BABASH

Babash is a traditional rum which has its genesis in the Sugar Cane Industry. After its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492, people from all over world were bought to Trinidad to cultivate sugar cane. Various sugar factorys were established to process the sugar cane into sugar. One of the by product of this industry was molasses. It was discovered that molasses could be used to manufacture alcohol . This was first manufactured by the Indians indentured and descendants of African slaves in backyard makeshift stills. This was their main source of alcohol and used on almost all social gatherings from funerals to weddings.  The name given to the product  is Ba Bash, Mountain Dew, or Bush Rum. It is illegal to manufacture or Drink this product, persons found drinking or manufacturing this drink can be charged up to Five thousand dollars. Despite it being outlawed it continues to be manufactured by locals and used by the rural poor and the rich enthusiast. It is well know by the Trinidad Population and idolized in song.

 

BUSH RUM STILL

Molasses was also used by the Sugar factories, with Caroni Ltd being the last to close down in 2003 to manufacture rum, this rum however remained legal in Trinidad and Tobago and sold to local and external markets. Angostura limited a local manufacturer first developed its rum from the sugar cane molasses , today it is a World Class Company.

SUGAR CANE FACTORY

The criminalization of alcohol production by the rural poor appears to me to facilitate the sales and profits of the more affluent in society ,the manufactures and elites. It was a method of creating a monopoly on alcohol  products. This led to the development of the refined alcohol industry, with expert marketing, packaging and various blends accompanied by large profit margins . On the other hand the rural poor manufacturers remain outlaws, taking chances to produce, no opportunity for development, cannot invest in machinery or equipment and produce at the very primary level. Had they be given the opportunity to develop as those given to the elite manufacturers , today we would be enjoying a variety of magnificent endemic brands of Ba bash . This is a direct impact of Colonization. 

Alcohol Sales to person's under the age of 18 years is an offense in Trinidad & Tobago