The taste and texture of rum vary according to the region of its origin. Thus you have the light range from Cuba and Puerto Rico, the dark-hued and sweet type hailing from Jamaica and the sugary agricultural variety from Guadeloupe.
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are the major suppliers of rum today.
R. L. Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' makes note of rum as a valuable trading good and the consequent rum piracy in the high seas.
Rum also has the dubious distinction of promoting slavery in Australia.
The very first refined rum made its appearance in the Caribbean sugar plantations in the 1600s.