by Rum is a popular topic here at Forts, Marmots, Cannon, and Rum. So a book that plunges into the history of our favorite libation like a cocktail umbrella into a freshly poured Mai Tai has a lofty bar to reach. Kinda like a bartender going for that bottle that only comes out for the special regulars. Author Wayne Curtis reaches for that top shelf and pours out a heavy shot of fun summer reading.
The Atlantic World in Nine Drinks and One for the Pacific.
While I am serious about my rum, it is not a spirit that has to be taken too seriously. And a Bottle of Rum is not particularly hard hitting history, but it doesn’t need to be. Ten chapters align themselves with ten significant rum drinks throughout the years. “Kill-Devil” begins with rum’s shady colonial origins invoving slaves, pirates, and dung in fermenting vats. The book wraps up with “Mojito” detailing the recent globalization trends in sugarcane spirits. Much of the focus is of course on the Atlantic world. Grog, Cuba, Hemingway, Bacardi, Tiki they’re all there. This book goes beyond these familiar aged stops and adds some spice here and there. From discussing how men beat each other to death with bartending implements in colonial America to sleuthing into who invented at particular cocktail, there is enough variety for everyone.
Goes Down Smooth with no Harsh Bite
Aside from a few sections that seem to jump back and forth chronologically, And a Bottle of Rum is a nice easy read that won’t bore the hardcore cane spirit history freaks and won’t overwhelm the casual reader. It also gives a shout out to two of my favorite destinations in Massachusetts, Kowloon, a giant tiki palace in Saugus, and Ipswich’s exmplar of craft distilling, Privateer Rum.
Yo ho ho……
