Old Monk Supreme XXX Rum

Slightly sweet taste, strong with up to 96% alcohol content rum was originally a by-product of sugar production. Initially the sugar residues were used as animal feed or simply thrown away, but soon alcohol was produced from it. Today sugar cane is grown mainly in Asia and Central America. However, this perennial cultivated plant is of Asian origin. Evidence of crystallized sugar could be found in India already 5,000 years ago. Sugar cane cultivation spread further thanks to the Arabs to the Mediterranean countries – Egypt and North Africa. Columbus was the first to bring sugar cane to the Caribbean countries at the end of the 15th century and until today sugar cane is used for sugar as well as rum production.

Rum is a well-known seafarers’ drink. Rum is even today appropriate at sea, as it was already in the 17th century, when production of rum on a large scale started. Liquors, with alcohol content of up to 80% was provided to the seamen on daily basis by law. Rum as strong alcohol was widely available and affordable at sailing ships. By the way, it was indispensable for the disinfection of drinking water. Lemon was added to rum diluted with water to improve its flavor. That is probably how the very first rum cocktail was obtained. It is well-known as hot toddy. So, rum became a widely consumed drink of seafarers and pirates. In the 18th century rum spread all over the world across the Atlantic triangular slave trade route to the Caribbean islands, New England and western Africa.