Recently in answer to a monkey who wondered what the white, stringy residue was in his bottle of precious rum, the Preacher held forth thusly...
This is not an admission the Preacher makes often, so it's really quite notable when he/she does. It begs deconstruction...At the Mininstry: "There are a number of allowable additives... including caramel, flavorings and even fortified wines... producers rarely talk about these... except when looking for tax breaks... and never mention them on labels because they don't have to by law."
1. There are a number of allowable additives to spirits including caramel, flavorings and even fortified wines.
This is debatable. The additives clause does identify caramel and flavouring allowable up to 2-1/2% - but - only if the specific additive qualifies as an "established trade usage".
"Established trade usage" is poorly understood. What this means is that specific allowable ingredient is so commonly used that the consumer expects it to be used. Another way to understand this is that if that ingredient is NOT used, then the consumer would be surprised, and might not even consider it rum.
The same is not true of wine, vanilla or any of the other flavorings the Preacher would like to include under this clause. Many rums do NOT use wine or vanilla, et al - thus it is hard to argue "established trade usage" for these specfic ingredients.
Key words: specific (ingredient) and very widespread, almost universal use.
2. Producers rarely talk about these additives, except when looking for tax breaks on alcohol taxes from the government, and never mention them on labels because they don't have to by law.
Agreed, but only in part as this assumes that the Preacher's version of the 2-1/2% established usage clause is correct. Actually the regulations are very clear about sugar and flavorings that are added to rum - in any amount - they must not only be labeled "Flavored Rum" but must also name the primary flavor, eg Dingleberry Flavored Rum.
And yes, the only distillers who admit the unlabeled additives in their rum are those who (proudly) don't use them. The real truth is that the regulations are loose, poorly enforced and evaded. We have gotten to the point that the only difference between "rum" and "flavored rum" is...
The label. Seriously.
