It is not for nothing that modern rum producers try to surround it with the aura of the famous sea story about pirates. The Patron Spirits Company, which has its own best product named the Pyrat rum. The first association that comes to mind at the word "rum" is, of course, a formidable pirate with an eye patch, a parrot on one shoulder and an invariable bottle (or even a barrel) in his hand. But at the same time, the name "Pirate", oddly enough, was not occupied by anyone until the nineties of the last century, although there were already countless manufacturers by that time.

In the article:

Rum production "Pirate"

The headquarters of the manufacturer Patron Spirits is located in the glorious city of Las Vegas (Nevada). The company was born relatively recently, in the late eighties, and initially gained fame for its excellent quality. Over time, it was necessary to expand the range, so the rum, which is no less popular in the circles of connoisseurs of elite spirits, was added to tequila.

It should be noted that the production of rum Patron Spirits approached quite seriously. Not only the name, captivating with its simplicity and at the same time genius, but also a bottle of unusual shape, turned out to be very apt. The containers in which Pyrat is bottled are made by glass blowers based on a long-standing traditional technology. Rum was distributed in practically the same shape as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century. The peculiarity of the container is that its glass is very thick, and the bottle itself is very heavy and solid.

Pyrat XO Reserve

By the way, when choosing a drink, pay attention to the little things. The essential attributes that distinguish the real Pyrat from the counterfeit are as follows:

1. an individual number assigned to each bottle;
2. a large plug that clogs the neck;
3. orange tape;
4. metal medallion with the image of Hoti - a symbol from Buddhist culture who is the patron saint of bartenders.

As for the contents of weighty bottles, then there is also a peculiarity here. For example, a variety such as Pyrat XO Reserve is a blend of nine rums from the Caribbean region that are assembled into a single whole in Guyana. The alcohols used for the production of all varieties of "Pirate" are distilled in the traditional way in copper cubes. Read more about that.

"Pirate" is considered one of the strongest brands, since the minimum exposure to which its varieties are exposed is fifteen years. Barrels for these purposes are made of French or American oak. The process of filling and gluing labels is also done manually.

Fortress - forty degrees.

Rum varieties Pyrat

Unlike that cheap liquor that was constantly waiting in the wings on board pirate ships, rum - the tek of these robbers - alcohol highest quality, belonging to the category of elite alcoholic beverages. On the market today alcoholic beverages there are three varieties of "Pirate":

• Rum Pyrat XO Reserve;
• Rum Pyrat Pistol;
• Rum Pyrat Cask 1623.

Rum Pyrat XO Reserve

Rum Pyrat XO Reserve

Rum XO Reserve is a dark, forty-degree drink that is distinguished not only by its even amber color, but also by a mysterious aroma with notes of exotic fruits and original spices. The refined and harmonious taste of this variety is appreciated by amateurs all over the world. The zest is an elegant finish.

In the process of infusion, a technique such as "Solera" is used: distillates of different ages are mixed into one, so that the manufacturer can not languish his customer for years, supply drinks of the same aging every season - fifteen years. Despite this technique, Reserve XO rum (read about) is produced in extremely limited quantities, therefore, for many years it has retained the unsurpassed quality and fame of one of the most elite drinks.

Rum Pyrat Pistol

Rum Pyrat Pistol

Rum Pistol - traditional version dark, light rum, the strength of which is also forty degrees. The color of this variety is yellowish-amber. In the bouquet of aromas, the central position is occupied by caramel and nutty notes, in the background - apricot and vanilla. Despite its strength, it is quite easy to drink, therefore it is recommended to be consumed in its pure form. For a change, you can pair the taste and aroma of Pistol with strong coffee and / or a good Cuban cigar. It is also allowed to snack on this rum with a slice of orange sprinkled with aromatic cinnamon.

T no one knows full-time exposure of the Pistol variety - this is the secret of the company. But according to experts in this field, it is less than that of the first option.

Rum Pyrat Cask 1623

Rum Pyrat Cask 1623

Rum Cask 1623 is a favorite of the high society, as it is the most expensive dark variety. Its strength is still the same forty percent, and its color is the brightest, darkest. But this is perhaps all that Cask 1623 has in common with its two previous brothers. As for the taste and aroma of this version of the Pirate, they will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated connoisseur. To realize this, you should not try to understand the descriptions of others, you need to try it yourself. We can only say that with its nobility, the bouquet of aromas and tastes is very soft. It contains notes of peach, fig, walnut, raisins and prunes, as well as ginger and maple syrup(for especially sensitive tasters).

The extract of Pyrat Cask 1623 breaks all records - for forty years the drink has been stored in a dark basement, so that at one fine moment it will give indescribable pleasure to its lucky owner.

Where to buy and how to drink

Since rum "Pirate" is an elite drink imported to other countries in very limited quantities, it can be purchased in Russia only in specialized alcohol stores or through online stores. The cost of one bottle of XO Reserve is about four thousand rubles for 0.75 liters.

It is recommended to drink Pyrat XO rum only in pure form, chilled to twenty degrees, and only in tumbler or tulip glasses. Otherwise, the whole essence of the drink will be simply lost, because rum will be completely different in the form diluted with even harmless ice. The only companion of this rum is the cigar.

When it comes to eating, Pirate XO rum can be both an aperitif and an event completely independent of food.

Despite the fact that true connoisseurs of pirate rum do not recommend interrupting its taste, there are more than thirteen recipes for all kinds of cocktails based on Pyrat XO.

Does rum make you feel like a pirate? If yes, then I'm with you! It's amazing how a regular drink can evoke such feelings and emotions. But this is not only with rum, for example, many argue that whiskey makes you feel elegant, and brandy makes people the most relaxed. But, what you can’t argue with is its popularity - only vodka is more famous than rum, and that is still worth clarifying.

If you are not afraid of pirates and you are not alien to an adventure with a bottle of strong, then set sail, we will sail away! I promise it will be interesting! =)

What is the secret of its unique taste? Where does this incomparable feeling of lightness and freedom come from after the first sip? Probably, it's all about its preparation. Rum undergoes a special fermentation and distillation process, and is made mainly from sugar cane, or by-products such as molasses. Initially transparent, over time it acquires its rich hues due to exposure to oak barrels... Although rum is produced in different countries ah, all over the world, the vast majority of “good quality drink” comes from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Rum is included in the Top 5 most popular drinks and is more in demand than scotch, brandy and even bourbon whiskey!

Rum history

Everyone knows rum as a drink of the Royal Navy and pirates, but few people know about its origin, and the history of this drink is rooted deep in antiquity. It is rumored that its initial distillation began in ancient India and China, but this is a misconception, in fact it all started in Malaysia. While some believe that the Malay word "brama" is the origin of the word "rum", others argue that the real name of the drink has a different background. There are many theories as to where the name came from, but no one dares to say for sure, since the first mentions of the drink are not officially documented, but still there are a couple of options.

There is an option that the name comes from the Latin word "saccharum" (sugar), or rather, from its last syllable "rum". At the same time, many believe that "rum" comes from the Romanian word "romani" (Romans), which also means "strong" or "powerful". Other theories claim that the drink is named after the Dutch word "roemer" (goblet) for drinking. Regardless of its etymology, the term "rum" has existed for many centuries and is used all over the world, sometimes with a common spelling, but usually with the same pronunciation.

The first distillation of rum began in the 17th century. In the Caribbean, there were many plantations on which thousands of slaves worked. Once, once again subjecting molasses to processing, the slaves realized that this product of sugar production can ferment and eventually turn into alcohol. This is where it all started! Most historians believe that rum was originally discovered on the island of Barbados, but records from the 1620s also claim that the drink was produced in Brazil. But that's not all: the Swedish warship Vasa, which tragically sank in 1628, had tin bottles on board, guess what?

Between 1630 and 1660, rum found its way into colonial America. In 1664, the British colonies created the very first distillery on Staten Island, and 3 years later in Boston, Massachusetts. Before long, rum distillation became colonial New England's most lucrative industry. Initially, rum was like whiskey and for a while, even had the role of currency. The drink quickly became popular with men, women and even children. To support the growing demand, a trade agreement was negotiated between the colonies of the Caribbean and Africa, known as the "Trade Triangle". In a nutshell, the agreement facilitated the trade in rum, molasses and slaves, which provided labor, ingredients, and ultimately the rum itself.

Over time, rum begins to be used in the political game and candidates begin to bribe voters with a drink in an attempt to influence the election results. And during his inauguration, George Washington generously treated guests with his Barbados rum, thus gaining future supporters and loyal friends. If now for us this approach seems implausible, earlier it was common practice to treat voters with rum and communicate with them. If not for the growing popularity of whiskey and restrictions from the British Isles, then rum production would have remained steadily growing for many years to come.

About pirate life

Many people, myself included, have long been interested in pirates and rum. In almost any movie or story involving pirates, there is a lot of treasure, and of course, rum. Surprisingly, many believe that rum has nothing to do with the golden age of pirates and all the described "adventures of a bottle of rum" are nothing more than a myth and a fantasy of Hollywood. For those who think so, I will have to bitter you and say that you are wrong - pirates and rum have actually always gone hand in hand.

In 1655, the Royal Navy took over Jamaica and the rum industry became the property of the British Navy. After some time, the British abandoned brandy and included rum in the daily diet of all sailors, giving the drink a new name "grog", while changing its composition. The fact is that rum turned out to be too strong a drink and had a bad effect on sailors, interfering with work. Then, Admiral Edward Vernon ordered that the drink be diluted with something non-alcoholic. The name "grog" is named after Admiral Vernon's "grogram" cloak, which he always wore during inclement weather.

Since the main job of the Royal Navy was to capture pirates, when a pirate ship was captured, rum became the desired prey and was always divided equally among the crew members. However, unlike Admiral Vernon, most captains, especially pirate ships, did not require their crew to dilute rum with water, and over time, the vast majority of pirates became violently addicted to rum. This could not but affect economic relations and the drink quickly began to be used as a currency, and was valued as one of the most valuable commodities. In addition, the pirates used rum as currency in the port, selling it in exchange for slaves. While many believe that pirates simply took what they wanted - and there is some truth in this, however - they developed business skills and were able to conduct trade relations. Many pirate warlords used rum as a way to buy a new one or fix a real warship. While the Royal Navy and other military organizations increased the consumption of rum, pirates made the drink more famous and kept the industry afloat in every possible way.

What is rum made of

Unlike scotch or bourbon, there are no global requirements for rum production. Most regions have their own customs and traditions, which is one of the reasons that the most popular species are still produced in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Most rum today is still made from molasses and the rest from natural sugarcane juices, but this is only in the French Caribbean islands. In particular, the island of Martinique produces sugarcane juice for rum, which is referred to as "RHUM Agricole" (agricultural rum). In order to prepare this type of rum, the following criteria must be met:

1. Fresh sugarcane juice should be used.
2. Minimum sugar content (Brix> 14 ° Bx) and minimum pH (pH> 4.7) to prevent the development of undesirable aftertastes.
3. Juice must be prepared according to the rules, for example, it must be cold.
4. The fermentation process should be intermittent and carried out in open containers with a maximum of 13.208 US gallons or 500 hectoliters.

The fermentation process is fairly simple, using the usual combination of yeast and water. There are a wide variety of wild and hybrid yeasts, but the standard rule is that lighter rums tend to contain more fast yeast, while, in the production of strong rum, slow-type yeast is used, which leads to the formation of the most complex esters, giving the drink a sharp aroma and deep richness.

Dark rum

In distillation, there are also no hard and fast rules, the only thing is to remember the differences between alcohol in light and dark rum. The last step in making rum is aging, which varies from country to country. Many countries require a minimum holding period of at least one year. Also, the vast majority of rum is made using American bourbon oak for the aging process. Don't think that one year is too little to get a decent drink. Keep in mind that most rum is produced in tropical climates and because of this, rum ripens much faster than whiskey or even cognac. However, it should be noted that long aging in bourbon barrels is a prerequisite for deep saturation and noble dark shade. Light rums generally do not have strict aging storage rules and are kept in stainless steel tubs in most cases. But, there is also an unpleasant experience when caramel coloring is added to rum to change a light drink into a dark one. There is no way to check this, the only way out is to buy a drink in trusted stores.

Since rum is produced different ways in the Caribbean, many regions have developed their own styles that set them apart from their competitors. Rum from Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Belize and other English-speaking islands is characterized by its dark shade and richness of taste. Rum from Haiti, Guadeloupe and Martinique is made primarily from sugarcane juice rather than molasses, which gives it a more exotic flavor. In Brazil, they produce their own type of rum - Cashasa, which is made using younger sugar cane, which gives the drink a light shade. Also, this method of preparation contributes to the enhancement and development of secondary aromas. Kashasa is mainly used for the famous caipirinha cocktail, replacing vodka.

Types of rum

Around the world, there are seven main types of rum that can be found on sale in most liquor stores, and each has a unique tasting experience. Let's take a look at each drink separately.

Light rum is sometimes called white or silver rum. It is filtered to maximum clarity and has a rather sweet aftertaste, which excludes strength and deep flavor. Due to its mild taste and aroma, it is well suited for mixing in various cocktails.

Dark rum

The opposite of light rum, which can be easily identified by its dark brown color. Dark rum is made from caramel molasses and aged in charred barrels for a significant period of time. Thanks to this, the drink turns out to be rich in comparison, for example, with light rum. Also, dark rum can sometimes contain a little smoke and spices, which gives the drink a unique, incomparable taste. Typically, this type of rum has historically been used for cooking and baking, but more recently it has also been used by bartenders to add a darker flavor to cocktails.

Golden rum

It is also often called amber rum due to its golden hue. It tastes lighter than dark rum, but stronger than light rum, which makes it the “golden mean” among this family of drinks. Typically aged in white oak barrels, this rum is very popular when mixed with different drinks.

Spiced rum

Spiced rum is the same "golden" rum, but with the addition of spices. Note: light rum, as a rule, is cheaper than its dark brother, but from this it taste qualities don't get any worse. You need to understand that each type of rum is suitable for its own purposes - someone loves it stronger, and someone just wants to relax in the evening by the window. In most cases, spiced rum includes a mixture of anise, pepper, cinnamon, and rosemary. But keep in mind, these ingredients, in addition to taste, also give additional strength to the drink, which can be quite unexpected if you did not plan to "go home".

Gooey rum

Many people call this type of rum "premium". It is very popular in Scotland and is called the "rum of the world" there. Mostly sophisticated people who know about this drink drink it. It is customary to drink it not diluted, and also do not forget to slowly savor each sip. And, of course, don't forget the brandy glass.

Reference rum

A very strange drink. As soon as you start to enter the process of drinking, you immediately get drunk and the whole evening "down the drain." This type of rum belongs to drinks with an alcoholic strength of 40% to 75%! The most famous example of this type of rum is Bacardi 151. This rum is usually drunk diluted with various drinks, such as Coca-Cola, but not cocktails.

Aromatic rum

This type of rum is like amortized vodka, and it's up to you to decide whether it is good or bad. This type of drink is a light rum, with dessert or fruit flavors. Flavored rum manifests itself best of all in tropical cocktails, but if you find "your" taste, then you probably will not refuse to drink it in its pure form.

Finally

Today we have touched upon the topic of a very interesting drink, the history and rumors of which have been hovering for many centuries. In we take a look at rum-based cocktails, as well as a couple of tips on which rum is best to taste. Until next time!

Every self-respecting pirate should have a saber, a pistol, a parrot on his shoulder and a bottle of rum in his hand!Let's see why the owners of the Caribbean seas are so fond of rum? Was this a consequence of a riotous existence or a vital necessity, and what kind of rum does modern society drink?

Rum - the city-forming drink of the Caribbean region

Rum is strong alcoholic beverage, made by fermenting and fermenting sugar cane by-products such as cane syrup and molasses. The production technology explains the reason for the special popularity of the pirate drink in the Caribbean region, on the islands of which there were sugarcane plantations.For the most part, the Caribbean islands were colonies of various countries, in each of which rum was made according to its own unique recipe.

For example, light rum with a mild taste was made on the Spanish-speaking islands, dark rum, using a large amount of molasses, is characteristic of English-speaking, agricultural rum made exclusively from cane juice was made in French-speaking colonies.

Rum, though of different quality, was drunk by everyone: politicians, officers, doctors, fishermen, taverns were filled with various types of this drink for every taste and color.

Rum and benefits and pleasure

Rum was especially popular among representatives of the maritime professions, in particular among pirates. One cannot blame only the way of life of sea robbers. Of course, they were distinguished by immorality and addictions, but there were other reasons.

As a distilled alcoholic beverage, rum does not decompose in the heat, unlike water, which spoils after a few days. Therefore, inventive pirates diluted the "missing" water with rum, mixed with lemon zest and sugar syrup, thanks to which they got rid of the unpleasant smell of "rotten" water and got a tasty, and most importantly, intoxicating drink called grog.

History reference:

There is another opinion about the cause of grog. The sailors of the northern seas were given about 300 ml of rum daily as a means of preventing scurvy.

But, sailors are freedom-loving people and often this led to drunkenness on the ship. One of the captains, nicknamed Grog, ordered rum to be issued only as an addition to tea or water, depending on weather conditions. The disgruntled sailors named the drink after him.

Today grog is called a warming alcoholic drink based on tea, lemon, cinnamon and of course rum.

Why pirates "drank themselves"

Let's return to our pirates…. The heat is inherent in the Caribbean region, so the Caribbean pirates were constantly thirsty and they had to drink without restraint. And since they spent most of their time at sea, it was already difficult for the pirates to stop on land. So an honest pirate turned into a real drunkard.

Stories are known for the case that the most elusive sea robbers came across pretty drunk and simply fell asleep.

For sailors, rum was not just a drink, but a real ideology. Songs were dedicated to him, diseases were treated to them, going on a long voyage, first of all, they made stocks of rum, and then provisions.

Modern rum varieties

Today seven varieties of rum are known:

Strong rum, the strength of the drink is more than 75% at the standard 40%

Golden rum, the taste of the drink was acquired due to the addition of cinnamon and caramel, and the golden color due to standing in oak barrels

Light, also white rum, due to increased filtration, the drink does not have a color and a pronounced taste. Usually used for cocktails.

Flavored rum, is made by adding natural flavors of exotic fruits such as mango, orange, coconut.

Dark rum, the drink is aged in charred barrels, which gives a black color and rich taste.

Premium RumIs a rum aged under appropriate conditions for more than five years. It has a stronger taste and is consumed exclusively in pure form.

Pirates, piastres, a sailing ship, a one-legged captain with a parrot on his shoulder, a treasure chest or cave, an uninhabited or savage-inhabited island and, of course, a bottle of rum. Here is that simple set, from which any writer of the 19th - 20th centuries "cooked" an adventure novel from the life of pirates. It was easy to read and was in demand by the public for 10 to 100 years.

The pirates were fearless, roaming the seas and oceans, fighting desperately and drinking rum over it. Why rum and not cognac or noble wine? Imagine this picture: this is happening somewhere in the Caribbean. Endless water surface. Complete calm. The sails hung dejectedly. The team is tired of waiting for a tailwind. Sailors wander around the deck idle, the sun beats down mercilessly from a height, so you are constantly thirsty.

The water taken aboard in the port has long been rotten. It stinks, you cannot drink it - it is life-threatening. In the last voyage, the captain ordered to take more young wine into the barrels, but it also turned into vinegar, unable to withstand the heat. The old boatswain rescued everyone. A strong drinker, he brought a barrel of rum with him from Barbados. The drink withstood everything: the storm and the scorching sun, and, as the boatswain joked, the pitching only became stronger.

Every three hours, the thrifty old man gave out a sip of rum to all members of the team. This was not enough to quench my thirst. But it was enough not to die of dehydration. Finally, the wind blew, and the ship was safely in port. In the tavern, they only talked about the wonderful drink that saved the lives of the sailors. As usual, they drank to the boatswain's health and, of course, to that unknown guy who invented the rum.

Piracy historians claim that since that time, pirates, in addition to fresh water, have always taken on board rum. And, they say that not only pirates, but all sailors are merchants and even military. At the beginning of the voyage, while the water was still fresh, the rum was diluted, and then this strong drink was drunk "live". British sailors, constantly hunting for pirates, precisely this circumstance explains the desperate bravery of the sea robbers. It is known that a drunken sea is knee-deep and he is not afraid of death.

Rum was also appreciated by Europe, because pirates not only robbed, but also traded. Rather, they supplied goods for sale. Among other things, there was rum. Lovers of this drink by color, smell, one sip can distinguish Jamaican rum from Barbados and both - from Portuguese. That's why they are amateurs!

There is a legend that it was the black slaves from the sugar cane plantations who noticed that the remains of the molasses tend to ferment. Always hungry, they took the risk of trying. No one died, but they also gained strength, and the mood improved. And then the process only improved.

But even today, rum is made based on the same molasses and the same cane syrup. They are still fermented, then distilled, and then kept in oak barrels. The cost of the drink also depends on its strength. So the traders are patient and wait. A two year old rum is cheaper than an eight year old, so if you want to make as much money as possible, wait.

The most a large number of rum today, like hundreds of years ago, is produced in the Caribbean. And the best of the best is done along the course of the Demerara River. South American sunshine, soil characteristics, the sweetness of sugar cane - all these factors contribute to the fact that this rum variety has almost no competitors.

With pirates, with rum, everything is clear, but with the emergence of the name of the drink there is no exact data. But there are few scientific or non-scientific versions, an enormous amount. One of them refers to the Dutch, or rather to their favorite huge glasses. This means that the word "rum" means only "a large glass".

The authors of the second version are the Malays, who, in the 10th century, brewed a very strong drink according to similar recipe... They called him "brahm" and for a very long time considered him a divine gift available only to a select few. Sounds similar, and as a version is fine.

The same pirates argue with the Malays who, after abundant libations, always made noisy scandals with fights and smashing dishes. Hence the translation of the word - "big noise and din". We will not argue, especially since, perhaps, we cannot get to the bottom of the truth. But now we know exactly why rum is called a pirate drink.

And if you believe in the theory of transmigration of souls, it turns out that every lover of rum in "that" life was a pirate, raised the "Jolly Roger" on the mast and set out on a journey towards adventure. And what? Also a version!

Even those who are not addicted to alcohol know about rum. Not a single pirate story is complete without this drink, sea robbers drank it like water. I will briefly tell you what rum is, what it is made from, and why it is associated with pirates.

Rum Is a strong alcoholic beverage produced by fermentation and subsequent distillation of molasses or cane syrup. The resulting distillate is kept for some time in wooden barrels, then diluted to a strength of 40-50 degrees and again infused in barrels for 2 to 8 years. Only after aging for at least two years is the drink considered a real rum. It has a characteristic smell and taste.

A brief history of the rum

The origin of the word "rum" has not been established. According to one version, the name comes from the word "rumbullion", meaning "din" or "big noise". Other researchers put forward the version that the rum is named after the large glasses "rummers", which the Dutch sailors took on the voyage.

The birthplace of the rum is the Caribbean Islands. It was on the local reed plantations that the slaves first discovered that sweet syrup ferments well, and its subsequent distillation removes extraneous impurities.

Some historians are sure that the homeland of the rum is the island of Barbados, but documentary evidence has not yet been found, so the entire Caribbean is considered the source of the spread of the rum.

Ancient sailors did not know how to store fresh water on ships. In the holds, it quickly went bad. The pirates solved this problem in a peculiar way, instead of water, they began to take rum on long voyages. He did not spoil and allowed the crew not to die of thirst. Captured pirate rum was also used as a substitute for water on warships in Spain and England.

The first official mention of rum dates back to May 1657, when the Massachusetts General Council imposed a ban on its sale. Nowadays, the name and spelling of the word "rum" changes depending on the locality of its production:

• Ron - in Spanish speaking countries;
• Rhum - in French speaking;
• Rum - in English speakers.

In the 50-60s of the last century, the Soviet Union produced its own rum. The production was established after the establishment of friendly relations with Cuba. The raw materials used were cane alcohol produced in the republics of Central Asia, and prune fruit drink, imitating aging in barrels. It has been exported to over twenty countries.

Rum culture

Aged rum (añejo) is drunk neat, and blended varieties are used as alcohol base for cocktails. It is also customary to mix rum with others. soft drinks for example coffee with rum. It turns out to be an excellent invigorating drink.

The most popular brands of rum produced in the USA are Bristol Classic Rum and Bacardi. Jamaican rum is represented by Captain Morgan (bottled in the UK), Cuban - by Havana Club and Ron Varadero. Also on sale you can find rum of Dominican, Indian and Australian production.

For those wishing to taste real rum, I advise you to start your acquaintance with the brands "Bacardi" (Bacardi) or "Captain Morgan" (Captain Morgan), since they are considered the standard of quality.