Sugar Cane Spirits (Rum) Lecture Review

Comprehensive flashcards covering the production, styles, and regional regulations of sugar cane spirits (rum) based on the lecture notes.

What is the general definition of rum?

A spirit made from sugar cane that is not a neutral spirit.

In which regions of the world is sugar cane grown?

Throughout the world in regions where it is hot enough for it to thrive.

How is sugar cane juice released from the stems?

The stems are put through a mill, which crushes them to release the liquid.

What are the characteristic aromas of rums made from sugar cane juice?

Pronounced vegetal, grassy, and herbaceous aromas.

What is molasses?

A thick, sticky residue left over after sugar producers have collected sugar crystals from heated cane juice.

Which specific grade of molasses is most widely used in the Caribbean for making rum?

Blackstrap molasses.

What aromas are associated with rums made from molasses or cane syrup?

Toffee, caramel, and brown sugar aromas.

Why is the amount of fruity esters often boosted during rum fermentation?

To increase the tropical fruit aromas and create high-ester rums, a tradition particularly important in Jamaica.

What is the definition of a 'mark' (or 'marque') in rum production?

An individual newly made spirit.

What are the characteristics of 'light marks'?

Spirits distilled to a high strength (often in excess of $90\% \text{ abv}$) in column stills, resulting in light flavor intensity.

What are 'heavy marks' and how are they typically produced?

Spirits distilled to a relatively low strength, typically in pot stills, resulting in a diversity of intense flavors such as fruity or earthy characters.

What is the difference between 'continentally aged' and 'tropically aged' rum?

Continentally aged rums are matured in Europe, while tropically aged rums are matured in the Caribbean; they develop differently due to the climate.

How do distillers create colourless rums that still possess the smoothness of oak maturation?

They filter the spirit with activated charcoal to remove the colour picked up from old oak barrels.

In which Caribbean country is the addition of sugar forbidden for rums labelled with its name?

Jamaica.

What is Rhum agricole?

A style of rum made from sugar cane juice, primarily associated with the French overseas departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

What is the difference between 'rhum blanc' and 'rhum vieux'?

Rhum blanc is unaged and stored in inert vessels, while rhum vieux must be oak-aged for at least $3 \text{ years}$.

What is unique about the production of Cuban rum regarding maturation?

All Cuban rum must go through a period of maturation in old oak barrels, even if it is later filtered to become colourless.

What are the shared production characteristics of Cuban and Puerto Rican rums?

They are made from molasses, column-distilled, and must be oak-aged.

Why is the distillery in Guyana historically and commercially significant?

It possesses a collection of antique pot and column stills recovered from closed Guyanese distilleries, allowing the production of many characterful heavy marks.

What is cachaça?

A sugar cane juice spirit from Brazil, which is the world's largest producer of sugar cane spirits.

What does the term 'overproof' historically refer to in the British system?

A measurement where $57.15\% \text{ abv}$ was defined as $100 \text{ proof}$; rums over this strength are considered 'overproof'.