AlcoholReviews.com had the pleasure of sitting down with Richard Foss, author of Rum: A Global History (Reaktion, 2012). Naturally, we met in a bar, the classic Tune Inn on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Foss clearly enjoys tasting new rums, and he is learned in what rum is and how it has changed over the centuries. But his real passion is the anthropological aspects of rum—in short, what do and did people think and feel about it? How does and did it fit into their cultures?
His website, aptly named http://RumHistory.com, is a growing shrine to his rum discoveries. For example, Foss’s website carries a copy of the anti-rum tune, “Father’s a Drunkard, and Mother’s Dead.” (Such a happy ditty!)
Those who wish to learn more about Foss’s book can first listen to our interview, and learn more about the book here.
June 23, 2012 Update: We just completed reading this book and boy are we glad we did.
Rum: A Global History covers the who/what/when/where of rum with with wit and charm. The illustrations are terrific. We blew through this book in a few nights, and it easily earned a permanent place in our beverage book library.
Highly recommended for the rum lover or anyone with an interest in the history of drink.
