Rum baby rum!

The dark brown and tantalising liquid that is rum has stolen many hearts, earning a place of popularity among spirits.

- Krishna P S

But ever wondered, 'Who first made this potent spirit?'

Well, rum in its current form originated in the Caribbean in the early 17th century, made by fermenting and distilling sugarcane juice or molasses.

However, even thousands of years before, fermented sugarcane wines were widespread in the archipelago of modern-day Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and East Timor.

There are hints that fermented sugarcane extracts were consumed in West Asia. As per his 14th-century records, Marco Polo once tasted a 'very good wine of sugar (cane)' in modern-day Iran.