Rum wasn’t just a drink in colonial America; it was fuel for rebellion. Before the American Revolution, rum was everywhere. Distilled from Caribbean molasses, it powered trade, tavern debates, and even local economies in places like New England. When Britain passed the Sugar Act and started tightening control on molasses imports, it hit rum production hard and colonists felt it in their wallets and their glasses. Smuggling ramped up. Tensions rose. Taverns became hotspots for revolutionary ideas