When it comes to the rum that pirates drank, there isn’t a specific brand or type that can be pinpointed. Pirates were not picky when it came to their choice of rum and would drink whatever they could get their hands on. However, the rum that is most commonly associated with pirates is dark, unrefined, and high in alcohol content.
One drink that is often mentioned in relation to pirates is grog, or rum grog. Grog was a popular beverage among sailors and pirates alike. It was a simple mixture of rum, sugar, lime or another citrus, and water. The exact proportions of these ingredients would vary depending on personal preference or availability.
The rum used in grog was typically a dark rum. Dark rum is made from molasses, which gives it a rich and robust flavor. It is often aged in oak barrels, which adds depth and complexity to the taste. Dark rum also has a higher alcohol content compared to lighter rums, which would have been appealing to pirates looking for a strong drink to lift their spirits.
The addition of sugar in grog helped to sweeten the drink and make it more palatable. Sugar was often used to mask the harsh taste of the rum, especially if it was of lower quality. The amount of sugar used would depend on the individual’s taste preferences and the quality of the rum.
Citrus, such as lime, was added to grog to provide a refreshing and acidic element to the drink. The citrus juice would help to balance out the sweetness of the sugar and enhance the flavor of the rum. It also had the added benefit of preventing scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, which was a common ailment among sailors during long voyages.
Water was the final ingredient in grog, serving to dilute the rum and make the drink more hydrating. This was especially important for sailors and pirates who spent long periods at sea and needed to stay properly hydrated.
While grog was a popular choice among pirates, it’s important to note that they would also consume rum in its pure form. They would often drink it straight from the bottle or mix it with other ingredients such as fruit juices or spices, depending on what was available.
So, to answer the question of what rum is most like what pirates drank, it would be a dark, unrefined rum with a high alcohol content. However, the specific brand or type of rum can vary, as pirates were not too concerned with the finer details as long as it got them drunk.