Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane byproducts like molasses or sugarcane juice. Originating in the 17th-century Caribbean, rum production involved fermenting these byproducts and then distilling the resulting liquid. The clear distillate is typically aged in oak barrels, giving it its characteristic color and flavor. While the Caribbean remains historically significant for rum production, it is now made in various sugar-producing regions globally.
In July 1970, the Royal Navy abolished the daily rum ration, known as a "tot", for its sailors, ending a long-standing tradition.
In June 2010, Queen Elizabeth II, as commander-in-chief, ordered the "splicing of the mainbrace" for the Royal Canadian Navy, granting them a rum ration as part of their 100th-anniversary celebrations.