When Rum Ruled

And molasses flowed

By Pink Lady + Hanky Panky

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One of the greatest pieces of "stranger than fiction" Boston lore is the story of the Great Boston Molasses Flood. In January, 1919, a 50-foot tall steel tank containing 2.3 million gallons of molasses collapsed, flooding the North End with its dark, sticky contents. The molasses wave measured 15-feet high at points and traveled at an estimated 35 mph at its outset.

Silly as it sounds, the Molasses Flood was a catastrophe for the working-class Italian immigrant community, where the poorly maintained tank was situated. The "dark tide" injured 150 people and killed 21, leading to a class-action lawsuit brought by area residents against the tank's owners, the United States Industrial Alcohol—which the plaintiffs eventually won.

It's difficult to imagine a demand for molasses large enough to warrant a tank of such proportions in our fair city's limits. From the Colonial era on, molasses was a staple of the New England economy, as was the rum distilled from the dark, gooey, sugar by-product. In 1770, the Massachusetts Colony was home to 51 rum distilleries, 36 of which were within Boston city limits, and produced more than 2 million gallons of rum per year, over 40 percent of the total amount of rum produced in North America. Back in the day, Boston was a rum town.

The story of rum is a fascinating one, which we'll discuss more in future columns and on our blog. With the 90th anniversary of the flood upon us, we couldn't imagine a better time to introduce you to a cocktail that contains both.

BOMBO | FROM AND A BOTTLE OF RUM BY WAYNE CURTIS

In short glasses pour 2oz rum and 2oz fresh water

Add 1/2 tsp molasses and dust with nutmeg

Cin-cin!

FOR MORE RUM FACTS AND MOLASSES COCKTAILS, VISIT LUPECBOSTON.COM.