News flash. National Rum Month is here. All hail those fabulous fruity rum cocktails like the Mojito, Pina Colada, Hurricane and my personal favorite, the Dark and Stormy. You have my permission to celebrate the entire month of August but especially on August 16th, National Rum Day!
Fun Facts About Rum
So you can sound witty and well-versed at any upcoming tiki or rum-themed parties during National Rum Month, here are a few fun facts about rum.
- The largest rum distillery in the world is the Bacardi Distillery, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- The first rum production dates back to the 17th century and the Caribbean sugarcane plantations.
- To ward off scurvy, The British Navy, less than 50 years ago, still gave rations of rum to its sailors. Truth be told, it was actually the dash of lime added to the rum that kept the scurvy at bay. July 30th is Black Tots Day to memorialize the day in 1970 the British Navy did away with providing every sailor with a daily ration of rum.
- Virtually every country has their rum (even India), but 80% of the world’s rum is produced in the Caribbean (mostly in Puerto Rico). Nearly every island in the Caribbean produces its own distinct rum style.
- The infamous Admiral Nelson that died in the Battle of Tralfager of 1805 had his body preserved in a cask of rum before it was laid to rest.
When running for a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758, George Washington gave out 28 gallons of rum and 50 gallons of rum punch, as well as wine, beer and cider — to 391 voters. It cost his campaign £50 but he won his seat. Head HERE for George Washington’s egg nog recipe.
- Twelve million gallons of rum were consumed annually by the early colonists. To give some perspective on how much the colonists loved their rum, Americans today, consume only 30 million gallons of rum a year.
- Mount Gay Rum is the oldest existing rum company in the world dating back to 1705.
- Jamaica’s Wray & Nephew Overproof rum is the world’s highest proof rum at 63%.
Stay tuned for rum recipes from some of Miami’s hotspots.