No ho hum rum here
The region's ubiquitous drink
El La Loba
Rum aficionados are not as well known as wine connoisseurs. But it appears they’re just as outspoken. This is good news for St. Croix’s native Cruzan Rum.
Trinidadian Anthony P. Maingot, Ph.D. a professor of sociology at Florida International University in Miami, writes that because rum is the drink of the Caribbean, “ Every small island, even those that do not grow a stalk of cane, is in the business. They import their distillates or bulk molasses, from Brazil or the Dominican Republic, put it into casks and slap a fancy label making outrageous claims on the bottle”
Maingot notes “ An exception is Cruzan rums from the U. S. Virgin Islands. It does import its molasses but blends and ages its product to award-winning quality.”
Maingot observes the globalizations and the new popularity of rum are double-edged swords for the Caribbean, observing, “Only giants such as Bacardi could survive a world of open competition”. Maingot says a marketing strategy, might be the answer. He believes “Caribbean Rum” should become a generic terms like Cognac, Champagne and Scotch, with award winning brands gravitating to the top shelf.
For more information: Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History by Frederick H. Smith
Ella Laloba loves sampling island rum.
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