Rum is all too often overlooked as a great drink but this book certainly does its bit to help put that right. It succeeds in making rum interesting, with great accounts of the history of the drink that are nicely interspersed with plenty of top recipes for fans.

However, I would agree with some of the other reviewers who found themselves having to plow through some parts, particularly where the author seems to digress. In this vein, I felt Coulombe's (current) political views were superfluous and only detracted from the book's respectability. And one other point - I was surprised to see almost no mention of Venezuela, a tropical country which has a long tradition of fine rums, including some of today's best, such as my own favorite, Ron Santa Teresa!

Mr. Coulombe has written a very good book that is perfect for those who want a general overview of the history of rum and its direct effects on world history. I especially enjoyed learning about early American history that is hard to find elsewhere. This book was not only informative but a fun read as well. My only criticism would be when, on occasion, Mr. Coulombe makes reference to contemporary politcs - it not only deviates from the story but is unnecessary. For example, when he cautions about purchasing Cuban rum because "..profits prop up the oppressive Castro regime" but then fails to realize that the average Haitian (which has effectively been under US control for the last 100 years) would trade their lives with the average Cuban in a heartbeat.