By 1650, European settlers in the Caribbean, particularly in Barbados, began distilling rum from sugarcane byproducts on sugar plantations. This practice marked the beginning of a significant rum industry that would have lasting economic and cultural impacts. Rum became a popular beverage in Europe and the Americas, influencing trade and social customs. The production of rum also played a role in the transatlantic slave trade, as enslaved Africans were forced to work on sugar plantations, highlighting the complex legacies of colonialism.

Caribbean sugar plantations producing early distilled rum became a symbol of colonial adventure and maritime life. This inspired sea shanties and ballads, as well as later Romantic poetry that evoked themes of exotic trade and escapism, with poets like Derek Walcott reflecting on the complexities of colonialism.