interesting facts about rum

10 Remarkable Facts About Rum

It’s a delicious alcoholic drink produced across the tropics and enjoyed all over the world, here are some fun facts about Rum:

1. Rum has a simple ingredient.

Rum is an alcoholic drink made from sugarcane molasses.

2. Sugarcane has a rich history.

Sugarcane was first cultivated in New Guinea, 10,000 years ago – and Christopher Columbus introduced sugarcane to the Caribbean in 1493.

3. Rum is the old man of the alcohol world.

Rum is the world’s oldest spirit, with the first distillation taking place during the 1620s in the Caribbean.

interesting facts about rum

4. There’s a seriously old rum brand you might have tried.

Dating back to 1705, The oldest surviving brand is Mount Gay and it’s still distilled in Barbados today.

5. Celebrate rum this summer!

Did you know there’s a national rum day?  Neither did we. Set a reminder in your calendar for the 16th August!

6. Rum has many forms.

There are many different types of rum – light, dark, golden, black, spiced, flavoured and overproof.

7. How do you grade rum types?

The colour of rum is usually determined by the ageing process — oak cask aged rums become darker (and delicious) the longer they are aged whereas stainless steel aged rums remain virtually colourless.  The darker the rum, the richer the flavour.

8. Rum is a global business.

Rum is produced all over the world with the majority made in the Caribbean and Central America, however it’s also produced in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the USA.

Plantation Rum, Barbados
Plantation Rum, Barbados

9. The Navy used to have a rum ration.

The Royal Navy only stopped giving out a daily ration of rum to its sailors in the 1970s.  This ration was know as a tot, and was a full pint of navy strength rum!

10. It’s a cocktail staple.

Some of the world’s most popular cocktails are based around rum, including the Piña colada, the Mojito, the Daquiri, and of course – the simple rum and coke.

FAQs about Rum

Is rum good for you?

In some ways, yes - it’s said to be great for your heart. Take care, however, as it’s also regarded as a blood thinner.

Is rum bad for you?

Just as with much alcohol, rum can be bad for you if you drink too much! It’s said to cause vomiting and diarrhoea if you have too much of it in one go.

Does rum affect your sperm count?

Rum isn’t particularly associated with low sperm count per se, but alcohol can affect fertility in men and testosterone over long periods.

Do you know any fun facts about rum?  Share them in the comments below!

Are you fascinated with alcoholic drinks? Check out these interesting facts about gin

Further reading:
https://facts.uk/tag/rum/

Like our content? Like us on Facebook and never miss out!

This page was last modified on August 4, 2024. Suggest an edit

There are 1000s of interesting and fun facts to learn about our planet.

Explore our world map to discover some fascinating facts for every country…

Explore our world map and discover facts for every country

Latest Facts