What is the primary ingredient in traditional rum production?

The primary ingredient in traditional rum production is molasses. Molasses is a byproduct of sugarcane processing, where sugar is extracted from the cane. Since rum originates from regions where sugarcane is extensively cultivated, molasses becomes the main source for fermenting alcohol.

During the rum-making process, molasses is diluted with water and fermented using yeast, which converts the sugars contained in the molasses into alcohol. This is why molasses is essential to the production of traditional rum, as it provides the necessary sugars to produce the alcoholic beverage.

While sugarcane is related to rum production, being the source from which molasses is derived, it is the fermentation of molasses itself that primarily contributes to the formation of rum. Barley and rice are not involved in the traditional processes of rum production, as they are more commonly associated with other types of spirits, such as whiskey (barley) or sake (rice).