Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage produced from the byproducts of sugarcane processing, such as juices and molasses. It has been a staple of trade and nautical culture for centuries, and is especially popular in the West Indies and Canadian Maritimes.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Although rum's origins are debated, drinks made from fermented sugarcane juice have existed in Asia for millennia. A document from 1651 indicates a rum production in Barbados. Rum production in the West Indies began properly in the 17th century, when plantation slaves discovered that molasses could be fermented into alcohol, which could then be purified and concentrated through distillation.[1]
Rum soon became a staple of Caribbean trade. Its popularity, value and heavy dependence on manual labor made it a key component in the triangular trade,[1] and merchants such as Stede Bonnet sold it. During this time, many pirates, such as Edward Kenway,[2] Alonzo Batilla,[3] and Adéwalé[4] would plunder merchant ships for rum, as it sold well on the market.[2]
In 1725, following their escape from an ambush by the East India Company's and Admiral Zheng's fleets, Jan van Aert brought Edward Kenway and the other Zhang Wei Union members to Batavia to celebrate their victory and discuss their next course of action. During the celebrations, Jan brought two bottles of rum and handed one to Edward, who ultimately agreed to resume their partnership, claiming that his "Caribbean brothers would never let [him] live it down if [he] turned away a man who seeks forgiveness with rum."[5]
During the late 18th century, the Assassin Aveline de Grandpré's trading empire sold rum across the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.[6]
Rum also replaced French brandy as the Royal Navy's daily alcohol ration, a practice shared by pirates. A daily dose of rum, known as a "tot", was served to Royal Navy sailors until 1970.[1]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Edward Kenway, Benjamin Hornigold, and Edward Thatch with several rum bottles -
Edward Kenway and Anne Bonny drinking rum -
Edward Kenway holding a rum bottle
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates (first mentioned) (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed III (mentioned only)
- The Tyranny of King Washington: The Betrayal (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed III: Liberation (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Pirates
- Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Nexus VR (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple