spirite

Rum Karibia, tahun 1941

Rum (rhum) adalah minuman beralkohol hasil fermentasi dan distilasi dari molase (tetes tebu) atau air tebu yang merupakan produk samping industri gula. Rum hasil distilasi berupa cairan berwarna bening, dan biasanya disimpan untuk mengalami pematangan di dalam tong yang dibuat dari kayu ek atau kayu jenis lainnya. Produsen rum terbesar di dunia adalah negara-negara Karibia dan sepanjang aliran Sungai Demerara di Guyana, Amerika Selatan. Selain itu, pabrik rum ada di negara-negara lain di dunia Etimologi

Asal usul kata rum tidak diketahui dengan jelas. Pendapat yang banyak beredar mengatakan asal katanya adalah rumbullion yang berarti "kebisingan yang hebat atau hingar-bingar".^[1] Pendapat lain mengatakan rum diambil dari gelas besar untuk minum orang Belanda yang disebut rummers, dari kata roemer atau gelas minum.^[2] Kemungkinan lain, rum adalah kependekan lain dari saccharum (bahasa Latin untuk gula), atau arôme (bahasa Perancis untuk aroma).^[3] Di Amerika Serikat, istilah "rumme" (rum) mulai umum dipakai sejak Mei 1657. Pada waktu itu, Kongres Persemakmuran Massachusetts (General Court of Massachusetts) melarang penjualan minuman keras beralkohol tinggi "tidak peduli namanya rumme, strong water', anggur, brendi, dsb.,dsb."^[3]

Sekarang ini, rum sering disebut berdasarkan nama lokal tempat rum diproduksi. Sebutan untuk rum produksi negara berbahasa Spanyol adalah ron, sedangkan ron añejo adalah sebutan untuk rum yang telah lama disimpan, dan dipasarkan sebagai barang berkualitas. Rum produksi negara berbahasa Perancis disebut rhum, sedangkan rhum vieuxmerupakan sebutan rum Perancis yang sudah disimpan lama dan memenuhi beberapa kriteria lain.

Sejarah[

Bentuk awal dari rum sudah dibuat orang zaman purbakala. Minuman hasil fermentasi air tebu diperkirakan sudah dibuat orang India dan orang Cina kuno.^[1] Cara pembuatan minuman tersebut menyebar ke tempat-tempat lain, dan menjadi minuman brum yang sudah dibuat orang Melayu sejak ribuan tahun yang lalu.^[4] Marco Polo mencatat pada abad ke-14 bahwa ia ditawari minuman "anggur dari gula yang sangat enak" di tempat yang sekarang disebut Iran.^[1]

Distilasi rum pertama kali dilakukan abad ke-17 oleh pekerja perkebunan tebu di Karibia. Penemunya adalah budak perkebunan yang mengetahui bahwa molase bisa difermentasi menjadi alkohol.^[5] Proses distilasi dilakukan terhadap hasil fermentasi untuk mendapatkan minuman berkadar alkohol tinggi berupa rum yang pertama. Konon, rum awalnya berasal dari Pulau Barbados. Di zaman dulu, rum asal Karibia masih berkualitas rendah. Salah satu buktinya adalah tulisan dalam dokumen tahun 1651 dari Barbados, "produksi utama yang mereka buat di pulau disebut Rumbullion, alias Kill-Divil, yang dibuat dari distilasi air tebu, minuman keras yang pedas, panas, dan tidak enak."^[5]

Amerika pada zaman kolonial

Setelah dikembangkan orang Karibia, rum populer sebagai minuman keras di zaman kolonial Amerika. Pabrik distilasi rum yang pertama dibangun pada tahun 1664 di Staten Island, dan disusul Boston, Massachusetts tiga tahun berikutnya.^[6] Industri rum menjadi industri terbesar dan menguntungkan bagi New England.^[7] Rum produksi New England cukup populer, dan bahkan sempat dianggap salah satu yang terbaik di dunia pada abad ke-18. Rum produksi Rhode Island bahkan diterima sebagai salah satu alat bayar di Eropa seperti halnya emas.^[8] Penduduk Amerika (laki-laki, perempuan, atau anak-anak) pada zaman kolonial sebelum Perang Revolusi Amerika diperkirakan setiap tahunnya mengonsumsi rum sebanyak 13,5 liter rum per orang.^[9]

Permintaan gula di Eropa, dan molase untuk produksi rum melonjak sepanjang abad ke-17 dan abad ke-18. Akibatnya, perkebunan tebu di Karibia membutuhkan banyak pekerja perkebunan. Kebutuhan ini dicukupi dengan budak-budak yang diperoleh dari perdagangan segitiga antara Afrika, Karibia, dan negara-negara kolonial.^[10] Perdagangan segitiga terganggu akibat Akta Gula tahun 1764, dan kemungkinan menjadi salah satu penyebab Revolusi Amerika.^[9]

Seusai revolusi, popularitas rum di Amerika Serikat terus berlanjut. George Washington meminta satu tong rum dari Barbados untuk upacara pelantikannya pada tahun 1789.^[11]Kepopuleran rum akhirnya menurun setelah adanya pembatasan impor rum dari Karibia, dan peningkatan produksi wiski secara besar-besaran di AS.

Minuman pelaut

Rum mulai dikait-kaitkan dengan perompak sejak kapal perang swasta Inggris yang disebut privateer mulai berdagang barang-barang mentah. Sebagian di antaranya kapal-kapal tersebut menjadi kapal bajak laut dengan anak buah kapal terdiri dari perompak yang senang minum rum. Kisah perompak gemar minum rum semakin populer berkat novel Pulau Harta karya Robert Louis Stevenson.^[12]

Angkatan Laut Inggris mengenal rum sejak tahun 1655. Ketika itu, armada Inggris sedang menduduki pulau Jamaika. Produksi rum Jamaika begitu melimpah sehingga jatah brendiharian bagi pelaut diganti menjadi rum.^[13] Awalnya rum diminum polos atau dicampur perasan jeruk limau. Sekitar tahun 1740, jatah rum harian bagi pelaut mulai dicampur dengan air. Alasannya, Admiral Edward Vernon ingin mengurangi dampak kecanduan alkohol di kalangan pelaut. Minuman rum yang dicampur air dikenal sebagai grog. Pelaut Angkatan Laut Inggris terus menerima jatah harian berupa rum yang disebut tot hingga 31 Juli 1970.^[14]

cocktail rum

01of 10
Fresh is Best: Daiquiri
The Daiquiri is the first rum drink everyone should learn how to make. That doesn't mean finding the quickest way to open the ready-to-drink Daiquiri bottle or pouch, either.

No, we're talking about a fresh Daiquiri mixed up the way it was meant to be. The basic recipe uses just three simple ingredients: rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. There really is no excuse not to try it for yourself.

Though this cocktail is not complicated, it is the best example of how a great rum shines when mixed with fresh fruits. Once you learn how to make the basic Daiquiri, the flavor possibilities are endless.

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02of 10

Muddlers Ready: Mojito

Claire Cohen

After you have perfected the Daiquiri, it is time to try out the Mojito. It is another easy drink that requires only a few ingredients: rum, mint, lime, sugar, and soda.

If you are looking for a refreshing cocktail, this is the one for you. Few drinks can touch it in terms of freshness because of the cooling mint. After one sip, you will agree that this is one of the best cocktails of all time.

Be sure to pull out the good rum for this cocktail
03of 10
It's Tiki Time: Hurricane

opical Hurricane es
Let's break away from the basic cocktails for a minute, as this favorite has an extensive ingredient list. It is filled with flavor and includes both light and dark rums, passion fruit, orange, and lime juices, simple syrup, and grenadine.

The Hurricane is both refreshing and powerful because of the abundance of rum. It is also a perfect introduction to tiki cocktails, which are known for their complex flavors.

Not only is the Hurricane an iconic rum cocktail, it is a signature drink of NewOrleans as well. It was created at the famous Pat O'Brien's bar in the 1940's and it remains the drink to order anytime you visit.

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04of 10
Coconut-Lover's Delight: Piña Colada
There are two ways to make a fresh Piña Colada: blend it or shake it. Either is a fantastic summertime cocktailthat can quickly become a new-old favorite.

This tropical dream of a drink includes light rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. While you can cheat and buy a pre-made Piña Colada, it is so much more delicious when made fresh.

The combination of coconut and pineapple is a hit in many rum cocktails. With every sip, you'll be sent on a mental journey to the islands, so relax and enjoy!

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05of 10

Warm and Cozy: Hot Buttered Rum

Rum may be associated with the tropics, but it is also known for its ability to warm the body. When the cold months of winter hit, you'll want to forget the fruit and enjoy rum in a nice, cozy cocktail or two.

The Hot Buttered Rum has long been a favorite and it's not as difficult as some people make it out to be. Essentially, all you need is a dark rum, vanilla extract, brown sugar, butter, and a combination of winter spices. Most of that is probably in your kitchen, so you're good to go!

If you find yourself enamored with this sweet, spicy winter warmer you can also make a large batch of the base mix. This allows you to mix up a Hot Buttered Rum anytime you need to take the chill out of your bones.

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06of 10
Iconic Rum Punch: Planter's Punch
Rum and punch go hand in hand and we're not so concerned about quantity when we talk about punch here. Instead, in most cases, a rum punch is a tall, refreshing mixed drink that includes a lot of fruit juices.

The classic Planter's Punch is a perfect example and which fruits go into it is really a matter of personal taste. Some punch fans prefer pineapple, others like passion fruit, while others like to pour a medley of fruits.No matter how you decide to flavor your Planter's Punch, it's a great summertime drink. And, yes, any of these rum punch recipes can easily be converted into a party-sized punch.

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07of 10

Happy Hour Drinks: Dark & Stormy

like the Dark & Stormy are the perfect
08of 10
Enjoy a Rum Sour: Cable Car
We have covered almost every style of popular rum cocktail the rum sour. This drink family is exactly what it sounds like and one of the great examples is a modern classic known as the Cable Car.

This recipe uses spiced rum - specifically Captain Morgan - as the base. It also requires a fresh lemon sour, which you'll have no trouble making and find quite useful for other drinks. Like many modern sours, it also calls for orange curacao, though any orange liqueur will do.

What defines a sour drink? Essentially, it is a base liquor - whiskey, rum, etc. - with a sour and a sweet element. As you can see in these other recipes, rum is the perfect candidate for this flavor combination.

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09of 10

Fun and Fancy: Yaka Hula Hickey Dula

It's likely that you haven't heard of this drink, yet it's one that you won't soon forget for a number of reasons. First of all, you get to say 'Yaka Hula Dickey Dula' and that alone is reason enough to mix it up.

Then, you get to consider the fascinating combination of rum and dry vermouth, only this time, it's accented with pineapple. You may not think so right now, but this pairing works very well.

Rum does not get mixed with vermouth often because we typically don't associate it with dry aperitif-worthy drinks. And yet, as any of these recipes prove, it is a viable option and this is great news for rum lovers who want to enjoy a martini-like drink that is not sweet.
10of 10

It's Not Rum, It's Cachaca: Caipirinha

It would be impossible to share the best rum cocktails without including the Caipirinha. It features cachaca, another sugar-based distilled spiritthat is often considered a Brazilian style of rum. The difference is that cachaca is made from raw sugar cane juice rather than processed molasses.

Either way you look at it, the Caipirinha is one of the hottest drinks in the world and it has long been considered Brazil's national drink. It is to cachaca what the Mint Julep is to bourbon and that is why it's so important.

The drink itself is beyond simple: muddle lime and sugar, then add cachaca. In its simplicity, the Caipirinha opens the door for an array of variations. By using different fruits, it can take on an entirely unique flavor profile and it is a lot of fun to play with.

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