These days, it seems more appealing than ever to relocate to a secluded Caribbean island. What could be better than a lazily swinging hammock, turquoise water gently lapping a sugary beach, and that omnipresent rum beverage?
While the actual relocating part of this fantasy may not be possible right now, the rum part certainly is.
"Most people think that rum isn't very dynamic or sophisticated. You mix it with Coke, or your general soft drink of choice, and move on your way," said Stephen Bennett, who is an accomplished rum reviewer, rum competition judge, and cofounder of Uncommon Caribbean. "The truth is that rum encompasses as much complexity and as many — or more — different styles as any spirit."
Rum is having a moment right now, he added. There's too much variety, which also creates confusion over quality and what qualifies as a rum, or a rhum (but more on that later).
Rum is a spirit produced from sugarcane, simply put. Once the cane is cut, the distiller then can take two different paths.
The first is to rum, which is produced by fermenting and distilling molasses, a byproduct of sugar production. The aging process is similar to any refined spirit, like whiskey and tequila. This is how the majority of the world's rum is produced. Rum takes its colors and flavoring from the aging process. White rum, for example, is briefly aged in stainless steel barrels, while dark rum is aged in barrels for a longer period of time. Rum often has delicate flavor notes as well, like spice, tropical fruit, vanilla, and caramel.
The second option is "rhum," or rhum agricole. Rhum takes the molasses out of the production process and begins fermentation and distillation directly with the raw sugarcane juice.
"Rhum agricole is produced from freshly pressed sugarcane juice," Bennett said. "In this way, rhum is more organic, carrying a more grassy, earthy flavor than its industrial rum cousin."
With August 16 being National Rum Day, there's no better time to find a rum (or rhum) that strikes your fancy. You may not be on that Caribbean beach just yet, but you can surely pretend, especially with the right rum. In fact, Uncommon Caribbean is hosting a "Summer of Rhum," taking grounded travelers on virtual rum tastings around the Caribbean.
Not sure where to begin? Here's what our experts suggest.