Barbados’ rum and molasses industry proved remarkably resilient after losing one of its most lucrative export markets following the American War of Independence, historian and researcher Dr Frederick Alleyne told audiences gathered at St Mary’s Church on Thursday as part of Heritage Month celebrations.

Delivering the latest Lunchtime Heritage Lecture, Dr Alleyne traced the evolution of the island’s rum industry from the early colonial period, arguing that rum has been far more than an alcoholic beverage, it has been a pillar of Barbadian identity, trade and economic survival for centuries.

“The lecture was to look at how important the rum industry has been to the Barbadian economy from the 1640s up until; I came as recent as last year, but generally in the period after the American Revolution, what the impact the American Revolution had on the sugar industry because we are exporting a sign. In fact, the majority of our rum and molasses was going into that market.”