Rum is a spirit distilled from sugar cane or molasses. It has a long history, often associated with the Caribbean and West Indies in particular. Historically, it played an important role in the slave trade, colonial North America and the British navy, where sailors received a daily tot of grog, watered down rum, a practice that continued until 1970.

Rum has enjoyed a huge growth in popularity recently, both drunk neat and as a cocktail ingredient. Light or white rums, such as Bacardi, are aged for a very short period and have a subtle, sweet flavour. Gold and dark rums have been aged for periods in oak casks and are more full-bodied. All can be used in cocktails.

There are a number of Irish rums, including Black’s of Kinsale, Copeland, Eight Islands and Spike Island. Most are distilled elsewhere and then shipped to Ireland be matured. The latest is Two Shores, a range of four rums. The rum is made by Autentico Nativo, a distillery in Panama.

Aged for eight years in American bourbon casks, it is then shipped over here to be matured further in casks that have previously been used to finish various Irish whiskeys.

These include a rum aged in casks used for a single malt (€60), Amarone (€65-€70), oloroso sherry (€65-€70) and a peated whiskey (€85). Ranging in strength from 43 per cent to a cask strength 65 per cent abv, they are intended to be consumed neat or with ice, so that the unique individual flavours can be enjoyed. Two Shores will be available from late June or early July.