Dnes se 80 procent světového rumu vyrábí v Karibiku. Všechny lihoviny začínají rostlinou a rum začíná druhem trávy zvané cukrová třtina. Ale cukrové třtině trvalo téměř 10 000 let, než se dostala do Karibiku. A teprve v polovině 19. století to začalo chutnat slušně. Do té doby to bylo drsné.
Zde je krátký příběh. Víme, že cukrová třtina pochází z jižní Asie, a věří se, že sladká tráva byla poprvé domestikována na ostrově Nová Guinea kolem roku 8000 př. n. l. Je známo, že Indie poprvé extrahovala a krystalizovala cukrovou rostlinu kolem roku 350 n. l. a odtud obchodní obchodníci přinesl do Afriky a poté do Španělska.
V roce 1400 byla v Evropě obrovská poptávka po „sladké soli“ (cukru), takže Portugalci začali pěstovat cukrovou třtinu na ostrově Madeira. Brzy si uvědomili, že jde o extrémně pracný úkol ve všech procesech pěstování, sklizně a výroby. Otroci byli proto dovezeni. V roce 1493 se Kryštof Kolumbus pokusil přivézt sazenice cukrové třtiny do Karibiku, ale plavbu nepřežily. Španělský conquistador Diego Velázquez byl na lodi s Kolumbem a usadil se v Hispaniole (Dominikánská republika, Haiti a malé ostrovy kolem nich), aby sloužil španělskému rytíři a vojákovi Nicolási Ovando y Cáceres, který se o pár let později stal guvernérem Indie.
V roce 1501 byl Pedro de Atienza prvním, kdo úspěšně dovezl sazenice cukrové třtiny do Hispanioly. První úrodu sklidil o čtyři roky později. V roce 1511, jménem Španělska, Diego Velázquez dobyl Kubu a přinesl s sebou cukrovou třtinu Hispaniola. V roce 1518 královský dekret Karla V. (vládce Španělské a Svaté říše římské) povolil dovoz 2 000 otroků do Hispanioly, aby obdělávali pole cukrové třtiny. A v roce 1523 další královský výnos dovezl 1 500 otroků na Hispaniolu a 2 500 na další karibské ostrovy, jako je Portoriko a Jamajka. Portugalci odvezli svou produkci do Brazílie a v polovině 16. století zde bylo téměř 3000 cukrovarů. Nizozemci začali brát sazenice cukrové třtiny k výsadbě na jakýkoli karibský ostrov, kde mohli. Barbados a ostrovy kolem Dominikánské republiky byly mezi prvními. V roce 1600 byl rum v denních přídělech pro Royal Navy běžný.
V roce 1758 vedl George Washington kampaň za Virginský dům Burgess tím, že nabídl voličům zdarma barbadoský rum, a vyhrál. V roce 1700 Karibské ostrovy ztrácely peníze na pěstování tabáku a bavlny kvůli tomu, že Amerika pěstovala své vlastní, takže přechod na pěstování cukrové třtiny tento problém vyřešil. Tak začala masová výroba karibského rumu.
V roce 1810 byla první nemocnice v Sydney v Austrálii financována místními obchodníky výměnou za smlouvu, která jim umožňovala dovážet 60 000 galonů rumu k prodeji. Nemocnice se jmenovala Rumová nemocnice. V roce 1862 navíc Don Facundo Bacardi začal filtrovat svůj kubánský rum přes dřevěné uhlí.
Modern Rums That Changed the Bar
Bartenders have helped push rum far beyond the familiar light, dark, spiced, and coconut bottles that once dominated American back bars. Producers began releasing rums with bigger personalities, traditional production methods, unusual infusions, and flavors designed for serious cocktails.
These five have become particularly influential behind modern bars.
2012 — Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum
Rum expert Ed Hamilton, founder of the influential Ministry of Rum, spent decades traveling throughout the Caribbean, visiting distilleries, researching rum production, importing spirits, and becoming one of the industry's most respected rum authorities.
Hamilton eventually began bottling rums under his own name, including Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum, a rich Guyanese rum created with cocktails in mind.
Instead of bottling it at the common 80 proof, Hamilton chose 86 proof (43% ABV) to preserve more of the rum's character. Its deep molasses, caramel, smoky, and dark-fruit flavors made it especially useful in tiki and tropical cocktails.
Hamilton wasn't trying to make rum trendy.
He was trying to give bartenders the rum they needed.
2012–2013 — Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black
Hamilton also turned his attention to Jamaica's unmistakable flavors with Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black.
Produced at Jamaica's Worthy Park Estate, it is a blend of extra-light, light, and heavy pot-still rums distilled from fermented molasses. Unlike what you'll sometimes read online, the rum is not barrel-aged; its dark appearance comes from cane-sugar caramel added after distillation. It is bottled at 46.5% ABV (93 proof).
What makes it memorable is that classic Jamaican character—ripe and overripe banana, tropical fruit, spice, and plenty of what rum people affectionately call funk.
It became especially popular with tiki bartenders because a relatively small amount can add a big Jamaican personality to a cocktail.
Basically, this rum doesn't enter a cocktail quietly.
2014 — Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum
Originally called Plantation Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum, this collaboration between Maison Ferrand's Alexandre Gabriel and cocktail historian David Wondrich helped completely change the reputation of pineapple rum.
Instead of simply adding artificial pineapple flavoring to rum, Stiggins' Fancy uses actual Victoria pineapples. Pineapple rind is infused into rum and redistilled, while the sweet fruit is infused separately into dark rum. The components are then blended.
The name comes from Reverend Stiggins, the hypocritical temperance preacher in Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers who happened to enjoy pineapple rum.
Bartenders embraced Stiggins' Fancy for Daiquiris, Mai Tais, tiki drinks, original cocktails, and even shots. It became one of those bottles that began appearing on serious cocktail back bars everywhere.
It remains a bartender favorite and continues winning major spirits awards.
Good to know: Plantation Rum changed its name to Planteray Rum in 2024, so you'll see older recipes and bottles using the Plantation name.
Apparently pineapple rum just needed a couple hundred years and some really good bartenders to improve its reputation.
2018 — Probitas White Blended Rum
Probitas—sold as Veritas in some countries—helped demonstrate that “white rum” didn't have to mean light, neutral, and nearly flavorless.
It combines rums from two legendary Caribbean producers: Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados and Hampden Estate in Jamaica.
The result gives bartenders the best of two rum worlds: the balance and structure of Barbados combined with some of Jamaica's wonderfully funky pot-still character.
Probitas quickly became particularly popular for one of the simplest—and least forgiving—rum cocktails of all:
The Daiquiri.
Rum. Lime. Sugar.
Nowhere for a mediocre rum to hide.
2024 — Planteray Cut & Dry Coconut Rum
After helping elevate pineapple rum with Stiggins' Fancy, Planteray turned its attention to another category that hadn't always received much respect from serious bartenders:
Coconut rum.
Planteray reportedly spent years developing Cut & Dry, eventually creating a rum using real Barbadian coconuts and Barbadian rum.
Rather than tasting like coconut candy or suntan lotion, Cut & Dry emphasizes actual coconut character alongside chocolate, spice, and rum flavors. The approach quickly earned recognition, including major awards in the flavored-rum category.
In other words:
Coconut rum grew up.
Hard-to-Get Rums
Lemon Hart 151 Demerara Rum | Guyana
One of the legendary ingredients of tiki bartending, this 151-proof Demerara rum appears in classic recipes such as the Zombie and 151 Swizzle. Over the years, Lemon Hart 151 has repeatedly disappeared from the U.S. market, changed importers, returned, and remained frustratingly difficult to find in some states.
Good to know: When Lemon Hart 151 became difficult to obtain, rum expert Ed Hamilton developed Hamilton 151 Overproof as a Demerara-style alternative for bartenders making classic tiki recipes.
If you see Lemon Hart 151 sitting on a liquor-store shelf, this may be one of those times when “I'll get it later” is a bad plan.
Hamilton Saint Lucia Pot Still | Saint Lucia
Now this is a genuinely hard-to-get Hamilton.
Ed Hamilton released a small series of Saint Lucia pot-still rums from individual vintages and barrels, including 7-, 8-, 9- and 10-year expressions. The rums were produced by Saint Lucia Distillers and became cult bottles among serious rum drinkers. Hamilton's bottling agreement ended, so the releases were discontinued; remaining bottles have become increasingly difficult to find.
Good to know: If you stumble across an old bottle today, you're essentially finding new-old-stock rum. One retailer still lists its 2005 eight-year bottling but describes it as “very limited availability and gone for good once sold out.”
Ed Hamilton strikes again.
Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection | Barbados
Master distiller Richard Seale periodically releases limited bottlings under Foursquare's Exceptional Cask Selection (ECS) series. These aren't one permanent rum; each release is a unique expression involving different ages, barrels, blends, and maturation techniques.
They're specifically produced as limited releases, and desirable editions can disappear quickly. Foursquare describes each ECS as a one-of-a-kind release available only for a limited time.
Older releases such as Criterion, Dominus, Empery, Nobiliary, Redoutable, and others have become collector bottles.
Good to know: Rum people sometimes jokingly call Foursquare the “Pappy of Rum” because enthusiasts chase certain releases much like bourbon collectors chase Pappy Van Winkle.
Translation: If a rum nerd spots one on the shelf, don't stand between them and the bottle.
1942 Přes Pacifik
Humphrey Bogart si objedná dva Planter's Punches.
1944 Mít a nemít
Lauren Bacall pije Daiquiri.
Clarence anděl si objedná Flaming Rum Punch.
1950 Otec nevěsty
Objednané koktejly jsou Rum & Coke, Tom Collins a Frozen Daiquiri.
1955 Kluci a panenky
Marlon Brando přiměje Jean Simmons vypít několik Dulce de Leches na Kubě.
Simmons: Co sis objednal?
Brando: Dulce de Leche. Dulce je španělské slovo pro „sladký“. De znamená „z“ a leche znamená „mléko“. Sladké z mléka.
Simmons: Copak to nepodávají obyčejně?
Brando: No, jen po ránu. Souvisí to s horkem. Na noc do ní dávají jakýsi konzervant.
Simmons: To je zajímavé. co používají?
Brando: Bacardi.
Simmons: Není v tom alkohol?
Brando: No, jen tolik, aby mléko nezkysalo.
Když Simmons pije druhý drink, říká: „Je to tak chutné. To Bacardi příchuť určitě dělá rozdíl. Víte, byl by to skvělý způsob, jak přimět děti, aby pily mléko.“
1959 Náš člověk v Havaně
Alec Guinness a přátelé pijí Daiquiris.
1960 Byt
Shirley MacLaine žádá o Daiquiri a Hope Holiday o Rum Collins.
1961 Snídaně u Tiffanyho
Audrey Hepburnová pije Planter's Punch.
1963 Přijďte zatroubit
Frank Sinatra si objedná rum a kolu.
1965 Thunderball
Sean Connery si objedná Rum Collins.
1969 Ahoj, Dolly!
Barbra Streisand se zmiňuje o Rum-Toddy.
1974 Kmotr: Část II
John Cazale si objedná Banana Daiquiri.
1996 Zblízka a osobně
Michelle Pfeiffer má banánové daiquiri.
1997 Otevři oči
Fele Martinez a Penelope Cruz pijí Rum & Cokes.
1998 Divoké věci
Matt Dillon si objedná Rum & Colu.
1999 Já, já a Irene
Renée Zellweger a Jim Carrey mají Rum & Cokes.
2000 Chuck & Buck
Mike White si objedná rum a kolu.
2000 Sobí hry
Ben Affleck si objedná rum a kolu.
2000 The Banger Sisters
Goldie Hawn si vyrábí rum a kolu.
2002 Zemřít další den
Pierce Brosnan pije Mojito. Před čtyřiceti lety James Bond explodoval Vodka Martini a nyní oživuje klasický kubánský koktejl z 20. let minulého století, Mojito.
2003 Bad Boys II
Gabrielle Union a Jordi Molla pijí Bacardi Mojitos.
2003 Od Justina po Kelly
Greg Siff má Piña Coladu.
2004 I Heart Huckabees
Jude Law se zmiňuje, že v budoucnu bude pít Piña Coladas.
2005 The Ice Harvest
John Cusack si objedná rum a ananasový džus.
2007 Perfect Stranger
Hemmingway Daiquiris jsou objednány.
2007 Shrek Třetí
Kocour v botách sní o rybaření s džbánem Mojito vedle sebe.
2008 Nimův ostrov
Kapitán mluví o prodeji Piña Coladas turistům.
1843 Martin Chuzzlewit, Charles Dickens
"Mohl...kouřit více tabáku, pít více rumu-toddy"
1920 Tato strana ráje, F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Tato kniha má první známou literární zmínku o Daiquiri.
1958 Náš muž v Havaně, Graham Greene
První věta v knize zní: „Wormold si užíval své rumové koktejly zmrazené, s limetkou.
2014 Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
Mojito jsou zmíněna.
Koná se každý červen ve Fort Lauderdale na Floridě.
Obrovský seznam rumových akcí po celém světě.
Rum se vystřídal mnoha jmény jako: Barbados water, démon water, grog, kill-devil, Nelson's blood, rhummbooze, rumbowling, rumbullion, rumbustion a spojování hlavní ortézy.
15. ledna 1919 praskla v US Industrial Alcohol Company v Bostonu ve státě Massachusetts litinová nádrž obsahující 400 000 galonů melasy a vytvořila šestnáct stop vysokou lepkavou tsunami přes železniční stanici v Atlantiku, která zvedla vlak z trati. , zranilo sto padesát lidí, zabilo dvanáct koní a dvacet jedna lidí, až nakonec zůstalo jako melasové jezero v North End Parku.
Srpen je národním měsícem rumu.
Bacardi má největší palírnu rumu na světě, která se nachází v San Juan, Portoriko. Pokud navštívíte výletní loď, přeskočte drahou exkurzi na prohlídku lihovaru. Místo toho stačí zaplatit dvacet pět centů za jízdu trajektem. Můžete vidět lihovar, kde kotví výletní lodě.
Většina rumu se vyrábí v Karibiku a téměř každý ostrov vyrábí rum.
Overproof rum Jamaica's Wray & Nephew je s 63 procenty nejkvalitnějším rumem na světě .
V roce 1943 vypil cachaça kačer od Disneyho a ve stejném divadelním představení Saludos Amigos (španělsky „Zdravíme, přátelé“) Disney představil novou postavu z Brazílie jménem José Carioca.
Nejdražším rumem je láhev J. Wray & Nephew z roku 1940. Má hodnotu 54 000 $.
Tým v Porco Lounge a Tiki Room vytvořili největší na světě Daiquiri dne 11. listopadu v hod Úžasná potravinářská show v Clevelandu. Barmani vyrazili s cílem připravit 100galonový koktejl a míchali rum , jednoduchý sirup , limetková šťáva a led ve 12litrových dávkách a poté vše nalito do masivního sudu ozdobeného tak, aby vypadal jako Tiki džbánek.
Celebrity Rum
Celebrity spirits aren't limited to tequila, vodka, and whiskey. Musicians, actors, and other famous names have also found their way into rum.
Some simply lend their fame to a bottle.
Others actually own the company, help develop the rum, or apparently wake up one morning and think:
You know what my career needs? A distillery.
Blue Chair Bay — Kenny Chesney
Country superstar Kenny Chesney launched Blue Chair Bay Rum in 2013, inspired by the Caribbean lifestyle that has influenced so much of his music.
This isn't simply an endorsement. Chesney's company says he fully owns Blue Chair Bay, and he worked with master blender Mike Booth developing the rums. The line includes White, Spiced, Coconut, Banana, and several rum creams.
The rums are made in the Caribbean from sugarcane molasses.
Kenny didn't just sing about sitting on a beach.
He bottled it.
SelvaRey — Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is a co-owner and creative force behind SelvaRey Rum, produced in Panama by legendary Cuban-born rum maker Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez.
SelvaRey produces White, Chocolate, Coconut, and aged expressions. Mars became heavily involved with the brand's creative direction, including its packaging, advertising, and tropical-luxury image.
Other investors and partners have included Anderson .Paak and Asian pop superstar Jay Chou.
Bruno Mars selling rum somehow feels considerably less surprising than Bruno Mars selling, say, insurance.
Ten To One — Ciara
Singer Ciara became an investor, co-owner, and director of Ten To One Rum in 2021.
But there's an important distinction: she didn't found the company.
Trinidad-born entrepreneur Marc Farrell founded Ten To One in 2019 with the goal of presenting Caribbean rum without relying on the usual pirates-and-palm-trees stereotypes.
Ciara later joined Farrell as co-owner and became involved in marketing, creative direction, business development, and strategic partnerships.
The brand blends rums from several Caribbean origins.
This is one celebrity brand where the rum came first and the celebrity came later.
Sammy's Beach Bar Rum — Sammy Hagar
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar founded Sammy's Beach Bar Rum.
The rums are distilled in Puerto Rico from cane molasses and include white and aged expressions.
Of course, Hagar was already an old hand at celebrity spirits. Long before celebrity tequila became fashionable, he founded Cabo Wabo Tequila.
Apparently retirement was never going to involve lemonade.
Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum — Chris Blackwell
This one is a little different because Chris Blackwell isn't a movie star or singer—he's one of the most influential people in modern music.
Blackwell founded Island Records, the label instrumental in bringing artists including Bob Marley to an international audience.
He later created Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum, drawing on his Jamaican heritage and family history. The rum launched in 2008 and is produced in Jamaica.
There's another wonderful connection: Blackwell owns GoldenEye, Ian Fleming's former Jamaican home where Fleming wrote his James Bond novels.
Rum + Bob Marley + James Bond.
That's a pretty good résumé for one bottle.
Crossfire Hurricane — The Rolling Stones
This is the newest one—it launched in 2026.
The Rolling Stones created Crossfire Hurricane, a Jamaican rum named after the opening lyric of their 1968 hit “Jumpin' Jack Flash.”
Crossfire Hurricane was developed with respected rum ambassador Ian Burrell and combines Jamaican rums from four major distilleries: Hampden Estate, Long Pond, Worthy Park, and Clarendon.
The project also connects to the Stones' long history with Jamaica, including recording sessions there beginning in the 1970s and relationships with Jamaican musicians.
Two expressions launched: Gold and Reserve, both bottled at 40% ABV.
The Rolling Stones have been around long enough to become both rock history and rum history.
Three Hearts Rum — Johnny Depp
Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp has entered the actual rum business with Three Hearts Rum, working with spirits entrepreneur Robert DeLeon.
The project is intended to showcase traditional Caribbean rum production rather than simply build a celebrity-branded novelty product, with plans for expressions highlighting different rum-producing regions.
There is something almost inevitable about Johnny Depp eventually getting involved with rum.
After five Pirates of the Caribbean movies, apparently someone finally answered:
“Why is the rum gone?”
Celebrity Rum: Who Actually Owns What?
Founder / owner / co-owner:
Kenny Chesney — Blue Chair Bay
Bruno Mars — SelvaRey
Ciara — Ten To One (co-owner; Marc Farrell founded it)
Sammy Hagar — Sammy's Beach Bar Rum
Chris Blackwell — Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum
Celebrity/band-created or partnership projects:
The Rolling Stones — Crossfire Hurricane
Johnny Depp — Three Hearts Rum
The distinction matters because celebrity spirits range from genuine ownership and product development to licensing arrangements and promotional partnerships.
A famous face on the bottle doesn't always mean a famous person owns what's inside it.