Pirate myths and realities – what do we actually know?

1: Pirates drinking rum Pirates drank rum as it was a common drink in the Caribbean – sugar production was common in the region and rum is made from sugarcane byproducts. Pirates often made a punch with rum and other ingredients such as spices and lime. Pirates also drank wine and beer – wine was popular when they captured it on a ship. Some pirates drank to excess and this led to violence and accidents. Sam Bellamy’s crew got so drunk on Madeira wine that they ran their vessel on shore at one..