Originally, rum appeared on the island of Barbados in 1650. From there it passed to the colonies of the French Antilles and spread throughout the entire Caribbean region. The drink, being cheap and beneficial to health, became popular among sailors. These took this spirt on long voyages back to Europe. Spain was one of the first countries to manufacture it outside of the Americas.
Today, there are rum distilleries in the Caribbean and much of South America. Venezuela, Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Barbados remain large producers, with century-old distilleries. Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Nicaragua or Guyana are also producers.