I have been living in Orlando, Florida for about 10 years now.

The highlight here is the Disney World, Universal, and the weather... rain pouring down and then clearing up several times a day.

Here, I work from home alone during the week, go to the grocery store and walk my dog on weekends, and at night, I enjoy my own time in a small home bar.

The scent that fills that space is none other than rum.

I have been fascinated by rum for quite a while.

At first, I liked it simply because it was sweet, but later I became captivated by the subtle flavors hidden within that sweetness and the rich taste of its smooth finish.

But suddenly, I had this thought. Why is rum so beloved in the Caribbean region?

Tequila is from Mexico, whiskey is from Scotland, vodka is from Russia... there are 'homelands of alcohol' like that, but rum is clearly an icon of the Caribbean.

The reason is surprisingly sugar. Rum is made from molasses derived from sugarcane.

The hot and humid climate of the Caribbean was optimal for sugarcane cultivation, and around the 17th century, sugarcane plantations increased dramatically.

As a result, there was an overflow of molasses while making sugar, and it seemed too wasteful to throw it away... Eventually, people started fermenting and distilling it to make rum.

Europeans also fell in love with this drink and shipped it across the Atlantic.

Even pirates drank it, sailors drank it, and eventually, Floridians started drinking it too. I am one of them.

The Charm of RUM? It's Different from Whiskey

Drinking rum gives a somewhat romantic feeling. It doesn't have the strong alcohol kick like whiskey, nor does it have the 'let's drink until we drop' vibe like vodka.

Instead, it is moderately smooth, sometimes sweet like vanilla, with a hint of spices lingering.

Moreover, high-quality rum is amazing even when sipped straight. It doesn't hit the throat hard, and after drinking, you feel a slight warmth spreading in your belly.

Let me introduce a cocktail - Dark 'n' Stormy

If you have a bottle of rum in your home bar, making cocktails becomes fun.

Among them, my favorite is a cocktail called Dark 'n' Stormy.

Isn't the name cool? It gives a feeling of 'dark and stormy night.' But surprisingly, the taste is refreshing and cool.

The recipe is as follows.

• 50ml dark rum

• 100~120ml ginger beer

• A slice of lime (or a few drops of lime juice)

• Ice

Put ice in a cup, pour in the ginger beer, and gently float the dark rum on top to create layers; the visual is artistic.

Squeeze in the lime, and suddenly, a hot Florida summer evening transforms into "it was a good day."