Cuba: The Legend of Rum (Paperback)

~ Jared McDaniel Brown (Author), Anistatia Renard Miller (Author), Dave Broom (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Who really invented the Daiquiri and the Mojito, the world's most beloved rum drinks? Is it true that Christopher Columbus brought the first sugar cane seedlings to Cuba? What makes authentic Cuban rum different from all others? Spirits and drinks historians Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown explore the birth of Cuban rum and the inseparable relationship it has with the Cuban people and their culture together with rum historian Dave Broom and mixologist Nick Strangeway in Cuba: The Legend of Rum. Rum was not invented by African slaves, who were forced to work on sugar cane plantations throughout the Caribbean. Rather, the birth of this New World spirit traces its lineage to Brazil and southeast Asia. And as the authors discovered, Cuban rum was a child of the Industrial Revolution, taking advantage of technologies that improved the quality, taste, and appearance of this versatile cocktail ingredient. This full-colour, illustrated edition also details the history of Cuba's famed bars and bartenders, the cantineros, as well as the stories behind such classic Cuban cocktails as the Daiquiri, Mojito, Cuba Libre, and Mary Pickford. Find out how to conduct a tasting of fine, authentic Cuban rums. Discover Cuban rum's relationship to the Cuban people in their music and their religion. Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are the authors of Shaken Not Stirred: A Celebration of the Martini and The Soul of Brasil. They are the directors of Exposition Universelle des Vins et Spiritueux in southern France as well as the publishers of Mixologist: The Journal of the American Cocktail. Spirits expert Dave Broom is the author of Rum and contributing editor to Whisky Magazine. Award-winning mixologist and drinks consultant Nick Strangeway is well-versed in the origins and development of classic Cuban cocktails after developing the beverage programme, in 2004, for Floridita London, the British branch of the famed Havana restaurant-bar

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Jared Brown (March 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976093782
• ISBN-13: 978-0976093787
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #847,225 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well researched and written book about the history, science and art behind Cuban rum, June 10, 2009

By	Luis K. Ayala "Rum Consultant" (Round Rock, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book takes the reader on a journey that begins with the arrival of Columbus to the New World, including insightful background information about Marco Polo and the influential role he played in motivating Columbus (and his financial supporters) to find the mythical Cipango.

The entire first chapter is devoted to the introduction of the sugarcane, the interaction of the European conquistadores with the local Indians and the economic importance of sugar.

The second chapter discusses the influence of Spanish and other European distillation traditions in the establishment of the foundation of Cuban rum.

Chapter Three is dedicated to the craft of Cuban rum, with special emphasis placed on the role played by the Master Blender (Maestro Ronero) and the style itself, which differentiates rums from Cuba from those from other countries around the world.

The remaining four chapters are a combination of tasting techniques, first person accounts and descriptions of different Havana Club products, classic cocktail recipes and important historical events and/or figures which have elevated the global image of Cuban rum.

Overall this book is well-researched and presented. Serious rum enthusiasts should definitely read it to fill a gap which may otherwise go unattended, as not many books have been written about rum from this very specific Cuban perspective.

Luis Ayala is an author and rum consultant with Rum Runner Press, Inc.[...]