National Rum Day!
By Anquanette “Q” Gaspard
This past Saturday, August 16th was celebrated as National Rum Day here in the United States and if anyone knows how to make and manufacture rum, it would be islands of the Caribbean. When most select their choice rum, there’s a 90 percent chance that it will be rum from the Caribbean. In the rare instance that it isn’t, they have no idea what they are missing!
Naturally, the next question one would most likely ask is which island produces the best rum. Ask any Jamaican and they are likely to say Appleton Estate Rum. Ask a U.S. Virgin Islander and they’ll say Cruzan Rum. Ask a Bajan and they will immediately reply Mount Gay Rum – a proud bunch we are, Caribbean people!
Fermented from sweet molasses produced through the juice of sugar cane, each island adds their own touch to make their rum stand out from the others. Whether through the number of years it ages, the type of barrel used to store it during the aging process or if it’s even stored in barrels, no 2 rums are the same and anyone who tells you differently knows nothing about rum. Don’t hold that against them though. It is now your civic duty to inform them on what good rum is all about and you can use this post to school them on it.
After a few searches and a little tasting this weekend, here is my list of three preferred rums that makes National Rum Day one to look forward to each and every year.
- Cruzan Rum Single Barrel Rum – I’m born & bred in St. Croix, USVI so my first choice is biased. Either way, this rum should be enjoyed on the rocks (2-3 cubes max) with no mixers. Enjoy the smooth flavor of this rum with its cinnamon and toffee undertones. Perfection!
- Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection – Very reminiscent of the Cruzan Single Barrel, this rum has more of a fruity undertone but not in an overpowering way. Again, this is rum that is not to be treated as a $10 bottle. On the rocks with a squeeze of lime is all you need to appreciate the taste of this spirit!
- Appleton Estate Reserve – While I am not the biggest fan of this rum, I couldn’t get away with not adding it to my list. Featured on every “best rum” list out there, this smooth, complex blend has hints of ginger, nutmeg & vanilla. I mostly use it in cocktails for my Jamaican friends because they appreciate being reminded of home with every sip!
In the end, I am now a firm believer that National Rum Day should be crowned an International holiday and celebrated every month because one day in a year just isn’t enough. For your viewing pleasure, here’s my recipe for a Mango Mojito Cruzan Style at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1IoSx66c6g! Tell me what you think in the comments. Cheers!
