Rum: the Great Architect of the Western World

Matthias Jean

English 1302

Malcolm Williams

December 1, 2010

Rum: The Great Architect of the Western World

I grew up on the island of St Lucia which was once a colony of Britain. Historians have acknowledged that unlike Spaniards who established churches to symbolize their conquest, the English built drinking houses or taverns. Remnants of British rule are evident in the many rum shops on the island. One can obtain a wealth of knowledge of the island’s heritage just by visiting one of those shops. Usually a small weathered wooden shack, adorn with the banners and posters of various beverages. Commercial slogans such as: “The Spirit of St. Lucia, Bounty Rum” gives the sense that rum is the life blood of the island. The rum shop is also the local convenient store for the community where women exchange gossip and purchase the staples necessary to sustain their families. Also a common place where men gather after a hard day’s work to play dominoes and discuss “politricks” and watch cricket over a nip of strong white rum or “Dragon Water” as it was called. I would assume that the name Dragon Water probably derived from the term “Kill Devil” which was the first colonial name given to the drink. The atmosphere within the shop reveals aspects of the local culture and the socio-economic status of its patrons. The regulars at the rum shop are usually individuals of the lower class consisting of fishermen and farmers. The rum shop is an ideal starting point in any study of the role rum has played and continues to play in shaping the Caribbean region. However, to appreciate the significance of such an institution one must revisit the historical records of “Island life” in colonial times taken by Richard Ligon presented in Frederick Smith book: In Caribbean Rum: A social and Economic History.

Without sugar, there wouldn’t be rum and for that reason credit has to be given to Christopher Columbus for introducing sugar cane to the Caribbean. Although the debate over the...