8 Fun Facts About Rum That Will Surprise You

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Rum is the kind of drink that has a special place in the hearts (and glasses) of many in Latin America and beyond. But how much do you really know about this spirit? Whether you're sipping it straight or mixing it into your favorite cocktail (Cuba Libres, anyone?), here are 8 fun facts about rum that will surprise you:


Rhum vs. ron: what's the difference?

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You might be wondering why some bottles say "rhum" while others say "ron" or even "rum." It’s not just about language! "Rhum" typically refers to rhum agricole, a style of rhum made from fresh sugarcane juice, most commonly in French-speaking Caribbean islands like Martinique. On the other hand, "ron" is the Spanish word for rum, often distilled from molasses in places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. So next time you’re picking your poison, know that "rhum" brings a slightly different vibe to the party.

It was once a pirate's best friend

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Before there was tequila, before there was whiskey, pirates swore by rum to get them through their high-seas adventures. In the Caribbean, rum was often mixed with water, sugar, lime, and sometimes even a little gunpowder (yes, you read that right!) to make "grog." Legend has it that this drink kept pirates from getting scurvy and was the liquid courage they needed to pillage and plunder.

The first distillation? Thank the Caribbean heat!

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Rum’s origins are as hot as the islands where it was first distilled. The Caribbean's tropical climate, combined with the abundance of sugarcane, made it the perfect place for the creation of rum. The natural fermentation of sugarcane juice or molasses, sped up by the heat, is what led to the first batches of this beloved spirit. The heat doesn’t just create rum; it also helps it age faster, giving it that rich flavor we all love.

Rum has more varieties than you think

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White, dark, spiced, overproof, rhum agricole—the list goes on! Each type of rhum or ron brings something unique to the table (or the glass). White rum is light and perfect for mixing in cocktails like mojitos, while dark rum, with its deep, smoky flavor, is best enjoyed neat or in a Cuba Libre. Then there's spiced rum, which gets its kick from added spices and caramel—ideal for those cozy nights. Overproof rum? That’s for the brave souls looking to really turn up the heat!

It played a role in the American Revolution

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Bet you didn’t know that rum was a key player in the American Revolution! Before whiskey became the drink of choice in the U.S., rum was the most popular spirit. In fact, rum was so beloved that it was used as currency, and rum distilleries helped fund the revolution against the British. So, in a way, Americans can thank rhum for their independence.

The world’s oldest rum distillery is still operating

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If you’re ever in Barbados, make sure to visit Mount Gay Distillery—the oldest rum distillery in the world, dating back to 1703. That’s over 300 years of rum-making expertise! Mount Gay has been producing rum in the same location for centuries, using methods passed down through generations. This distillery isn’t just a historical landmark; it’s a testament to the enduring love of rhum.

Rum has a role in voodoo ceremonies

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In Haiti and parts of the Caribbean, rum isn’t just a drink; it’s a spiritual offering. In voodoo ceremonies, rum is often used as an offering to the spirits, known as "lwa." It’s believed that the spirits enjoy rum just as much as we do (if not more!). During rituals, rum might be poured on the ground, sipped by participants, or even sprayed in the air as an invitation for the spirits to join the celebration. Talk about a drink with soul!

The world’s most expensive rum costs as much as a house

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Yes, you read that right! The world’s most expensive bottle of rum, the "J. Wray & Nephew 1940s Rum," was sold for a jaw-dropping $54,000. This rare Jamaican rum was distilled during the 1940s and is one of the last remaining bottles of its kind. So, unless you’re planning to sell your house, you might have to settle for just reading about it. But hey, we can all dream, right?

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

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Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).