The story of Jamaican rum began in 1749, with the establishment of Appleton Estate, although the site itself dates even further and can be traced back to 1665. By the late 19th century, there were more than 100 rum distilleries in Jamaica, but now there are just a handful. The way rum is made is by using sugar cane which once it has been cut down is pressed, cooked and left eventually to evaporate this is now called Molasses which is the thick, sticky liquid left over once the sugar-cane juice has been boiled and the sugar crystals removed. This process of fragmentation of the sugar cane which becomes the Molasses takes from 24 to 72 hours in total and rum can be stored in barrels for many years before it is bottled up, labelled then sold and shipped worldwide!
Fun facts about rum
Rum was manufactured, distilled, and made long before any other spirit. Its history is a vast one filled with stories, and fables. It was the first branded spirit ever to be made.
Rations of rum were given to sailors in the Royal Navy to be mixed with lime juice because it fought off the scurvy. (Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C)
Rum Trivia – Back in the day when wealthy titles were given to people, they were thanked with a glass of rum.
Extended barrel aging of rum can produce a darker colour due to the way it is aged in the wooden casks and barrels which is the difference between white and dark rum.
Rum was used as shampoo in the 1800s.
George Washington made his eggnog with Jamaican rum.
Rum is a by-product of industrial waste.
Jamaica produces enough rum each year to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools.
Jamaica’s Appleton Estate is the second oldest rum producer in the world.
The most expensive rum in the world will set you back €50,000.
At Cottons we hold over 300 different types of rum sourced worldwide and our collection of course includes Jamaica and the Caribbean. Our Notting Hill branch currently holds the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the bar with the most types of rum commercially available it doesn’t get better than that! Make sure on your next visit you try our different variations of rum or try it in our cocktails.
Rum cocktails of the month
Why not try our rum cocktails of the month, one for every different taste! Our Watermelon Cooler which consists of Watermelon, Wray & Nephew and Strawberry Liquor! Yummy!! Or try our Gateway cocktail which consists of Plantation rum, Pineapple, Mango, Passionfruit and Campari. Our bartenders are here to pour you the best rums in the world, we look forward to seeing you at the Cottons Restaurants soon.