Rum Haiku 43

A tot of Chairman’s
Reserve 1931 rum a day keeps the
doctor seeing stars

Reimagining The Story Of Rum With Marc Farrell

It’s an exciting time for the rum industry. More and more people are getting interested in the category and the shift towards rum being recognised as a high-end, premium spirit continues to gain momentum. This transition is being made possible through storytelling. Through honouring the rich history of rum and presenting it through a modern lens of the cultures that have shaped it.

For Marc Farrell, reimagining the story of rum has never been more important. The founder of Ten To One Rum, Farrell is on a mission to elevate the category and he recently provided insight into how he wants to do this on a webinar with The Rum Lab.

The Truth Of Rum

They say there’s truth in wine

I say if you really want to see the truth of who we are

Then you should try a bottle of rum

It’s human history masquerading as a spirit

Built on the foundation of slaves 

Breaking their backs in sugarcane fields

A truth to be sipped, swigged and kept down

It’s the libation of pirates seeking fortune

Liquid gold to be savoured

It’s the lifeblood of the Royal Navy

Coursing through the veins of sailors

Who still remember Black Tot Day

It’s the hard work of master blenders

Putting their heart and soul into every glass

It’s the energy of innovation passed across countries

Each distillery leaving their own mark to be remembered

It’s the story of cultures crossing the world

Conversations flowing from people from all walks of life

It’s damn tasty

It’s the truth of rum 

Be Careful What You Wish For: The Legend Of Bacoo And Rum

Caribbean folklore has its fair share of monsters, spirits and things that go bump in the night and many of these entities have a connection to rum. An example is the bacoo, a mischievous Guyanese spirit with magical powers. 

Similar to a djinn, the bacoo has the power to grant wishes and bring good fortune to its owner. But there’s far more to the Caribbean’s answer to a djinn that meets the eye. You must always be careful of what you wish for.

Rum Haiku 24

To be offered rum
by a gorgeous woman
is to tempt your fate

4 Intriguing Rums That Have Been Inspired By Folklore

Rum plays an important role in the folklore of many different cultures, ranging from Caribbean destinations like Jamaica, to the American deep south. So, it should come as no surprise that there are rum brands that have been inspired by folklore and weaved it into the story of their bottles. Here are four of the most intriguing rums that are steeped in myth and monsters.

Investigating The Story Of The Rolling Calf

Rum and folklore have a habit of going hand in hand, whether through the well-established connection to pirates, or a focus on the supernatural. 

In particular, Caribbean folklore has strong ties to rum and an example of this is with the Rolling Calf, a dreaded spirit that stalks through the night looking to destroy anything it comes into contact with.

Woodman

I’ll never forget the holiday I took to Grenada

Where spices grow with all the colours of a rainbow

Golden beaches as far as the eye can see

The rum is what really grabbed my attention

One sip of Rivers blew my damn head off

Another sip got me into the bar

Where a local shoved a bottle into my hand

“Drink. Babash put chest on your chest.”

I couldn’t find any reason to argue with his logic

“Drink. Babash makes men strong.”

I’m pretty sure I tasted gasoline and cola nuts

“Drink. You’ll be as randy as a stoat in summer.”

I don’t remember what happened next

But I woke up next to my wife in the morning

And she seemed pretty satisfied 

What’s The Connection Between Duppy And Rum?

Folklore of the Caribbean is as diverse as the people who inhabit the islands. The melting pot of cultures has created a pantheon of supernatural creatures who’re as changeable as the stories that are passed down about them from generation to generation.

Duppy are common in Caribbean folklore, haunting the spirit realm and bringing mischief wherever they go. But what is the story of the duppy and how is it connected to rum?

Temptress, Seductress, Avenger Of The Opressed: The Legend Of La Diablesse

Caribbean folklore features a rich mixture of local stories, legends and creatures from all over the islands. A tale that’s endured in African, French, Trinidad and Jamaican culture is the legend of La Diablesse, a woman who you wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night on your own!