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Caribbean Rum Essay

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As defined by Fredrick H. Smith in his novel, Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History, rum is “the potable alcoholic beverage obtained by distilling sugarcane juice and the waste products of sugar making” (Smith 1). Imported African slaves on the islands of the Caribbean discovered the distillation of the by- product, molasses, into rum. At first, it was thought to be industrial waste; however, quickly after, it became a global phenomenon, which rapidly amped up the economies of several islands. Several attributes of rum developed “from its ability to provide a temporary respite from the challenges of everyday life in the region;” therefore, contributing to the reconfiguration of drinking patterns among both the European colonists and …show more content…

In regards to international trading, “sugar has always required a large capital investment” (Ortiz 2). Specifically, Cuba has taken part in the grand success of the sugar industry. It is an industry filled with importing and exporting all different services and goods. The importation of “machinery, workers, and capital” allowed for the expansion of more sugarcane plantations, slaves, greater investments and reserves that led to higher exports of sugar and molasses (Ortiz 62). This all generated positive revenue for the economy. In Haiti, author Finbarr O’Reilly wrote that the Barbancourt Estate that specializes in rum distillation is “what keeps this tiny, abandoned raft of a country on the map” (O’Reilly). Although these are just two examples of how the industry has benefited the economy of the Caribbean Islands, the main contribution of the sugar industry and its by-product, in terms of my essay, revolve around the several cultural implications it …show more content…

Although it was associated with economic status and spiritual ways of escape, it was also viewed as means of harm to certain groups. Drinking alcoholic beverages led to drunken vulnerability among all sectors of society. It temporary lowered innate defenses that exposed individuals to all sorts of dangers. A theme arose from the excess use of alcohol in the Caribbean: vulnerable-while-drunk theme. It was presented throughout several different pieces of Caribbean folklore, which exposed images of individuals drunken beyond repair. (Smith) The original function of alcohol has greatly changed over the past few centuries leading to a new drinking culture. However, these types of drinking habits were not just present throughout the Caribbean, but in fact all over the

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