Rum
Rum is a distilled spirit traditionally made from sugarcane juice or molasses and typically aged in oak barrels, although experimentation with other barrels also takes place. Rum is most widely associated with the islands of the Caribbean and Latin American countries, but it is made in many countries around the world, including Scotland, Sweden, and the U.S. In Spanish-speaking countries rum is called ron, though no one knows for sure where the word “rum” itself was born. White or silver rum is either unaged or is lightly aged, then filtered to strip out the color; it is generally intended for use in cocktails. Gold or amber rum is aged in oak barrels, though there are no agreed upon standards on how long this term, nor any real distinction between the terms. Dark rum is usually made from caramelized molasses, aged for a longer period of time, and usually in barrels that have been more deeply charred. Overproof rum can hit up to 160 proof and is intended for use in cocktails, including the Volcano, where the overproof rum is floated on top and ignited. Spiced and flavored rums are also quite popular.
Top Rum Posts:
Havana Club Tributo 2017
Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
Bacardi Anejo Cuatro 4 Years Old, Reserva Ocho 8 Years Old, and Gran Reserva Diez 10 Years Old Rum
The Dominican Republic’s Brugal continues to pump out high-grade, high-class rums with the launch of this new release, Maestro Reserva, Brugal’s “first ever permanent edition prestige sipping rum.” Emphasis on permanent. Previous high-end rums from Brugal, such as Papa Andres, have all been limited editions. The rum making process for Maestro Reserva utilizes an innovative…
La Maison & Velier continues to turn out high-quality rarities from all over the Caribbean and beyond. Today we look at a trio of newly available releases, each from a different part of the world — and, in this case, none from a Caribbean island. All 700ml bottles. El Amparo Rum – Pot still rum…
Holmes Cay recently dropped two new of its single cask rum releases, both from familiar islands in the Caribbean — and both with some interesting backstory to them. Let’s dive in. Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Trinidad 2012 11 Years Old Review This is the beginning of a new series of rums from the former…
More than just the packaging has changed for indie bottler Single Cask Nation (SCN) since last we checked in on them. At the beginning of 2024, the brand announced their acquisition by Artisanal Spirits Co., owners of another, bigger bottler you may have heard of, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Founders Joshua Hatton and Jason…
Rolling Fork is an indie spirits bottler that is focused on rum. Drew has looked at a few of its unique expressions in the past, and now we’re back with another limited edition release that is unlike anything else you’re likely to find on the market. The catch: Amburana oak aging. Amburana Oak is a…
There’s little we like more than checking out goodies from Jamaica’s Hampden Estate, which only began releasing its stock under its own name in 2018. Here’s a peek at three new(ish) releases from the iconic operation. Hampden “Great House” Rum Distillery Edition 2023 Review This is the fifth edition of Great House, and these are…
Mark Reynier’s terroir-focused rum line, Renegade, has been pumping out new offerings since we last tasted a pair of pre-cask selections in early 2023. As with Waterford, his similarly soil-obsessed Irish whiskey project, the Renegade portfolio focuses on single farm origin bottlings, mostly unaged, that reflect the characteristics of a small piece of land on…
The latest rum brand to move upmarket is the Dominican Republic’s Brugal, which recently dropped its first ultra-premium limited edition release, the first in a new line of rums called Colección Visionaria. The idea here: use a new “Aromatic Cask Toasting technique” to infuse barrels with an unexpected but complementary flavor — in this case,…
We’re diving back in with three more new releases from La Maison & Velier, with three new rarities from the importer’s prized, limited edition stocks. Some single cask goodies here… along with some more readily available fare. Dig in. Habitation Velier Long Pond STCE 2007 Single Cask #10 Review 15 years old, all ex-bourbon casks;…
Top shelf rum is becoming easier and easier to find — and harder and harder to pin down into a cohesive top 10 list. For the fifth year, we’ve tried all the same, looking back at the year that just ended to select our 10 favorite bottlings. Sadly, many of the price tags on these…