More Than Just Direct Translations, The Terms Rum, Ron And Rhum Reflect Regional Variations And Complex Histories. We Look At The Language Of Rum And Asks Whether These Three Terms For Sugarcane Spirits Can Help Us Understand Their Flavour
Rum is arguably the most diverse spirit in the world. Unlike single malt Scotch, Cognac or tequila, rum is not the preserve of a single nation or one set of governing laws. It can be made from different raw materials – generally sugarcane products of some kind – it can be fermented and distilled in various ways, aged and blended or bottled straight from the still.
Rum is made in almost all tropical regions of the world and even in some more northerly latitudes, far from the nearest cane fields. This means that it transcends language, leaving us with regional variations on the word ‘rum’ which can sometimes be used as a way to talk about different styles and methods of manufacture.
- Rum – the English-language term for spirit distilled from molasses or sugarcane juice, usually used in the English-speaking Caribbean countries like Jamaican and Barbados
- Rhum – the French-language term, often associated with spirit distilled from sugarcane juice in the French overseas departments like Martinique and Guadeloupe
- Ron – the Spanish-language term used throughout Central and South America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, generally referring to spirit distilled from molasses