is still a typical commodity in this area. Rums from the islands of the Greater Antilles - Cuban, Jamaican, Puerto Rican or Dominican - are very popular, but we can often come across those produced in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago as well.

Many quality rums also have their origin in Central and South America, whether we are talking about Venezuela, Colombia or Panama.

Rums from neighboring countries or islands can often vary considerably in this area. The tradition of the production process was in the past influenced by the colonial power that administered the country. The Spaniards, the British and the French each influenced production in their own way and it is still recognizable in contemporary rums.

However, production methods and traditions keep mixing. People who move to another country - typically emigrants from Cuba – often bring their own proven recipes and gradually integrate them into the production of rums in their new homeland.

Rums from Asia and the Indian Ocean usually remain out of the spotlight, but even in these parts you can come across very fine products. If you like, you can easily try Filipino or Indian rums in a Czech bar.

Delicious, Strong, Delicate and Exotic

As you can see, there are so many types of rums that no one will probably ever taste them all. However, it is worth experimenting and finding among them those that will suit our taste.

Some appreciate the strong taste of dark rums, while others prefer softer tones. Flavored rums are also popular, as their typical taste combines with, for example, the taste of vanilla, banana or orange.