3 Tips about the Caribbean and rum

If you’re reading this, it probably means you aren’t in the beauty of the Caribbean, whiling away the hours on the beach with cocktail in hand. But here’s the next-best thing: The city is currently celebrating Caribbean Week, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s annual weeklong celebration of the islands (you can find out about various events such as fashion shows, parties and films at www.caribbeanweekny.com). In honor of the festivities, we thought it would be helpful for you to know a little bit more about the  quintessential island spirit — rum — so we asked for some tidbits from Juan Campos, senior brand manager for Brugal Rum.

1 There are certain theories about how rum got to the Caribbean. “The sugar cane was brought to Hispaniola, the old name of the Dominican Republic, and Columbus brought it on his second trip from the Canary Islands in 1493,” says Campos, who is quick to note that there are many stories about how sugar cane appeared on the island, but this is the most prevalent theory.

2 It just so happens that the fermented sugar cane (the basis of rum) fit  perfectly with the Dominican way of life. “Rum goes together with their way of living, thinking and especially the weather,” says Campos. 

3 When asked which Caribbean island is the best for sipping a rum cocktail on, Campos name-drops the Dominican Republic. (He probably has to: Brugal Rum is distilled there.) “If I could change my passport from Spain to the Dominican Republic, I would,” he laughs. “People, when they think of the Domin­ican Republic, they probably think of an all-inclusive resort — but there is a heightened Dominican Republic the deeper you go into the island. Grab a drink on the corner, watch the magic of the people and dance a little Merengue.”