Rum and Cachaça

Question 1

What are all rums made from?

Answer 1

Sugar Cane

Question 2

Where is the center of rum production?

Answer 2

The Caribbean

Question 3

The part of the sugar cane plant that is harvested for sugar?

Answer 3

The stems

Question 4

What is molasses?

Answer 4

A byproduct of the sugar process that is commonly used for rum production.

Question 5

What are characteristics of rum made from sugar cane juice?

Answer 5

Rum made from sugar cane juice have vegetal, grassy and fruity aromas.

Question 6

When is the highest quality molasses produced?

Answer 6

It is produced at the beginning of the sugar-refining process.

Question 7

What must be done before fermentation of molasses?

Answer 7

Water must be added to dilute the liquid.

Question 8

What are high-ester rums?

Answer 8

Often pot-stilled rums with exaggerated pungent and fruity aromas that are found in the production traditions of Jamaica.

Question 9

What term is used to describe an individual, newly made rum?

Answer 9

Marks

Question 10

Describe light marks rum.

Answer 10

Rums that have been distilled to a relatively high strength, often in excess of 90% abv, in a column still. They play an important role in making golden rums.

Question 11

Describe heavy marks rum.

Answer 11

Rums that have been distilled to a relatively low strength, normally made in a pot still. They are usually oak aged.

Question 12

What is the impact of a short column still?

Answer 12

They are often used for many sugar cane juice rums, the impact is low distillation strength and accentuated flavors.

Question 13

What are the flavors of oak-aged heavy mark rums?

Answer 13

Bruised fruit, over-ripe banana and rancio flavors

Question 14

True or False:

Rums are never blends.

Answer 14

False

Rums are often blends of different marks or ages, from different distilleries or even within a single distillery. This is done for complexity.

Question 15

What three techniques can distiller use after a blend is made?

Answer 15

1. Filter with activated charcoal to remove color, this is done with short aged rums
2. Adding caramel color
3. Sweetening before bottling to complement the fruit and rancio aromas

Question 16

Spiced rums are considered to be what?

Answer 16

Flavored spirits

Question 17

What are the three main cultural styles of Caribbean rum?

Answer 17

English, French and Spanish

Question 18

Visually, how do we classify?

Answer 18

By color

Question 19

Describe White Rum

Answer 19

• Water-white and colorless
• May be oak aged
• Can be light to pronounced in aromas, but are almost always light

Question 20

Describe golden or amber rum.

Answer 20

• Most of the color comes from oak aging, with caramel used for color balancing and consistency
• Blends will be up to the producer or local tradition
• Medium level of sweetness

Question 21

What are the the two types of Dark Rum?

Answer 21

Those with extended oak aging, having black banana, meaty, leather flavors, and those with significant caramel coloring with distinct cane sugar aromas.

Question 22

Describe rancio flavors.

Answer 22

Black banana, meaty, leathery flavors and a deep color that develops over time aging in oak barrels.

Question 23

How did the British colonization of the Caribbean affect the rum making traditions?

Answer 23

The British Navy served a daily ration of rum until 1970. Because this rum was diluted, it needed to be full of character and have heavy marks.

Question 24

What was the style of rum from the countries of Jamaica and Guyana?

Answer 24

The tradition in these two places is for heavier style rum because they were colonized by the British. Rums from these countries were often blended.

Question 25

What is the style of rum associated with Jamaica?

Answer 25

High-ester rums with dramatic fruity flavors

Question 26

What is the style of rum associated with Guyana?

Answer 26

Rums with richness, well-suited for aging in oak casks.

Question 27

What is the style of rum coming from Barbados?

Answer 27

These rums are also influenced by the British, but smoother, softer notes.

Question 28

What two Caribbean islands are associated with the French style?

Answer 28

Martinique and Guadeloupe

Question 29

What is Rhum Agricole and where is it from?

Answer 29

Rums from Martinique and Guadeloupe, made using sugar cane juice in short column stills.

Question 30

True or False:

Rhum Agricole is generally going to be sweeter than Spanish style rums.

Answer 30

False

It will typically be drier, although not completely dry, so are often considered dry or just off-dry.

Question 31

Describe Spanish style rums.

Answer 31

Spanish style rums are often called Cuban style, they are light with smooth texture on the palate.

Question 32

Decribe Spanish style golden rum texture.

Answer 32

Extra smooth, due to the higher percentage of light marks and addition of some sugar.

Question 33

What is Cachaca?

Answer 33

A type of sugar cane juice made in Brazil.

Question 34

Who is the world’s largest producer of rum?

Answer 34

Brazil - much of which is Cachaca.

Question 35

What does the term overproof refer to?

Answer 35

Overproof is an antiquated term used by British sailors to confirm the alcohol strength of their rum - 57.15% abv = 100 proof, so anything over this was considered good.

Question 36

What is important to note about the age statements on rum?

Answer 36

The age statement on rum is not as clear cut as on other styles of spirits - more of a guide than an absolute. Will vary from producer to producer.

Question 37

What is important to note about rum labeling terms?

Answer 37

Not as controlled or standard as other spirit styles as there is no one, overarching set of guidelines, due to coming from so many different places and countries.