10 Things Every Guy Should Know About Rum

What do you know about this sugarcane?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Rum isn't what you think it is, and the industry will testify to this. The liquor you've come to associate with Coca-Cola, with college excess and long drunk nights with your boys is more complicated than that. You've grown up and it turns out the sugarcane-derived spirit has done the same.

Speaking with Brian Avenius of Brugal Rum, the Dominican rum producer, the complexity of the spirit emerges. Rum has a rich history that stretches back to the 1600s, and reveals much about the way Prohibition and American participation in conflicts abroad have affected the way we consume alcohol. Put down that slushy daiquiri and listen up. Here are the 10 things every guy should know about rum.

RELATED: First We Feast - Unlocking the Secrets of Rum

How long has rum been around?

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What's rum made from?

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How does the distillation process affect the rum?

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How does aging affect the rum?

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How is a molasses-based rum different from a sugarcane juice-based rum?

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How is a white rum different from a dark rum?

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How is spiced rum made?

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How do you spot a quality rum?

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How should rum be used when making cocktails?

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What challenges does the industry face?

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