Rum was born in Barbados, not Cuba | Letter

Guy Hewitt writes that a 1651 document identifies ‘rumbullion’ as a pre-eminently Bajan productAs a former high commissioner for Barbados to the United Kingdom, I need to address the assertion in your article that “rum as we know it was invented in Cuba in 1862” (Over a barrel: lack of sugar throws Cuba’s rum industry into crisis, 30 May). There are many things I commend Cuba for: its public health system and medical technologies, a strong sports culture, cigars and an overall resilience and innovativeness, as exemplified in the vintage American cars that cruise the streets of Havana.However, while Cuba, along with Barbados, Guatemala, Guyana and Haiti are the few countries where I imbibe “Nelson’s blood” due to a discerning palate, Barbados singularly deserves credit as the birthplace of rum. This tiny, most-easterly island in the Caribbean is the home of rum, made from molasses, the sweet, tar-like byproduct of sugar cane production, which was initially considered waste. A document from 1651 identifies “rumbullion” as a pre-eminently Bajan product. Mount Gay rum, established in 1703 by Sir John Gay Alleyne, is the world’s oldest continuously operating rum distillery. Continue reading...

Comments

Opinions

If Trump has taught us one thing, it is that Scotland needs more mega-wealthy people

The Herald

I could forgive my 51-year-old husband for having a secret OnlyFans. But when I saw who he was subscribed to, I had a panic attack: SAUCY SECRETS

about 20 hours ago

Newyork Post

Lawmakers’ victim apathy and more: Letters to the Editor — June 8, 2025

about 21 hours ago

Newyork Post

Why there’s no shame in corporate America boycotting LGBT Pride Month

about 21 hours ago

Dailymail

Why Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou split was right, even if it feels awfully wrong to most and borderline obscene - his sacking is the modern-day epitome of the industry's callousness, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

about 23 hours ago

Damp and mouldy housing means too many people are left in the cold

The Herald

MAUREEN CALLAHAN: An insider has revealed the Royal verdict on THAT Meghan twerking video. It's so devastatingly cutting, she may never recover

1 day ago

Steven Camley on the Hamilton by-election

The Herald

Daniel Levy's ridiculous decision to sack Ange Postecoglou is Tottenham's loss, writes CHRIS SUTTON - he will go and win silverware elsewhere

1 day ago

Don’t let the Trump-Musk breakup harm ‘kids’ NASA and SpaceX

Newyork Post

Comments

Opinions

If Trump has taught us one thing, it is that Scotland needs more mega-wealthy people

Corporation did its best for Glasgow and does not deserve this flak

Democrats incite insurrection over lawful ICE raids

America's unhealthy obsession with New Age spiritualism

Don’t underestimate Donald Trump — he and his goals will survive without Elon Musk

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN'S NOTEBOOK: An unexpected audience with my late, great father

FLOURISHING AFTER 50: My parents made terrible money decisions and now I'm the one paying the price

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: A serious outbreak of old-fashioned class war hits the NHS

TONY HETHERINGTON: John Lewis binned my carpet - but refuses to give me a refund

From creating the NHS to investing in people, Labour are innovators – next week we’ll do it again… with £86b for hi-tech

JEFF PRESTRIDGE: NatWest leaves tourist hotspot without a single bank branch

Love Island is about many things – but love certainly isn’t one of them

Forget paying France to stop migrants – spend it destroying UK black market that lures them here

Trump’s toxic feud with Musk is the greatest show on Earth – & I have a hunch about President’s ‘terrifying’ next move

Why both the Left and the Right are failing American workers

Why the Democratic NYC mayoral candidates have housing all wrong

NYC needs a mayoral race centered on the city’s needs, NOT Democrats’ anti-Trump obsessions

Trump can leverage Ukraine’s ‘badass’ strike to finally make Putin blink

Rogue Labor MP reveals why Albo is 'seriously an idiot' after a stunning move that benefits absolutely nobody: PVO

I could forgive my 51-year-old husband for having a secret OnlyFans. But when I saw who he was subscribed to, I had a panic attack: SAUCY SECRETS

Lawmakers’ victim apathy and more: Letters to the Editor — June 8, 2025

Why there’s no shame in corporate America boycotting LGBT Pride Month

Why Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou split was right, even if it feels awfully wrong to most and borderline obscene - his sacking is the modern-day epitome of the industry's callousness, writes RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

Damp and mouldy housing means too many people are left in the cold

'My grandmother grew up brushing her teeth with radioactive toothpaste'

Edinburgh is held back by its can’t do attitude. It should be more like Glasgow

MAUREEN CALLAHAN: An insider has revealed the Royal verdict on THAT Meghan twerking video. It's so devastatingly cutting, she may never recover

Steven Camley on the Hamilton by-election

All change after Hamilton by-election but not perhaps in the way that anyone expects

So now you know, SNP: indy is not what people care about

Britain is Scottish: a truth from history that’s still true today

Cheers – of a kind – when Susan Calman went to the Glasgow pub

Major flights win is huge boost for Scottish airport

A rogues’ gallery of speed-demon city politicians

Prez-pardon problems go far beyond Joe Biden’s fishy signatures

DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Why the death of the Tory Party has been greatly exaggerated

Daniel Levy's ridiculous decision to sack Ange Postecoglou is Tottenham's loss, writes CHRIS SUTTON - he will go and win silverware elsewhere

Don’t let the Trump-Musk breakup harm ‘kids’ NASA and SpaceX

The Chinese fungus-smuggling couple: Letters to the Editor — June 7, 2025

Letters to the Editor: Amid tree house standoff, 'what options do the unhoused have left?'

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Cancelled 'Dreaded Meghan' professor returns to arts role

Why Pres. Trump will win his battle against elite higher education

AI requires an explosion in power, both parties are losing ground and other commentary

ALEX BRUMMER: 'Wise old hen' Chancellor dances on a pinhead

Beware: The Human Rights Campaign is just a scam to push lefty issues

Keir Starmer is about as frightening as a stick of celery… but I’m more scared of him than Putin – here’s why

£4million a DAY migrant hotel bill will continue to spiral unless Labour does three things

Letter to the editor: Hey, those were my tax credits

Senate Judiciary Committee declassifies FBI's files outlining plot to undermine Trump

Our Operation Spider Web drone attack proves no one should count Ukraine out

How NYC is stepping up to stop attacks on Jews BEFORE they happen

How Scottish Labour’s ground war delivered victory in key by-election

Letter to the editor: Stop giving Iran more time

Letter to the editor: Five reasons U.S. should reengage with NATO

It’s not a shot that’s been fired across the SNP’s bows, it’s a cruise missile

Letters to the Editor: After Tom Girardi scandal, it's clear the State Bar of California needs reform

Jeremy Hunt: A Conservative-Reform coalition is “not going to happen”

It's time to stop the scaremongering over heat pumps

A vital debate for tertiary education sector

This is a set-back and an opportunity for the SNP - which one will they embrace?