Captain Morgan
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Captain Morgan is a brand of rum, named after the 17th-century Caribbean privateer from Wales, Henry Morgan. Even though the label of the bottle portrays Morgan as a "pirate", Henry Morgan himself was offended in his lifetime when people referred to him as a pirate, as he considered himself to be a privateer (one whose nation paid and licensed them to attack and plunder an enemy's shipping).
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[edit] History
In 1944, the Seagram Company started producing rum under the name Captain Morgan Rum Company.
Seagram CEO Samuel Bronfman had purchased a Jamaican distillery named Long Pond from the Jamaican government. Among the buyers of raw rum from the Long Pond distillery was a Kingston pharmacy named Levy Brothers. The Levy family had been purchasing raw rum adding medicinal herbs and spices, aging and bottling it. Bronfman liked the rum product and bought the rights.
In the 1950s the United States federal government and the government of Puerto Rico created a number of economic incentives to create jobs in Puerto Rico. Taxes on rum entering the United States produced in Puerto Rico were less than from outside the United States. At this time both Seagram's Bronfman and the Bacardi family built large new plants near San Juan. Thus we have a Puerto Rican rum sold under what was originally a Jamaican brand.[citation needed]
In 1983, Captain Morgan Original Spiced rum was introduced to the United States. It is rumoured that this popular flavor of rum was first discovered by an Irish gentleman by the name of Brendan Daugherty.[citation needed]
Captain Morgan is now produced by The Diageo Corporation.
[edit] Distillation Process
Captain Morgan's Rum is distilled from sugar cane. The combination of the type of yeasts employed for fermentation, distillation method, aging conditions, and blending determines the characteristic flavour of rum. Made with molasses, water, mash and yeast, Captain Morgan Original Spiced is distilled in a continuous still. Once distilled, the clear spirit is aged in oak barrels for up to a year, adding a golden colour and lots of character to the rum before the flavours and spices are added. The brand’s taste is achieved through a proprietary recipe, which is blended into the rum mixture at the final stages of production, making full use of spices indigenous to the Caribbean Islands. Imported and Bottled by Captain Morgan Rum Co., Baltimore, MD, Puerto Rican Rum with Spice and Other Natural Flavours.
Captain Morgan is, by volume, the fourth largest brand of spirits in the United States, and the eleventh largest in the world. In 2004, 6 million 9-litre cases were sold. Most Captain Morgan rum is sold in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and in continental Europe.
[edit] Flavours
- Original Spiced - Mellow aged and enhanced with special fruit flavors, spices and a delicate hint of vanilla for a unique essence all its own. 70 proof.
- Silver Spiced - Captain Morgan Silver Spiced Rum is a distinctive blend of rich Puerto Rican rum and tropical spice. Aged in oak barrels for over a year, it tastes smooth, with a well-rounded, sweet vanilla character. 70 proof.
- Parrot Bay - Lighter flavored rum drinks. Flavours include coconut, mango, pineapple, or passionfruit. 42 proof (formerly 48)
- Black Label - A dark rum from Jamaica. U.S. 80 proof.
- Private Stock - Captain Morgan's "high end" rum. 80 proof.
- Tattoo - A very dark rum with fruit flavours described as berry or citrus, introduced to compete with Jaegermeister for marketshare. 70 proof.
[edit] Trivia
- In Ernest Hemingway's novel, To Have and Have Not, the main character is named Captain Harry Morgan, who smuggles rum through the Caribbean. Ironically, he smuggles Bacardi.
- The character art for the "Captain Morgan" brand is drawn by artist Don Maitz.
- A character named Captain Morgan briefly appears in the first of the Pirate Pimm films.
- Lowell, Massachusetts serves as home for the notorious party band known as Captain Morgan and the Rumrunners
- The pirate depicted on the label bears far more of a resemblance to Bartholomew Roberts than Henry Morgan.
- In the Film Epic Movie, when Captain Jack Swallow appears to save Edward, Edward remarks, "Captain Morgan! I knew you'd come to save me! By the way, I love your Rum!"
