From the Editor: Rum and Literature

by

Rum and Literature

This issue of “Got Rum?” is dedicated to Ernest Hemingway, a literary genius whose work has survived the test of time. Hemingway’s liberating lifestyle and sense of adventure have indelibly associated him with rum, but -in my opinion- this link goes beyond his enjoyment of rum and the cultures associated with its production.

Writing a novel is very similar to producing and blending a rum: one has to pay attention to the opening statements, the interplay between the characters and, very importantly, the end or finish of the story must be satisfying and memorable. Perhaps this is why I’ve always thought of Hemingway’s passion for rum as an extension of his love for writing, as an additional way of expressing his thoughts and ideas through a new medium.

Formulating a rum boils down to storytelling: what images or sensations does the name of the rum communicate? How about the color of the rum, is it deep and enigmatic or clear and iridescent? Once we evaluate the aroma, does it transport us somewhere magical? And when we taste it, do we like the way the congeners and tannins interact? And at the end of the story, what do we remember most? Was our interaction with the rum something we would recommend to our friends?

A Master Writer, just like a Master Distiller/Blender, knows almost intuitively how to combine his “ingredients” to produce something that transcends the linear sum of its parts. Ernest Hemingway mastered his craft in a way that is still revered today, but the nature of his mastery is so natural that the principles can be translated into other industries. The quote on page 7 illustrates this point very elegantly.

Everyone at “Got Rum?” responded with great excitement to the idea of devoting this issue to Papa, hopefully you’ll enjoy reading it as much as we did putting it together.

Cheers,

Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher