Collegiate Times

Believe it or not, it turns out that Captain Morgan was a real person. In my research for this article, I stumbled upon this information. According to the rum producers and several encyclopedia websites, Captain Morgan (aka Henry Morgan) was a buccaneer who did the English's dirty work by undermining Spanish authority in the West Indies. He became known as a brutal but successful buccaneer who was "a celebrity in the rum shops," according to captainmorganrum.com.

Rum is made primarily from molasses mixed with water and yeast that is allowed to ferment and then age in oak barrels. The difference between light and dark rums is the difference in the time the rum spends in oak.

According to cocktailtimes.com, light rum is sometimes aged in oak for about one to four years while dark rum is aged a minimum of three years and has caramel added. Darker rums are darker in color and richer in flavor, a result of the absorption of some of the oak's properties.

Most light rums are aged in steel tanks and then filtered to keep them perfectly clear. These rums are almost flavorless on their own, which is why many of them have added fruit flavors.

A friend of mine recently commented that she never knows what to do with dark rum, while light rum seems to lend itself easily to drink recipes. It is true that light rums are the most common type used in cocktails — mostly because of the added fruit flavors I mentioned.

One of my favorite drinks, a mojito, is made with light rum. A mojito also includes fresh sugar cane, lime and mint. It is a very hrefreshing and summery drink, without being overly sweet. Daiquiris and Piña Coladas are also made with light rum.

Dark rum can be a trickier mixer. In fact, many will simply sip dark rum on its own, especially the more expensive varieties. Its rich qualities and complex flavor obtained from aging the rum in oak makes it acceptable on its own. Rum is best served at room temperature to allow the aromas to develop.

As a side note, alcohol really shouldn't be stored in the freezer. When mixed with ice into a drink, the alcohol reaches the appropriate temperature — freezer storage makes the drink too cold and robs it of its flavor.

In addition to enjoying dark rum on its own, it is used in several cocktails. Cocktails mixed with dark rum typically have strong flavors of their own to stand up to the stronger flavors of the rum.

Hot buttered rum is one such drink. Butter, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla) and brown sugar are placed in the bottom of a glass and rum and boiling water is poured on top and the drink is mixed together. Rum punch is also often made with dark rums and is one of my favorite uses for this type. Dark rum is also used often in cooking, adding flavor to homemade fruitcakes and bananas foster.

There is one drink that uses all types of rum (light, golden and dark): the Mai Tai. The three types are mixed in equal parts with half of lime juice, orange Curacao and orgeat syrup.

No matter what rum you have sitting on your shelf, there is a recipe for it. And next time you're sipping Captain Morgan, you can amuse your friends with the story about the man behind the bottle, Henry Morgan.