Starting out as sugar cane, the thrill-seeking Caribbean locals squeezed out the sweet juices inside before fermenting, distilling and aging to make the very first rum. It was a secret kept to those shores until 1493 when a privateer named Columbus and his crew landed in the sun-soaked Caribbean. Others followed and traded tea cups for sugar cane. Secret blends of herbs, spices, and fruits were added and before long, the sweet spiced nectar was the spirit of choice in all the taverns in the region.