Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum shares ten interesting rum facts fans should know
For rum drinkers everywhere, we all know one thing – it tastes great. But do true rum fans really know the secrets behind their favourite spirit?
Rum is growing in popularity like never before. This year, the global rum market was valued at $16.61bn and is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 6.67% from 2022 to 2025. Rum sales increased by 18% in 2021 alone!*
Spiced rum is pushing this trend, becoming a clear crowd favourite – mainly down to the nation’s love of cocktails. We just can’t get enough of them!
In all our favourite hot spots last year including bars, hotels and restaurants, spiced and flavoured rum took a 6.3% share of spirits, an increase of 1.2% compared to 2019, with the delicious taste being the number one reason us Brits love spiced and flavoured rums.*
Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum is here to reveal all with its top 10 facts you may not know about rum:
- Rum is a major ingredient in the world’s top cocktails
Including a Daquiri, Mojito, Pina Colada, Cuba Libre, Mai Tai and a Long Island Iced Tea. It is also included in 23% of all cocktails served[1]. That favourite cocktail of yours? Probably includes rum. It also works in many traditional cocktails and can add an extra tasty twist. Why not try a classic cocktail and switch the main spirit for rum?
- Rum dates back to the 1600s
The earliest known rum dates back more than 400 years. Rum was the world’s first spirit, and the first distillation took place during in the Caribbean in the 1620s[2]! The first English rum known originated in 1654.
- Rum is made in every continent… besides Antarctica[3]
The majority of rum is produced in the Caribbean or West Indies, with 80% hailing from Puerto Rico.[4] It can be produced anywhere but the main ingredient for rum must come molasses made from sugarcane, fresh sugarcane juice (sometimes called garapa) or sugar cane syrup. The first rum was first produced in India using fermented sugar cane juice.
- It has a long history with the navy
Way back in the 18th century, the Royal Navy supplied its sailors with half a pint of rum a day[5].
They also had their own ‘Navy Rum’ – a typically strong rum, specifically 57% ABV. If they spilt this, it ignited their gunpowder, so all alcohol had to be tested for strength – and back then, the stronger, the better. If a mix of rum and gunpowder successfully caught fire it was proof of sufficient alcohol.
Rum used to be referred to as ‘Nelson’s Blood’ in the Navy too! This was because they believed that Nelson’s body was brought back from the Battle of Trafalgar in a cask of rum.[6]
That’s not all, it was common for sailors to receive rum as part of their benefits package.[7]
- Weird and wonderful myths
In the 1800s, it was thought rum could prevent hair loss – people would use it to clean their hair in the hopes for thicker locks.[8]
Sailors used to be rationed extra strong rum as it was believed to fight scurvy![9]
- Many nicknames
These include the ‘Kill-Devil’ as it was once believed that rum could fight of bad spirits and kill the devil inside. ‘Aguadiente’, a common name, also translates to firewater in Spanish. Some more include Demon Water, Navy Neaters, Barbados Water, Grog, Pirates Drink and Rumbullion.
- Friends in high places
George Washington demanded that at least one barrel of rum be brought from Barbados for his inauguration in 1789.
Not to mention, sugarcane, from which rum is made, was introduced to the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Some say we may owe Columbus a thank you!
- Australia was built on rum
In colonial times, Rum was used as currency. The first hospital in Sydney was built in return for the licence to import more than 60,000 gallons of rum.[10]
- The world’s strongest rum
At 90% ABV, Suriname’s Mariënburg rum currently holds the honour of being the world’s strongest, commercially available rum. And even now, rum manufacturers and distillers still are still secretive about exactly what goes into their unique recipe blend to achieve their desired tastes.
- In the UK alone, there are 2.7m people that consume rum, and 4.8m people that shop for it to gift
Because of this, rum was worth a whopping £1.17bn in the UK in 2021, making it the third largest rum market in the world. Us Brits just can’t get enough!
If you’ve got a taste for rum, you can purchase original Hawksbill Spiced Caribbean Rum and its new flavours, Mango or Pineapple, for RRP £23 (70cl bottle) on Amazon.
[1] The Rum Report 2022 by The Campari Group
[2] 10 Amazing Facts About Rum – World Rum Guide
[3] 5 delicious things you may not know about rum (michelin.com)
[4] National Rum Day: 10 facts we never knew about rum | Metro News
[5] 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rum – Cocktails Distilled
[6] 10 Amazing Facts About Rum – World Rum Guide
[7] National Rum Day: 10 facts we never knew about rum | Metro News
[8] National Rum Day: 10 facts we never knew about rum | Metro News
[9] National Rum Day: 10 facts we never knew about rum | Metro News
[10] 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Rum – Cocktails Distilled