And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails
3 journalers for this copy...
I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop. I read Tom Standage's History of the World in 6 Glasses, and thought this sounded like a similar concept but focused on the New World.
Each chapter is themed on a different drink, starting with a mention of shrub in the introduction - a vinegar-based beverage often flavored with molasses, a key component in making rum. I've enjoyed switchel, a variant, so I was pleased to see this nod.
That said, the author admits that early rums bore little resemblance to later versions, and the chapters take us through the first raw, rough "kill-devil" rum to increasingly sophisticated versions. Along the way we see how commerce and sociability affect - and are affected by - the drink and its production and distribution needs. Some of these tales are pretty grim; others rather fun - and, depending on your personal taste, you might find some of the drink recipes quite tempting!
The chapter "Grog" devotes a lot of space to Captain Henry Morgan, pirate turned administrator, and of course the namesake and logo of Captain Morgan rum. But alas, the chapter points out that if a pirate bellows for "grog" he probably isn't a real pirate, as the drink was developed after the end of the Golden Age of Piracy - it became the favorite beverage of British sailors, and may have helped make up for the many drawbacks of life aboard ship {wry grin}.
The book details the rise and fall of rum's popularity as social or political pressure is brought to bear - and the cycles continue, with intriguing results. Some of my history classes would have been enlivened by details of the relationship between rum and some of the bigger political upsets...
A local note appears in the chapter on "Medford Rum", named for Medford, Massachusetts. As an example of product branding it's a dandy, with such worthies as Paul Revere insisting on it by name!
Rum as it relates to the Indian wars, to slavery, to the rise of Prohibition - and its prompt downfall, and much more - the book covers a LOT of territory. Some of it's lighter than those events, though; at the end of the chapter on the daiquiri, the author notes the perfect daiquiri moment - and then says that rum had only one direction to go, and "Rum and Coke would escort it into the netherworld". [Since one of my worst lifetime hangovers was due to rum-and-Coke in college, I laughed at that line for a loooong time.]
The Rum-and-Coke chapter isn't all bad - among other things it describes the development of Angostura bitters - but things really start to look up in the next chapter, on Mai Tai's. That one includes the history of Trader Vic's and the tiki-drinks with the little umbrellas in them - a landmark in human cultural history, eh?
The book wraps up with a chapter on the mojito, and the description makes me want to try one even though I don't really care for rum. And at the end there's a section of recipes, from the historical ones up to current concoctions.
Each chapter is themed on a different drink, starting with a mention of shrub in the introduction - a vinegar-based beverage often flavored with molasses, a key component in making rum. I've enjoyed switchel, a variant, so I was pleased to see this nod.
That said, the author admits that early rums bore little resemblance to later versions, and the chapters take us through the first raw, rough "kill-devil" rum to increasingly sophisticated versions. Along the way we see how commerce and sociability affect - and are affected by - the drink and its production and distribution needs. Some of these tales are pretty grim; others rather fun - and, depending on your personal taste, you might find some of the drink recipes quite tempting!
The chapter "Grog" devotes a lot of space to Captain Henry Morgan, pirate turned administrator, and of course the namesake and logo of Captain Morgan rum. But alas, the chapter points out that if a pirate bellows for "grog" he probably isn't a real pirate, as the drink was developed after the end of the Golden Age of Piracy - it became the favorite beverage of British sailors, and may have helped make up for the many drawbacks of life aboard ship {wry grin}.
The book details the rise and fall of rum's popularity as social or political pressure is brought to bear - and the cycles continue, with intriguing results. Some of my history classes would have been enlivened by details of the relationship between rum and some of the bigger political upsets...
A local note appears in the chapter on "Medford Rum", named for Medford, Massachusetts. As an example of product branding it's a dandy, with such worthies as Paul Revere insisting on it by name!
Rum as it relates to the Indian wars, to slavery, to the rise of Prohibition - and its prompt downfall, and much more - the book covers a LOT of territory. Some of it's lighter than those events, though; at the end of the chapter on the daiquiri, the author notes the perfect daiquiri moment - and then says that rum had only one direction to go, and "Rum and Coke would escort it into the netherworld". [Since one of my worst lifetime hangovers was due to rum-and-Coke in college, I laughed at that line for a loooong time.]
The Rum-and-Coke chapter isn't all bad - among other things it describes the development of Angostura bitters - but things really start to look up in the next chapter, on Mai Tai's. That one includes the history of Trader Vic's and the tiki-drinks with the little umbrellas in them - a landmark in human cultural history, eh?
The book wraps up with a chapter on the mojito, and the description makes me want to try one even though I don't really care for rum. And at the end there's a section of recipes, from the historical ones up to current concoctions.
I'm adding this book to the Biographies of Things bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Hope someone enjoys it!
*** Released for the 2017 Wine+Food release challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2017 Wine+Food release challenge. ***
I love mojita! : D
Naturally, this alcoholic can't pass up an alcoholic book... Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Naturally, this alcoholic can't pass up an alcoholic book... Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Oh Gory, have you tried a mojito yet? It's my favorite cocktail. I admit, I seldom drink cocktail, but mojito is so delicious. Except that a lot of bars do not make it, as it requires fresh mint.
And I'd say that I am not much into rum. Most of the stuff I tried I consider rather rough, not as refined as a good cognac. But maybe I just haven't tried some good ones yet. Reading this book certainly piqued my interest, to explore the different rums from different countries.
A very interesting, mouth-watering read. I don't really care for the detailed political history of the prohibition, but overall, quite an eye opener for someone who didn't know much about rum.
Reserved for a BCer who has it on her wishlist.
And I'd say that I am not much into rum. Most of the stuff I tried I consider rather rough, not as refined as a good cognac. But maybe I just haven't tried some good ones yet. Reading this book certainly piqued my interest, to explore the different rums from different countries.
A very interesting, mouth-watering read. I don't really care for the detailed political history of the prohibition, but overall, quite an eye opener for someone who didn't know much about rum.
Reserved for a BCer who has it on her wishlist.
Wow, this book is logging the miles! Thank you, Azuki (and Gory!)
