THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND..........
He was Captain Henry Morgan, one of the 17th Century's most daring and successful buccaneers, admired throughout Caribbean waters - a legend in his own lifetime...
Born in Wales in 1635, he sought thrills and fortune in the "New World." Throughout the Caribbean, fom Curacao to Panama City to Jamaica and beyond, his adventures as a buccaneer are legendary.He became one of Britain's most successful military strategists and an inspirational leader. He gained the loyalty of unruly buccaneers who followed him without question, and won the respect of nobles and heads of state.In 1674, a grateful King Charles II rewarded Captain Morgan for his devoted service to England with a knighthood, and Sir Henry Morgan served as Governor of Jamaica in 1680.
Renowned for his sociability and generosity, he became a celebrity in the rum shops and taverns of Port Royal until his passing. Honored with a state funeral, he was laid to rest on August 25th, 1688......yet his Legend lives on!
HOW RUM IS MADE................
PHASE ONE: FERMENTATION
Fermentation is the process by which the sugar in molasses (a by-product of the manufacture of raw sugar from sugar cane) is converted into ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) by the action of yeast. In preparation for the fermentation process the molasses is mixed with water to reduce the sugar content from 55% to 15%.This mixture is known as the "live wash."
The properties of yeast and its ability to convert sugar into alcohol have been known since biblical times. Most distilleries has developed and propagated their own strain of yeast which contributes to the distinct character of the rum.
The fermentation process takes approximately 30 hours to complete during which time the yeast in the "live wash" uses up the sugar to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. The liquid that is left at the end of the fermentation process is known as the "dead wash." This "dead wash" is what is used for distillation.
PHASE TWO: DISTILLATION.....
Distillation is the process by which alcohol in the "dead wash" is separated from water. Two methods are commonly used:
Pot Still Distillation
The traditional method of distillation, it uses a copper or copper-lined kettle which holds the "dead wash," a high wine retort and a low wine retort.
Continuous Still Distillation
This involves the use of three columns which have a source of steam at their base. The first column is used for stripping the weak solution of alcohol from the wash The other two are used to purify and concentrate the alcoholic vapors.
PHASE THREE: THE HUMAN ART.............
Spirit from the distillation process is only ever drawn once it has reached the required level of quality
Requires skilled human judgement - based on centuries of experience
TIME AND PATIENCE
MATURATION -- Rum is a spirit that improves with age. Although exactly what takes place during the aging process remains one of nature's secrets, it is known that rum ages best in oak barrels that have been charred on the inside, and that nature does not allow for short cuts in the aging process
A MYSTERY OF NATURE - The permeability of the oak allows air to pass through, and this mellows the rum. The oak also gives the rum its warm, golden color. The warehouses are always cool and pleasant, or "rum conditioned," which is as a result of the rum vapors passing through the pores of the barrel.
A PRICE TO PAY - This evaporation is known as the "angels share". In temperate climates like Scotland this accounts for a loss of approximately 2% of the contents of a barrel per year. In the Caribbean evaporation can exceed 6% per year.
THE FINISHING TOUCH
BLENDING -- The final secret of an exceptional rum is blending, the last step of the rum-making process. Blending is an art form, and the Master Blender uses many different types and styles of rum to create a blend in much the same way that an artist uses different colours to create a painting.
BOTTLING STRENGTH - After the rum blend has been allowed to "marry," it is run into bottling vats and reduced to bottling strength by the addition of pure distilled water
BOTTLING - The final stage, and we're ready to enjoy!
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THIS IS A FUNNY AS SHIT!!! GOTTA LOVE CAPTAIN MORGAN!
funny Captain Morgan commercial
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