Honey rum is a blend of honey and rum. It is a rich, warm and sweet alcoholic drink that originated in the Canary Islands. Honey rum can be served over ice, on its own, or as a mixer.
What Is Honey?
Let's begin with honey. Honey is a thick, golden liquid produced by industrious bees using the nectar of flowering plants. It is as old as history itself, dating back to 2100 B.C. We know this because it was mentioned in the sacred writings of India and Egypt.
Not all honey is the same. There are many varieties of honey. The colour, taste, smell, and even texture will vary between varieties. The five main types of honey are:
- Acacia
- Alfafa
- Chestnut
- Orange blossom (this is the type of honey we use to make our Beeble Honey Rum)
- Sage
Honey has long been known for its healing properties. In fact, the Romans used honey to heal their wounds after battles. Hannibal, a great warrior, gave his army honey and vinegar as they crossed the alps on elephants to battle Rome. Even today, many products such as face creams, deodorants, and shampoos contain honey.
What Is Rum?
Rum is an alcoholic spirit made from sugar cane to creates a sweet and earthy flavour. The sugar may be either pure cane sugar, a syrup, or molasses. Most rums are bottled at 40% alcohol by volume.
How Is Rum Made?
Rum is one of the oldest distilled spirits. The creation of rum dates back to the Caribbean and South America during the 1600s. This first batch of rum was produced with molasses and "skimmings" from the production of sugar.
Over time as the production of rum expanded across the globe, each region and country began to develop their own different laws and traditions that are used in its production.
The ageing process is key to making rum. The majority of rums are aged in wood casks, and the type of wood used is often the determining factor in the colour of rum produced in the end.
Interestingly, climate plays a critical role in how long rum is aged for. For example, rum produced in tropical climates will be aged for less time than those in cooler climates, hence why Caribbean rum is aged for less years than North American rum.
Types Of Rum
There are two main types of rum: light rum and dark rum.
Light rum, also called white rum, is the most common type of rum. It is aged in stainless steel tanks for up to one year, which is what gives it its light colour. It has a vibrant flavour and is used to make cocktails like the Daiquiri, Mojito, and Piña Colada.
Dark rums are the richest rums and they most often receive their flavour from ageing in charred oak casks. Alternatively, some dark rums receive their darkness from added colouring and sometimes, added spices. This type of rum is used to make Rum Punch or a Dark ‘N’ Stormy (or as we like to call it a Dark ‘N’ Swarmy).
Beeble Honey Rum
Beeble Swarm is our newest addition to the family of honey spirits. With sustainably sourced British honey at the heart of everything we do, naturally when it is blended with a classic Caribbean rum, the results are magical.
Much like our other family members our honey is always sourced sustainably from our own beehives. The journey of our rum however starts in the Fair Trade sugarcane fields of Trinidad. After cutting, fermentation begins and then sugarcane juice and molasses are distilled to create world renowned Caribbean Rum.
The original distillate is a clear liquid and only darkens after being aged in oak barrels similar to those used when ageing whisky. We are able to get even richer colour once the honey is added, truly making this into a golden nectar.
