Nashville Friday Five: Where to Drink Local Rum on National Rum (or Any Other) Day

When people think of Nashville, whiskey and beer often top the list of boozy beverages people seek. Over the past few decades, that portfolio has grown, with Corsair Distillery offering everything from gin to absinthe, Nelson’s Green Brier holding down whiskey corner, and Pennington Distillery bringing sipping cream and local vodka to the table. But to my knowledge, no one offered a local Nashville rum — until now. 

Before we get to Trovador, here are some things you need to know about rum (and plenty of things you don’t) as well as a few places to find it for National Rum Day on Saturday, Aug. 16. 

(Yes, this is one of those “holidays” that holds no congressional weight and was created by the internet. But I trust rum more than I trust our legislators, so ... salud!) 

1. What is Rum?

Rum is a liquor made from sugarcane (molasses or juice), often aged in oak barrels. It originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but now you can make it anywhere you have sugar, which includes Tennessee. 

Rums come in grades — dark, amber, light — and can be spiced or flavored, the latter of which can easily go wrong (see: cheap coconut versions that taste like high-proof suntan lotion). In general, you drink dark or Demerara rum (made with the rich, delicious sugar named for the Demerara River that borders Guyana) neat or on the rocks. Light rums are typically used to make cocktails thanks to their delicate, blendable flavors.

2. Where Does the Word 'Rum' Come From?

Unclear! 

The most fun theories purport that “rum” comes from:

• "Rumbustion," which was slang for "uproar" or "tumult" in the 1650s—about the same time rum came along.
• "Rummers,” which were large drinking glasses used by Dutch seamen, from the Dutch “roemer,” which means “drinking glass”.
• Popular British drinks of the time: “ramboozle” and “rumfustian”. Neither was made with rum but the ingredients sound equally likely to give you a hangover or cure one: eggs, ale, wine, sugar and spices.

There are also scholars who track rum’s origin beyond the Caribbean, back thousands of years to Asia, where the Malays made the drink “brum” from fermented sugarcane. (This article is a great place to read about that.)

However the name came to be, by 1654, it was common enough for colonial-era Connecticut to use when they got all hot about people being sloshed on rum and ordered the confiscation of "whatsoever Barbados liquors, commonly called ‘rum,’ ‘kill the devil’ and the like." Related note: Rum being called “kill-devil” because it was “strong enough to kill the devil” is a truly boss nickname. Others include “demon water,” “pirate's drink,” and “screech,” the latter of which is the amazing name Newfoundlanders give to cheap rum (their version of moonshine). 

Brits Do It Better

And then there’s the best nickname, which hails from 1805: Nelson’s blood. Starting around 1655, sailors in the British Royal Navy were served a pint of rum a day, the first half at noon, because of its medicinal value (hmmm), ability to prevent scurvy (OK) and morale-boosting effect (no doubt!). This practice only recently stopped in 1970 when weapons and navigation became too complex for sailors to operate with a buzz. Incredible stuff from the English.

Back in 1805, after British Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson — a BFD in England — died at the Battle of Trafalgar, his body was preserved in a cask of spirits for the ship ride home. The cask was actually full of brandy, but the Brits thought it should've been rum because that was the standard practice of the day, plus it was the more traditional, cool, sailor-y choice. It took 80 days for dude’s body to go from barrel to coffin, which was clearly more time than booze-based preservation would buy him, but that’s a (nasty, fascinating) tale for another time.

While his corpse was in transit, Britain went wild debating the details of his death — and getting creative with exactly what happened to the cask. According to a story you must read on your lunch break — "The Scandalous Decision to Pickle Admiral Horatio Nelson in Brandy" — a few things happened:

• Two weeks into the crossing, the pressure of the gas building inside the barrel burst the lid off the cask, scaring the crap out of a watchman who thought Nelson had come back to life and was trying to climb out. That is a bad day at work, and it really did happen. 
• Rumors started flying that the sailors on the ship were eventually so hard up for potable liquid that holes were drilled in the cask and the liquid drunk. This is where the concept of drinking (what should have been) the rum preserving Nelson’s body became known as “drinking Nelson’s blood.”

Now that is some macabre, Bram Stoker-style shit. ... But it’s also kind of incredible? It’s most likely untrue, of course, but that doesn’t take anything away from the moniker. 

3. How Popular Is Rum?

Rum is the sixth or seventh most popular spirit in the U.S., depending upon which list you consult. Today most people in America drink vodka (Tito’s or Smirnoff), followed by whiskey (Jack Daniel’s, Crown or Fireball) and then rum. Tennesseans tend to be whiskey folk (duh) except when they’re supporting Knoxville’s favorite son. Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay Rum is the most popular celebrity brand in the state. 

4. What is Trovador Rum?

You can get the full breakdown from my colleague Chris Chamberlain, but the gist is this: The Nashville-based Trovador Rum is a “creation inspired by the music and Cuban-American heritage of Raul Malo, longtime frontman of The Mavericks. The rum takes its name from the Spanish word for 'troubadour,' a term often applied to the beloved singer, and Malo’s music was what led to the birth of the brand.”

If you don’t think you know The Mavericks, you probably just don’t know that you know them. You’ve definitely heard “What A Crying Shame,” and probably other hits like “O What A Thrill” or ”All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” But any of their tunes would make an ideal Spotify station to throw on while you throw back their rum, preferably on a porch, dock or boat. 

Full disclosure: I’m not much of a rum drinker. But I love a Miami Vice at the beach, and I will always go for a traditional daiquiri — only fresh lime juice, simple syrup and rum. Trovador is exactly the kind of clean and crisp but warm-and-toasty spirit you want underpinning those drinks.

5. Where Can You Find Rum in Nashville? 

If you’re looking for rum to mix at home, Woodland Wine Merchant has a curated collection that ranges from $20 a bottle to upwards of $170. They’ve also got the expertise to help you find the one that will work best in the cocktail you’re making or even tell you what to drink on the rocks with a certain dish.

If you want to enjoy rum in a place with a vibe to match, check out the Rum Room above Riddim N’ Spice. Not only will you get all the bright colors and flavors you also get from rum, but you also might get an impromptu salsa dancing lesson. 

If you want to try Trovador, a great place to do it is Martha My Dear. Their “Monica, Mi Compa” cocktail was created by Jason Morefield after a trip to Pelacañas Agrícola distillery in Mexico. Monica ran the hacienda where he stayed, and he made this drink to show his appreciation for her hospitality. Beau Gaultier, brand ambassador for Trovador, was with him on the trip, so Morefield made a riff on a classic daiquiri using both Pelacañas and Trovador rums. He rounds out the drink with coconut liqueur, fresh lime, almond orgeat syrup and a grapefruit peel.

5 more places to try Trovador (and some other great rums) in a cocktail:

Maiz de la Vida

Cocktail: Frojito

Ingredients: Trovador Rum, Rhum Clément Agricole Blanc, fresh lime, housemade mint simple syrup

Tall Tales

Cocktail: Tiki Vibez

Ingredients: Trovador Rum, Planteray Cut & Dry Rum, coconut, orange, lime

Folk

Cocktail: Thai Tai

Ingredients: Trovador Rum, agricole rum, Matchbook Amaro, Thai tea, turmeric, lemon

Denim at The Joseph

Cocktail: Tres Deseos

Ingredients: Trovador Rum, espresso, toasted coconut Demerara, Flor de Caña Coffee Liqueur

Barrel Proof

Cocktail: Unknown Origin Story

Ingredients: Trovador Rum, apple brandy, green and black teas, apple, lime, almond