Rum: Funky, Fierce and Full of Fire
From Sugarcane Waste to Global Icon
Rum wasn’t born in luxury. It started in the fields — more specifically, in the leftovers. In the 17th century, plantation workers in the Caribbean discovered that the molasses discarded during sugar refining could be fermented and distilled. The result? A crude, fiery liquid that packed heat and attitude. But it didn’t stay crude for long. Over centuries, rum evolved from rough sailor’s ration to a spirit of craft, culture, and complexity.
A Spirit Forged in Heat and Humidity
Unlike whisky or cognac, rum ages fast — because it doesn’t come from cool cellars. It breathes in hot, tropical climates, pulling deep from the wood. That heat gives rum its edge. It becomes rich, funky, fruity, fiery. Sometimes sweet, sometimes dry, always layered. Rum can taste like banana bread or diesel fuel — or both, depending on the distillery. It’s a chameleon. And that’s what makes it so exciting to age yourself.
A Global Spirit with Local Flavor
From Jamaican pot stills to Martinique’s agricole style, from Demerara to Dominican, rum changes drastically by region. Some lean heavy into esters and funk. Others are soft, light and floral. There’s no single rum flavor — only families. And when you age rum yourself, on wood of your choice, you get to shape that family tree even further.
DIY Aging Brings Out Its Wild Side
Rum takes to oak fast. Just a few weeks on bourbon or brandy barrel chips can add depth, spice and roundness. Islay wood gives it smoke. Calvados oak brightens the fruit. Even clear, white rum transforms quickly — and becomes something smooth, tropical and bold. For first-time DIYers, rum is forgiving. For veterans, it’s a playground.
Untamed, But Never Unrefined
Rum doesn’t care about rules. It’s aged in warehouses, shacks and ship hulls. It’s blended, bottled, and reborn in every climate you can imagine. And yet, when done right, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest spirits in the world. Age it your way, pour it your way, and drink it like the rebel you are. That’s what rum was built for.
