Mexico/Mexico is one of the world’s leading sugar cane producers. Rum from Mexico is not as well known as tequila for a long time, but it has an older history. The first sugar cane seedlings were planted in Mexico as early as 1520. In the 17th century the Spanish colonial rulers exported the rum back to their homeland. The imported wine barrels were then filled with rum and returned. On the way home, the contents matured and took on the aromas of the wine. The Spanish brandy producers were afraid for their sales and so Philipp V, when he became king of Spain in 1700 and thus also commander of Mexico, forbade the rum production in Mexico. Prohibition was not lifted until 1796. Of course, black was also burned in this time.