Once upon a time, there was an endless area of sugar cane plantations, in the days of old, when the pirates used to be masters over the water realms of the Caribbean, and the lands of the islands with infinite sand shores were sunk, in the slaves` songs of freedom and homesickness each and every evening. Three hundred years ago, on one of these lands, a brilliant mind belonging to a chained soul and body tried an experiment, by distilling the molasses out of sugar and obtaining a harsh, sweet and addictive liquid, ”the hot, demonic, terrible drink”: the rum.
The years  passed, the times changed, the absurd stories with humanity within slavery faded, but the rum remained “terribly” stable, conquering fast  and traveling in the wide world: from Columbia to Cuba, from Jamaica to The Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Germany, South Africa.
In each of these countries, the rum has its own story, flavour, strength, colour : light, black, golden, flavoured, premium, spicy, all of them belonging to the culinary history and mixology of each and every region.
Therefore, when in Puerto Rico, the rum that matters and gives the saviour and the note is the one which was created, launched and praised in Puerto Rico, am I right?
Are you ready for tasting it ? Ay, ay, ay:
 
• Spiced Old Fashioned – an irresistible classic in an irresistible bar, La Factoria, with syrup of dried spices, homemade bitters and some rum which became old like a good wine(as the Spanish say, ron viejo).

• Rum Old Fashioned – similar to the first one, but a bit more flavoured, with bitters of chocolate and raw sugar, enriched with drops of old rum plus a little slice of orange, for an extra taste. Drunk in a wonderful cocktail-lounge , The Mezzanine.

• Piña Colada – in a restaurant with Spanish traditions I tested the best and most genuine …Piña Colada ever! It is at Barrachina in San Juan that this magical drink came into being, it has got sweet, golden rum, some fresh and healthy pineapple juice, mixed with beneficial coconut milk, served cold , cold…

• Nutella Cookie Martini – you may say that Puerto Ricans have a hidden passion for chocolate…but the truth is that it really makes a difference: a part vodka, then some liqueur Frangelico, three parts rum, a little ice cream at the bottom, mixed with Nutella and biscuits with little pieces of chocolate crumbs. It should be tried at Lobby Bar@La Concha  and at home! (it`s just for the grown-ups :) )