Rum and Pirates

[Edward Hamilton]

The Golden Age of Piracy has been indelibly etched into the romantic fantasy of modern pirates. Who among us hasn't dreamed of getting away with stealing a foreign ship full of gold and silver and retiring to a secluded island where women, rum and song were the order of the day and night?

But has this vision of pirate life hurt the noble image of our favorite spirit?

Are marketing campaigns based on piracy doing more harm than good to the good image of rum and the people who have dedicated their lives to making some of the best spirits in the world?

[lperry]

The Golden Age of Piracy has been indelibly etched into the romantic fantasy of modern pirates. Who among us hasn't dreamed of getting away with stealing a foreign ship full of gold and silver and retiring to a secluded island where women, rum and song were the order of the day and night?
Um, I haven't. But I might be in it for a cabaсa boy or two. ;)

Are marketing campaigns based on piracy doing more harm than good to the good image of rum and the people who have dedicated their lives to making some of the best spirits in the world?
I've wondered about this as well, particularly considering the damage being caused by the modern Somali pirates. I suppose if people associate rum with the Disney version of pirates rather than the reality show, it may be a good promotion. Then again, that version often involves drunken debauchery over refined sipping. A tough call. I could argue for either side here, although it's worth noting that most of the alcohol advertising I see is not geared toward my gender, so I don't tend to pay it much attention. The ad execs seem to think women drink nothing but Godiva and Baileys.

[Edward Hamilton]

I knew I should have included more of the lifestyle benefits of piracy in my previous statement. I only hope you're more interested in cabaсa boys, than the boys from Cabana Boy or you'd probably be disappointed and have to find another ship to plunder.

A few pirates like the Caribbean pirate Anne Bonny enjoyed her time ashore among the men she spared from her cutlass.

[RonJames]

Thats actually a very serious thought. The capt. morgan ads sell a life of wild partying 20something. A wild pirate adventure. And although the idea of making a life on an island with a lovely women(more is too much of a headache for this bucaneer) and rum does interest me, it is not the life that capt. morgan is selling. I wonder if rum switched its add campaign to from clubs and swashbucklers to more of a refined, civilized, elegant, and relaxed image, if it would pick up sales? I know as I dream right now Im thinking about a snifter of Ron del Barrilito while at a swimming hole in the forests of puerto rico I discovered, nice relaxing and no hoopla.

[Rum Runner]

Um, I haven't. But I might be in it for a cabaсa boy or two. ;)

So....A bit of Anne Bonny lays in the heart of Milady Linda!;)


I suppose if people associate rum with the Disney version of pirates rather than the reality show, it may be a good promotion. Then again, that version often involves drunken debauchery over refined sipping. A tough call. I could argue for either side here, although it's worth noting that most of the alcohol advertising I see is not geared toward my gender, so I don't tend to pay it much attention. The ad execs seem to think women drink nothing but Godiva and Baileys.

Great observations there. Much marketing is really just romanticized fantasy no matter which gender it's aimed at. The rums that promote the pirate theme are generally cartoon-ish in character to my mind. Both in label and content. I see them as mainly harmless. Kind of a spirit equivalent of "White Zinfandel" wine for men.

[lperry]

So....A bit of Anne Bonny lays in the heart of Milady Linda!;)
Maybe a small bit. The larger part of me wants to send them all off to the showers to clean up. Do pirates not bathe?

Much marketing is really just romanticized fantasy no matter which gender it's aimed at. The rums that promote the pirate theme are generally cartoon-ish in character to my mind. Both in label and content. I see them as mainly harmless. Kind of a spirit equivalent of "White Zinfandel" wine for men.
Agreed. When I read what Ed originally wrote, the only ad I could think of was that cheesy Captain Morgan campaign from Christmas (also mentioned by RonJames). But then again, I suppose the ad agency would be happy enough that it stuck in my mind.

[Rum Runner]

Do pirates not bathe?

Apparently not...The few wannabe "pirates with training wheels" down here seem to think that Brut Cologne applied with a paint roller from a five gallon bucket will mask all...It doesn't.

[Rum Runner]

I wonder if rum switched its add campaign to from clubs and swashbucklers to more of a refined, civilized, elegant, and relaxed image, if it would pick up sales?

I tend to think the producers of rums aimed at clubs and swashbucklers have done their homework and have leveled the marketing cannons squarely at the target. The booty is not likely to increase if they take a tack at a ship that has already sailed out of range.


I know as I dream right now Im thinking about a snifter of Ron del Barrilito while at a swimming hole in the forests of puerto rico I discovered, nice relaxing and no hoopla.

Here is to you James. glass.gif I'm remembering staying in the hill town of Nagaubo, Puerto Rico in a rustic inn on the South facing slope of the rain forest El Yunque. A fruit tree laden path led down to a natural waterfall and pool with my better half. We had a flask of Ron del Barillito 2 star. If you have ever heard the song from the old soul group War "Spill the Wine, Dig that Pearl" with lead vocal by Eric Burdon (ex "The Animals") you'll get the idea. Sublime.

[D.B.Cooper]

Funny you brought this up. I am currently reading "The Pirate's Pocket Book, by Stuart Robertson". I'm currently on page 32 and from what I can read pirates were smelly, dirty murderous individuals. The only thing the ads seem to have right is the drinking and partying ways. If more people knew the ways of the real pirates the marketing departments would stay clear. But alas people as a whole are ignorant.

[Edward Hamilton]

Welcome to the for-rums, D.B. I could swear we met about twenty years ago in a bar in the southern Philippines but there are probably a couple of D.B. Coopers in this world.

Most of a pirate's short life was spent working hard to eek out a subsistence living between adventures on the high seas.

[rumdog007]

D. B. Cooper, welcome! cheers.gif

I read that they found some of your money in the Columbia River a few years ago....

[primate77]

Meager existence?

Ed - meet today's "modern" Somalian Pirates of the high seas off the Horn of Africa. Wealthy beyond belief (assuming they don't get blasted out of the water by one of the many navies in the vicinity)!!!


Arrrrrrrrrgggghhhhh maties. Somali plunder!

Wonder what their favorite rum is? Who'll be the first to market their rum with Somali pirates on the label, or perhaps picture a cache of Soviet weaponry they made off with?

Right on the shelf next to Captain Morgan, Blackbeard and Jolly Roger Rum will be Somali Gold, Somali Overproof and the ever popular Somali Ransom Revenge (which is actually a bottle of Sailor Jerry, taken captive and relabeled).

[Edward Hamilton]

Meager existence?
I was referring to the Caribbean pirates of the past. Though the romance lives on, the life expectancy and retirement plans were pretty slim for most though a few managed to make a name for the lot.

[Hank Koestner]

The actual history of pirates is not as glamorous and romantic as the legends, Hollywood and the advertisers would have us believe, as we all know. Still, it is a great study and part of the history of the spirit we love. party2.gif

[rumdog46]

Actually The History channel last year ran I think a 5 part special all on the history of pirates and how they came to be and also how the first ones got the name bucaneers.

They lived a wild rowdy life. Seemed all their plunder went to booze and women and very few actually had large stashes of pirate booty.

They actually had a very democratic society with electing the captian. Seemed his word was only law on the high seas and if he failed to do good by the crew he could easily find himself killed and worse. What could be worse you say? Lot's!

I would suggest looking up the History channels videos on True Caribbean Pirates (http://www.history.com/marquees/pirates). Overall was actually quite good.

Arrrr mate' time for a dram of ron.
Good night ye swabbies

[RobertBurr]

Pirates were known to stash more than just their treasure booty. On the west coast of Florida, a small island known as Captiva (Isla de las Captivas) was a place where Gaspar (among others) supposedly stashed his beautiful women, away from the prying eyes and hawkish motivations of his peers and crew. A few good (lucky) men were left behind to take care of the ladies, who might be returned to their families if a decent ransom were paid.

Stories of pirates are awash with romantic notions and rugged individualism within the context of the bountiful tropics. Let's not get carried away with trying to spoil the fun and legend by reminding ourselves of the realities. Likewise, I'd like to enjoy a good steak now and them without being reminded of the realities of the meat packing industry.

[primate77]

Well cheese and crackers boys... either my sense of humour is not coming across in print, or the starch in your collars is up a bit these days!