It was in finding a use for the byproduct of sugarcane, in the Caribbean, that Rum came into being. Every island has its own distinct style, with each of the island's distilleries producing a further variation.
While white rums readily form the base for a number of varied cocktails, dark rums, aged in ex-bourbon and cognac barrels, can take on a great depth of flavor. They typically exhibit exotic, tropical-fruit aromas and a warm spiciness that, like any great spirit, is worthy of appreciating on its own.