joyfully said:JohnandBev said:
Rhum, while the Fr sp of rum, is really the short form for rhum agricole – meaning made from pressed cane, it has a distinctive aroma and is largely a product of the Fr Caribbean islands [though Sammy’s beach bar rum – made from pressed cane - comes from Hawaii – Sammy Hagar, one time lead for Van Halen]
Rum normally means industrial rum and is made from molasses.
My understanding is Toppers rhum is made from molasses and they use the term rhum based on it being Fr for rum [but made on the Dutch side?! – I know – it’s marketing] I don’t want to get into a war of words re Toppers and quality taste etc.
My original comment was to the initial post about a shortage of rhum, possibly due to a duty issue
So is there a proposed duty on Rhum and is there a current shortage?
J&B
I suppose this is picking nits and somewhat off-topic (I know, the first time ever on TTOL :>) but I must beg to differ.
"Rhum" means "Rum" in english, whether it's made from sugar cane juice or molasses (a by-product of sugar production). It can only be called rhum/rum if the source plant is sugar cane. "Rhum Agricole" is a sub-category of rhum, meaning rhum made from sugar cane juice (instead of molasses). You can find bottles of "Rhum" everywhere in France and legally they can be made either from cane juice or molasses, although in most cases you will find that they are made from molasses, because if the maker is using fresh sugar cane juice, he will want to label it "rhum agricole" and receive (in general) the higher price people are willing to pay for "rhum agricole," compared to plain-old rhum. This, of course, is excluding the effects of aging, which can indeed make a "vieux rhum" made from molasses cost more than a white "rhum agricole."
Was that as clear as... molasses? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
OK, I’ll bite and nit back – for the record I’m taking Joyfully’s comments as partially in jest and will respond equally.
In some ways we do not disagree, but looking at the same coin from a different side
I did state rhum is the Fr sp for rum. I’m also sure that rum labeled for the Fr market is written rhum as the Fr sp for rum is rhum. However Fr bottled ‘rhum’ labeled for export to English countries is labelled ‘Rum’ – ie Captain Flint rum, bottled in France made from molasses and Fair rum also bottled in France, but made with cane sugar juice from Belize [aged in Kentucky used bourbon barrels] is labeled Rum for export markets. Rhum from Fr islands is a specifically labelled product and almost always means rhum agricole.
Oh, as for aged rum from molasses costing more than white rhum – any good aged rum / rhum is going to cost more than white rum / rhum – just a matter of the aging math – no different from any aged liquor.
Back to the post at hand. The OP stated a Rhum shortage. On SXM, Dutch or Fr side Rhum generally means agricole not molasses rum [Toppers branding not withstanding]– hence my original response to the OP – rhum or rum shortage?. I wasn’t sure if SXMWendell was being playful in his title or trying to be more specific and targeting a shortage of Fr island rhum.
Regardless the question remains, what is this alcohol duty being discussed and what does it affect? In a duty free country? how does this play out.
J&B