Rum & Cachaca

In 1806, with a ship full of spirits bound for America, Englishman James Gosling ran out of wind and time. With his charter expired, James's ship, the Mercury, put in at the nearest landfall, the island of Bermuda. Knowing a good thing when he saw one, he decided to make the best of an uncertain situation. James opened a shop on the King's Parade, St. George's, in December 1806, and the Gosling Family has been in Bermuda ever since. Today, Gosling Brothers is Bermuda's oldest business and Gosling's Black Seal Rum is Bermuda's number one export. The Gosling family recently decided to expand their portfolio, and have created a distinctive gold rum by blending continuous and double pot distilled rums.

Gosling's Gold Seal replaces the old 'Goslings Gold'. The rum presents moderate aromatics including faint notes of buckwheat pancake, dilute maple syrup and raw sugar. Better defined on the palate with a semi sweet, relaxed delivery that suggests caramelised fruits, boiled lollies, vanilla bean, mocha and a dry, warming cinnamon finish. Average length. Overall, sweet and straightforward but tasty. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Rounded and quaffable with subtle dry lightly spiced oak mellowed by sweet vanilla fudge and desiccated coconut nuttiness. 4 stars - diffordsguide.com

In 2016 Velier launched the Habitation Velier portfolio - the world’s only range of Pure Single Rums. These are rums from a single distillery, distilled exclusively in pot stills. Complex and typically more suitable to long ageing, Velier's selections are entirely matured in the tropics, ensuring a natural, though accelerated development of flavours at the expense of a higher angel's share (>22%).

Always highly anticipated, Long Pond has become a Jamaican reference point for rum enthusiasts. This youthful edition was distilled from molasses in 2019 and aged for three years. It's worth noting that after closing from 2012 to 2017 for renovation, the Long Pond distillery was almost destroyed by a flash fire that sarted in the cane fields. It ravaged the fermentation room and fresh rum stocks (approximately 65,000 litres were destroyed). In that context, we're lucky to have received this rum at all. The flames spared its famous John Dore stills and no less legendary Blair column stills, prized for capturing the deeply mineral, empyreumatic and medicinal character for which this magnificent ester-rich marque is so well-known. 1200 bottles are on offer globally. No sugar has been added. 60% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... "I love it! A fine rum with balance and elegance on the palate and finish, but you have to be patient and disregard the first nose. It probably lacks age, but I definitely like Long Pond." - rum-x.com

"Overall, a beautiful, wild Long Pond, which also makes a good figure in the Mai Tai." - rum-x.com

Notes from the bottlers... Nose : Rich, heady. The incredible first nose is empyreumatic (apricot kernel, turpentine, diesel), exotic (persimmon, mango, guava), oxidative (balsamic vinegar, macerated fruit) and syrupy (hot cane sugar). Allowed to breathe, fragrances of vetiver, lavender honey, lime and jasmine give an idea of the breadth and complexity of the aroma palette. Palate : Taut, lively. On the attack, notes of petrol and very ripe mango appear alongside chocolatey and spicy (ylang ylang, clove, saffron) flavours. On the mid-palate, roasted pineapple and plantain banana juicily and smoothly enrich the flavour palette’s exotic register. The even fruitier end of the palate reveals notes of peach, pear, kaffir lime and coconut. Finish : Long, concentrated. The powdery finish (cocoa, rice pudding, grated ginger) is remarkably soft. The slender end of the finish gives its own take on the exotic register of the nose and palate. On the retro-nasal olfaction, a vanilla, spicy (cinnamon, ginger) and herbaceous (sugar cane) cane sugar spreads across the palate. The empty glass is in turn medicinal (elastoplast), camphoric and mellow (artichoke heart).

Aiming to demonstrate the nuances of Agricole Blanc, HSE is focusing on different cane varieties and terroirs. "Parcellaire #2" is a distillation of pure sugar cane juice from the Verger and Coulon plots in 2019. The R570 cane variety, also called "golden cane" or "straw cane" has been harvested. Creole distillation and resting in steel tanks has captured classic agricole aromatics of green olive brine, mustard pickles, unripe citrus, wax and white pepper. Grassy, pungent and a little fiery, the profile extends to flavours of castor sugar and baking spices with green capsicum lifting the finish. So typical of the category at high strength, this perky, peppery spirit is completely engaging on its own, but will pop in exotic cocktails. 55% Alc./Vol. Tasted from a 30ml sample.

Other reviews... The differences between the regular run of blancs from HSE and this one can be chalked up to miniscule divergences deriving from batch variation rather than anything so refined.  Admittedly though, I’m not a professional sommelier, and lack the experience such people bring to sensing gradations of wine hailing from neighboring vinyards in France – so someone with a more finely tuned snoot may take more away from this than I did. But I liked it. I liked it a lot. Above, I wrote that really good whites are either cheerfully rude or deceptively polite:  this one tilts slightly more towards the latter while still remembering its objurgatory antecedents. It’s an enormously drinkable dram, near perfect strength, with wonderfully delicate and strong tastes mixing up both sweet and salt in a terrific white rhum.  You could drink it alone or mix it as you please, and you’d enjoy it either way, with nothing but a nod of appreciation for what HSE have achieved here with such seeming effortlessness. And for its price? This thing may just be an undiscovered steal. - thelonecaner.com

This three year old argicole rhum comes without an age statement on the label. Likely it was matured in Bourbon oak and French oak casks.

Notes from the producers... The nose and mouth are captivatingly balanced: pepper and a smoky note create the “head” of the aromatic spectrum, followed by beautiful melted vanilla notes, and a taste of bourbon enhanced with aromas of cherry. 42% Alc./Vol.

Rhum Agricole is both a distinctive production methodology and, more recently, an AOC (Appellation of Origin) protected product when produced according to strict criteria in the French protectorates of Martinique and Guadalupe. Primarily the distinction is the use of fresh cane juice instead of molasses or other refined sugar products and column distillation. The results are generally dryer and more aromatic Rums of elegance and refinement.

HSE's blanco is reputedly the only rhum/rum in the world which is progressively reduced from the 70% distillate down to 50% alcohol over a period of two years, partly via evaporation. Others typically reduce immediately after distillation, and then bottle shortly after or within a few months. The former technique allows the rhum to 'rest' and develop far longer than any other white rum, preserving the delicate aroma and mouth-feel.

"A umami bomb" - 88bamboo.com

"Renegade" continues the Habitation Velier series, being the world’s only range of Pure Single Rums. Like "Single Malt Scotch", the term "Pure Single Rum" defines a rum from a single distillery, distilled exclusively in pot still(s). This particular release is essentially an indie bottling, and one that should appeal to rum chasers looking for something different.

Established in 2020, the man behind Grenada's Renegade Distillery is Mark Reynier, better known for reviving Bruichladdich on Islay and developing the Waterford Whiskey brand in Ireland. A chance holiday in Grenada had Mark fall in love with the island. The ethos for this project echoes what started with the aforementioned brands; Terroir! Taking a look at Renegade's distillery bottlings you'll see that each is segmented by the single estate from which its cane is harvested from. His rums are all agricole style and all ageing is done at the distillery. Given the great friendship between Reynier and Velier’s, Luca Gargano, Mark wanted Velier to have the honour of being the first ever to independently co-bottle (Velier’s preferred lingo) Renegade’s rums.

The result is said to be memorable to say the least - not only distinctive, but with a fascinating complexity that's summed up as "... a umami-bomb; a real bouillon cube of a rum, and on top of that it does this little magic trick of contrasting a great thicker texture with those multi-dimensional sweet, umami and savoury notes." Renegade comes aged in a combination of French and American oak casks and is bottled at a natural strength of 55% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Ooh this is surprisingly mellow - the savouriness and umami flavours are still present and accounted for, but here it’s alittle more tannic, but it still throws us some spiced honey alongside the olives, baked cheese and mushrooms. Little bit of dark chocolate. The tannins tense up more to give it quite a fair bit of dryness into the finish... Yet another twist! Here it’s more of a herbal jelly, rather grassy and of herbal dried roots, spiced honey and then it’s back to the oaky tannic dryness. At every leg of the tasting, I found myself delightfully greeted with (positive) surprises, each adding more nuance and complexity, with the utmost intensity that you wouldn’t believe can still remain cohesive. It’s a wonder how this stays so balanced and also friendly and approachable on the palate. What a stellar, stellar expression, good god! This is one I’m going to remember for a long time! It got me smacked and I was getting everyone to try it. - 88bamboo.co

Falling into the LROK marque (Light Rum Owen Kelly) at 200-400 gr/hlpa of esters, this unusual Velier brings some of whisky's historical practices to rum. Indeed, maturation in a combination of nine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks has given it a patina that recalls certain Scottish single malts. This is a low ester Hampden, yet rich, dense and full of vigour. The flavour profile takes us into increasingly autumnal territories, eclipsed by a very pleasant herbal bitterness. Bottled at barrel proof with no sugar added. 60.5% Alc./Vol.

Notes from the bottlers... Aroma: Full, heady. Revealing delicious cocoa, liquorice, balsamic notes (cedar), autumnal tones (dried leaves, lichen) and herbal infusions (thyme, bay leaf), the aroma palette beams with fresh complexity. Allowed to breathe, citrus fruit fragrances (orange, mandarin), apricot, sandalwood and wax bring great nobility. Taste: Rich, dense. The flavour palette is full of energy and takes us to even more autumnal lands (porcini mushroom, truffle, chestnut). A very pleasant herbaceous bitterness (gentian, mint) arrives at the perfect time to refresh the taste buds. Emery cloth and walnut stain add the finishing touches to this colourful ensemble. Finish: Long, rich. Intensifying the aroma palette’s chocolate character, the tasting becomes very rich (chocolate cake, .clair). Increasingly powdery (cinnamon, rice, ginger), it lingers on flavours of raisin and dates. The empyreumatic retro-nasal olfaction (diesel, fuel oil) marks the Hampden signature.

In collaboration with the Barbancourt family and Vittorio Capovilla, Velier's Pure Single Rum collection sees the 'Providence' label make a return, this time with an age statement. Haiti's Port au Prince Distillery is the source of the 2020 edition, a blend of 14 ex-Caroni casks, distilled in a Müller pot still using fresh Cristalline syrup from cane grown in Saint-Michel-de-l’Attalaye. With an ester content of 265 g/hlpa and decanted straight from the casks, the rum is a bright and fresh expression underscored by notes of cane sugar, tropical fruits, florals, spices and vanilla. Tropically aged in Haiti and bottled in 2024 at 55% Alc./Vol., it's another testament to Haitian rum's ancestry and glory.

Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Vibrant Golden Yellow. Aroma: Rich and voluptuous. Opening with spices (pepper, clove), camphor and tropical fruits (ripe banana), the aroma palette then develops more vanilla and medicinal registers (arnica). Allowed to breathe, cane honey and warm cane sugar flood the air, pepped up by a very pleasant salinity. Taste: Lively yet creamy. Alongside delicate liquorice, honey (geranium) and vegetal notes of sugarcane, the flavour palette wavers between candied lemon and pineapple. Sweet spices (ginger, cinnamon) and vanilla pod softly coat the taste buds. Finish: Long, silky. The finish is juicy (pineapple), slightly tannic (cane wood) and heady (iris butter), before becoming richer (vanilla flan) and more tropical (coconut, lychee). The retro-nasal olfaction reveals candied notes (pear, Mirabelle plum, ginger), herbaceous tobacco leaf aromas and precious woods (sandalwood, cedar).

"a total banger... Another killer." - drinkhacker.com

Renewed every year since 2019, Hampden's 2024 'Great House' marks the sixth opus in a series that pays tribute to the distillery’s feature building, constructed in 1779 by the Stirling family and still standing in its original form. Traditionally used to hold barrels until the 20th century, today it's become the main place of reception. The new rum bearing its name departs from previous releases, being a blend of several marques instead of just two, and sourced from three different vintages (50% 3 Year LFCH 2021, 20% 4 Year LFCH 2020, 15% 6 Year HGML 2018 & 15% 3 Year DOK 2021 - the latter fermented to the highest legal ester limit in Jamaica, i.e. 1500-1600 grams per hectolitre of alcohol.) Molasses and dunder (residue from previous runs) were distilled in a double retort pot still with full-term tropical maturation taking place in x-Bourbon barrels. If you're a fan of full-bodied single malts, there's no reason why funky, high-ester Jamaicans like this shouldn't be in your cabinet. The flavours may be more exotic, but the overall sensory experience is comparable. As per the last edition, Great House 2024 lands just shy of the historic 100 proof and allocations remain meagre. 57% Alc./vol.

Other reviews... Hampden‘s end-of-year seasonal rum release is here, as always providing a powerful look at the very best that this essential Jamaican distillery can produce and blend. The sixth edition is, as always, a different blend of rums than in prior years (this one hails from three different vintages), but it’s still a total banger. Aromas of torched, almost burnt pineapple find a happy companion in elements of grassy saltwater marsh and a dusting of gunpowder that’s on the verge of being ignited. The palate keeps the fires burning by pairing lit matchsticks with fresh papaya and guava, with a swath of citrus peel expressed across the top. The finish reminds me more of cotton candy than fruit (tropical or otherwise) or other sweeteners, hinting at Bubble Yum and winding down with a touch of almond butter, studded with raisins. Another killer. - drinkhacker.com

...I gave it a 10 cause at nose (and in the mouth) it's incredibly rich, long and powerfull. It's as funky as a great Caribbean rum should be but it's not too aggressive so you don't really feel the abv. What I loved about this edition, is the intense fruit smells you get as soon as you open the bottle and (my taste) the strong dried apricot feeling. - rumratings.com

Notes from the producers... Nose: Full with a lot of tension. Mint, ripe mango and dry earth form a subtle and precise first sequence of aromas. Quince jelly, bramble jam and orange marmalade then set a richer tone. Palate: Clear and lively. The flavour palette is at first abundantly tropical (coconut, mango, passion fruit) and matches the nose perfectly. Alternating between warm and refreshing sequences, it offers a taste of chocolate drops, fragments of slate and mint tea. Finish: Rich and invigorating. The intense finish lingers on herbaceous (Havana cigar) and peppery tones. Diverse infusions of red fruits and marshmallow bring freshness. Increasingly rich, the finish ends on cranberry and raisin.

Founded in 1753 Hampden Estate has been distilling rum for almost three centuries in the Trelawny Parish, historically known as the grand cru of Jamaican rum. Renowned throughout the world for its full, intensely flavorful rums, Hampden Estate has always produced quintessential, heavy pot still pure single rums, using unique methods that guarantee its remarkable aromas and truly exceptional taste. Since 2009, the distillery started ageing its rums on site, in the tropical climate of Jamaica.

Velier has more or less had exclusivity on Hampden rum bottlings since 2018, a collaboration that's likely to continue through their new organisation of La Maison & Velier. However, Luca Gargano makes it clear that this is not a Velier release, despite the similarity in packaging. After 250 years of exporting in bulk to independent bottlers and merchants alike, Hampden have finally released a rum under their own label. In this case, Velier is merely the distributor.

Thirty one barrels make up the blend. All the rums were derived from fermentation with wild yeasts (or dunder) "...a process not totally dissimilar from sour mashing in Kentucky, which uses the spent lees of distillation to cultivate flavour producing bacteria. The muck that's harvested from those pits is added to the fermentation to create one of the most biologically complex worts in the world of distillation and the resulting spirit is packed full of complex esters."

Add to that eight years of 100% tropical aging (arguably equivalent to over two decades in a European climate) and you have a drier styled rum with all the funk and complexity you associate with Jamaica's best. Cut back with local spring water to 46% Alc./Vol., no sugar or flavouring is added.

Other reviews... Although not my favourite, this is real quality stuff. Unsweetened, uncoloured, single pot-stilled rum. All ingredients declared, the standard Luca Gargano and Richard Seale are trying to get the industry to aspire to. Nose very funky, in keeping with the esters declared on the label. Gluey, acetone entry, fading into dried bananas. In the mouth it's a beast, punching above its 46%. Alcohol and other volatiles kick your palate, there is a long spiritey finish, but a shortage of dried fruit and wood. Bone dry, sweetness 1/5. In the throat there is a burn that goes up your nose and follows down into your gullet. This is not a subtle rum. It'll make you sit up and take notice of what is the craft of double retort pot stills. The complete opposite of Zacapa / El Dorado / Diplomatico. I'm not sure whether I'd buy it again, but I loved the experience of unusual, but serious quality. - rumratings.com

A sweet, tropical spiced rum from Havana Club, made with a combination of its double aged rum and a blend of warming, exotic spices. Expect notes of ginger, ripe guava, toasted coconut, vanilla and pineapple. 35% Alc./Vol.

Havana Club is produced according to careful Cuban tradition from sugar cane of the highest quality. After fermentation of the molasses, called mieles in Cuba (literally honey), an extremely slow distillation process in columns specially designed for Havana Club produces a powerful and aromatic liquor known as aguardiente. This young liquor is aged in white oak casks and then blended with fresh sugarcane distillate to produce ron fresco (fresh rum) which is then successively aged and blended again several times until the maestros roneros (master blenders) are satisfied. The choice of barrels is crucial, as the wood gives colour, aroma and complexity to the liquor. The entire range of Havana Club is aged naturally, with no artificial acceleration – the best guarantee of excellent quality. This is a versatile aged rum making it perfect for the most genuinely Cuban “Cuba Libre” cocktail. Especial is elaborated with rums aged in oak barrels and perfectly balanced by the Maestro Ronero, who selects the barrels for the final blending.

Tasting note: Bright gold colour. Nosing yields powerful aroma of coffee bean, vanilla wafer biscuit and cream. The palate is sweet and medium to full-bodied with honey, nuts and butterscotch flavours. Turns dry at mid palate balancing nicely before the sweetness kicks in again with a subtle brown sugar, mocha aftertaste. Sweet and straightforward. Good choice for mixing with citrus juices. 40% Alc./Vol.

Cuba has a long tradition of rum-making dating back to when Christopher Columbus introduced sugar cane to the island. The crop flourished in the favourable climate and fertile soil. Production of sugar soon followed and by 1620 there were 50 sugar refineries in Cuba. By the 1800s, the rum-making process had been refined with the introduction of copper stills and the concept of ageing the spirit in pots buried in the earth and wooden barrels. The second half of the 19th century saw the production of a more delicate rum, aged in white oak casks, developed initially “for the elite” on the instruction of the Spanish Crown.

The Seven remains the pride of the Havana Club portfolio, composed of rums aged for a minimum of seven years, some substantially older. What's so likeable about Havana 7 is its point of difference: This is a relatively dry, "generously light" style offering flavours of muted vanillas, light molasses, dried fruit cake and crisp oak. It's a suave spirit with enough depth and presence to enjoy simply over ice, but its individuality is its forte. Being less sweet lends it to super-refreshing cocktails. Swap it out over white rum in a Mojito with confidence. 40% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... This is a perfect example of Cuban style rum (fitting since it’s actually from Cuba): There’s a huge amount of rich caramel character on the nose, with a light wood backing. Take a sip and you get a rush of heat, then smoothness: Sweet molasses and caramel, cane sugar, and a bit of cinnamon character in the finish. Very light on the wood, it veers into sweet vanilla — but it’s never cloying and never overly sugary. I’m deeply intrigued by the older Havana Clubs, though I can’t much imagine this being significantly improved by any additional time in oak. Best of all is the price, though you’ll have to buy it out of the country until the embargo is overturned. Come on, Obama! - drinkhacker.com

Gold Medal, Dark Rum up to 7yo - 2014 The Rum Masters (The Spirits Business)

... A nicely done expression that captures the depth and complexity that a rum can achieve while still maintaining a freshness and a definite Cuban terroir. - spiritsreview.com

Another addition to the Havana Club range of premium rums. Smooth and light, aged for 3 years. The perfect rum for a Mojito or a Daiquiri.

Awarded the silver medal in London in 1996 at the "The International Wine & Spirits Competition" when judged against the best rums in the world.

No tasting notes available.

In some countries, like the U.S., rum is still largely defined by hackneyed references to tropical themes and limiting cocktail programs. Those in the know recognise that there is so much more to rum than pitchers of pina coladas or Tiki Tuesdays. Enter Eric Kaye - a serial entrepreneur and a rum lover and collector. Kaye saw an opportunity to elevate the category, and in 2019, his label 'Holmes Cay' (pronounced ‘key’) was launched as a modern take on a centuries-old product. The company's focus remains on sourcing unadulterated, limited-edition casks from respected and up-and-coming distilleries that are difficult to procure via mainstream supply chains.

The Heritage Blend is a tribute to the three rum traditions that arose in the Caribbean basin. Each component celebrates the diversity of the spirit, employing three key styles: rum, rhum and ron. Specifically, the Esotico edition is composed of a molasses-based pot / column still blend from Barbados, a Venezuelan Ron molasses-based column still component and a Martinique rhum cane juice-based column still addition. There's no sugar, no colour and no other flavours added. Offering notes of vanilla custard, dried fruits, citrus and baking spice and bottled at 43%, the Heritage Blend shows gracefully in classic cocktails but is primarily intended to be a great sipper on its own. The label design is a collaboration with Esotico’s Daniele Dalla Pola, paying homage to vintage travel posters and the thrill of travel.

Other reviews… Complex aromas include almond and vanilla, plus a seaside saline breeze. The mouthwatering palate shows coconut and espresso bitterness and finishes notably long—a ribbon of almond, coconut and vanilla fading off into the distance. Best Buy. 96 points - Wine Enthusiast, reviewed by: Kara Newman 2023

Notes from the importers... Nose: Funky fruit salad with a side of floral frangipani(?) garnished with an herbaceous, grassy grassy note. Palate: Super creamy banana custard at first, then it dries out and turns on a more candied rind quality. Finish: More citrusy notes and a slight aniseed leaning at the back end of this short crisp finish. This is a rum that has been designed to sip neat, slide nicely over ice or slap into your favourite cocktail or tiki drink with negative perspiration! It plays nice anyway you like it.  And you’re gonna like it, I promise. There’s just nothing not to like in this easy drinking rum/rhum/ron combo!

The name behind the famous Ron Abuelo brand, Distilleria Don Jose was founded by Don Jose Varelo Blanco as the Republic of Panama's first sugar mill in 1908. Nearly three decades later his three sons persuaded him to establish a distillery. In 1936, he fulfilled that dream. The third generation has since stepped in, developing proprietary yeast cultures. Silky smooth and soft on the nose, the aromas conjure honey drizzled buckwheat pancakes, candied pineapple, hints of papaya and light molasses. Almost Jamaican in its insistence on dark, heavy fruits, the noticeable alchohol, mouthfilling mid-palate and lengthy bittersweet finish makes this feel north-Caribbean more than South American. Proof that Abuelo is capable of some hefty styles. 224 bottles at 60.3% Alc./Vol.

Trinidad is well known as the home of Angostura and the legendary Caroni. This brilliant gold coloured expression issues a semi-sweet fragrance of dried banana, peach tart, vanilla and pepper in a medium-bodied, estery, alcohol-defying spirit; Vibrant candied fruit flavours and a crisp, warming finish see the sweetness checked by cinnamon and drying oak. Banana bread rebounds through the fade. Mainstream and very accessible. 254 bottles at 60% Alc./Vol.

The creamy nose-feel suggests custard and fruit cake, semi-ripe banana, cinnamon and dried mango. The taste is natural, unsweetened; powerful yet well-balanced with a frail smokiness augmenting an oily pot still character; Suddenly less sedate than it started, building gingery heat and becoming more tactile. Bittersweet chocolate and light molasses seal the finish. Characterful rum with impressive persistence. 250 bottles at 59.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Like the other rums in the latest shipment from the House of Macduff, the provenance is undisclosed. The nose opens with warming alcohol, molasses and chocolate oranges. Quite an attack: Textural, even slightly grippy with restrained sugars, a crisp finish and buzzing spices. Generous yet breezy, and remarkably well balanced for a cask strength bottling - one that leans towards aged Havana Club 7, only richer, and at least three times as intense at this gorilla ABV. No shortage of depth to handle heavy mixing. 247 bottles at 64.6.% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

While it's challenging to pinpoint an exact number of distilleries in Guatemala, it's known that the country has a thriving rum industry, with several prominent distilleries producing high-quality rum. Notably, Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala, the company behind the iconic Zacapa brand. The provenance of this bottling is unknown, however the flavours of sweet nuts, dark brown sugar, caramelised fruit, cigar leaves and oaky spices do reflect the Zacapa style. Distilled in 2011 then bottled at 55.9% ABV in Scotland without chill filtration.

Part of Husk's "North Coast Bar Series" of young agricole inspired spirits designed to be mixed in simple, refreshing ways. Produced from first-press cane juice, the bouquet boasts sweetly expressive aromas of mustard pickle, brine and relish followed by beeswax, sour dough and green olive. The palate shows fabulous purity in a silky, medium-dry spirit with warming, caney flavours of peppered pineapple, olive bread and a salty, lipsmacking finish hinting at green banana, beeswax and crushed mint. An outstanding alternative to Cachaca or white rum in Caipirinhas, Ti Punches or back-to-basics cocktails like the Mojito, or try it with Ginger Beer and a squeeze of lime. Batch 001 tasted. 40% Alc./Vol.

While most Indian rum is based on molasses or 'jaggery' (a hybrid of cane sugar and other sweeteners), Camikara is India’s first cane juice rum made using locally grown sugar cane. The Sanskrit name translates to “liquid gold”. Buttery, off-dry aromas of light honey and distant menthol are echoed on the palate where the sugars gravitate towards Madeira cake, countered by light tannins. The finish reveals mere hints of cinnamon chocolate, semi-ripe pineapple and light vanilla. Not complex, but obviously matured with sensitivity, place this somewhere in between an aged Cuban and Guatemalan in style - medium weight, elegant and not overly sweet. India makes a quality entry into the rum world! No colour, flavour, sugar or spices added. 42.8% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.

The repackaged Inner Circle Black Dot is a new recipe, as well as new label and bottle shape. Deeper and darker than Green Dot, the high ABV is immediately apparent: prickly wafts carry aromas of cinnamon, vanilla wafer, sticky date and peppercorns. Tastes like more column still than pot still with a supernova of bittersweet flavours that's somehow light on its feet: Vanilla cream and dark chocolate on entry, the mid-palate is oily and mouth coating then finally estery through the finish. The aftertaste is fairly brisk for all its strength. 75.9% Alc./Vol. Pot distilled at Beenleigh distillery.

For a long time reserved for CSR's Board of Directors, this is the 'new formula' Green Dot, considered a significantly better rum than its predecessor. Rather than being distilled in Fiji, it's now produced at the Beenleigh distillery. The colour is amber gold. Attractive aromas hint at cream sponge cake, honey crackles, vanilla wafer and light molasses. Entry is gently bittersweet with near zero burn. Middle stage offers appealing coffee, raw sugar and vanilla flavours. Ends clean, delicate, warming and medium long. Very accessible at natural strength. 57.2% Alc./Vol.

“Cachaça is the next Tequila, and Leblon is its first high-end brand.” - The Wall Street Journal

The brainchild of a former Moet Hennessey executive, Leblon was launched in 2005 and takes its name from Leblon Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The distillery is located in Patos de Minas, an agricultural town in the western highlands of Minas Gerais and prides itself on using only the freshest cane juice obtained within three hours of harvest. Only the mid-section of the cane is pressed where the highest quality liquid is found, and unlike other cachaça distilleries which increase the force of their pressing to maximize yield, Maison Leblon gently presses the cane to extract only the best-tasting sensorial qualities from the cane stalks. Following distillation in an alembic copper still, the liquid spends a short spell in French oak casks seasoned with brandy, some of which previously held cognac.

Other reviews... Clean and full-flavoured, Leblon is a good and easily accessible example of what a cachaca should be. 5 Stars. - diffordsguide.com

“This bouquet oozes authenticy and a sense of place. It’s in the palate entry that the first burst of sugarcane sweetness emerges and that’s a welcome development.” - F. Paul Pacult's Spirits Journal

Fermented using a sour mash technique and Australian molasses derived from local sugarcane, this rum begins with a rich, full-bodied base that sets the stage for a deeply expressive profile. Time in charred Serbian Oak barrels develops depth and complexity—oak-driven warmth mingling with subtle tannins and toasted undertones. The final infusion of native Australian spices and botanicals adds a distinctively local twist, offering aromatic intrigue and a sense of place in every sip.

Notes from the producers... Expect notes of brown sugar and sticky caramel, with lush dark fruits weaving through hints of aromatic spice. Whether savoured neat or with your favourite mixer, this rum is a refined take on a classic that is dangerously easy to drink and hard to forget.

It's good to see other Caribbean producers following the lead of bottlers like Velier with unadulterated, high strength rums. Mount Gay's 'The Port Cask Expression' is the third release in the Master Blender Collection that began in 2018 with an unusual Islay whisky cask-finished rum. Once again, Trudiann Branker is behind the composition and this time she’s employed Port casks, primarily because they're rarely used at the distillery. In fact, at least one report suggests that this is the first time in Mount Gay’s long history that they’ve used Port casks for aging. Specifically, the rum is a combination of Port-aged and Port-finished liquid, distilled on a traditional column still and aged for five years in Tawny Port casks, blended with pot still rums, aged for 14 years, and then finished in Tawny Port casks for a final twelve months. The exact percentages of each aren’t specified. Apart from having nothing added, it also comes non-chill filtered for maximum flavour and mouthfeel. 6570 bottles are available globally. If you like your rum neat, this is recommended with a piece of dark chocolate. 55% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The Port influence isn’t immediately evident on the nose. It’s rich with baking spice, some stewed orchard fruit, and plenty of classic rum esters from the pot still. As it opens, more dried red fruits emerge with a bit of marzipan in the mix, but on the whole, it’s not nearly as jammy or fruit forward as some other wine-finished rums I’ve encountered. The palate isn’t as restrained, but the Port is still not the only star of this show. The same sweet apple notes that dominated Trudiann’s first Master Blender release shine through with the Port overtaking some of the traditional vegetal sugarcane notes and injecting currants, juicy prunes, and black cherry in their stead. At cask strength, there’s still that classic Mount Gay dryness and spice, despite the syrupy and sweet Tawny addition. It’s a velvety and beautifully balanced rum that finishes as rich as it starts with the Port influence on full display in a lingering rinse of raisin and cherry juice. - drinkhacker.com

Dating back to 1660, Mount Gay is one of the oldest estates in the Caribbean and certainly one of the oldest in Barbados. It was established by Dr. William Gay, thought to be a cousin of John Gay who wrote 'The Beggars Opera'. Originally called 'Mount Gilboa', the estate is located in the northern parish of Saint Lucy and was renamed in 1801. There is evidence that there was distilling equipment in the region in 1663, so rum has probably been in production at Mt. Gay since. A tattered little deed confirms that rum production on the estate was well underway in 1703.

Mount Gay's Extra Old Rum is the pride of the estates Master Blender. Using oak aged single distilled rum and special double distilled rum from the centuries old copper pot still, the rums are blended in order to maximise complexity and length. The recipient of several Gold and Grand Gold awards, Mount Gay Very Old is more refined, lighter and more elegant than its traditional 'heavy' Caribbean counterparts. Enjoy neat or with a splash of soda.

Other reviews... Deep amber hue. Toasty caramel and banana nut fudge aromas are deep and flavorful. A supple round entry leads to a medium to full-bodied palate of roasted nuts, bananas and orange peel, dark caramel, brown spice, and mocha. Finishes with a long, multidimensional fade. A beautifully balanced and deeply flavored benchmark aged Caribbean rum. 43%alc.vol.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
94 points (Exceptional) - tastings.com

Golden in colour with a restrained nose, followed by a medium bodied palate with a lovely dry finish, Mt.Gay comes from one of the oldest rum distilleries in the world. This spirit (of which the West Indies provide the most important supply of the finer quality rum) is either distilled direct (which is rare now) from fermented cane juice, or from molasses. which can be described as the residue of sugar syrup remaining after the cane juice has been boiled and the sugar crystals extracted. This process has continued at Mt. Gay for almost 300 years - handcrafted at the same location using the finest Barbados sugar cane and pure coral filtered spring water. Amongst sailors, the brand has earned its reputation as “the quintessential spirit of the seas.”

Tasting note: The soft sugary molasses smell in the first whiffs is mellow and gently sweet; aeration releases aromas of marshmallow, almond paste, and light toffee. The palate entry is slightly smoky and properly sweet; the midpalate phase highlights flavors of honey and vanilla extract. Finishes smooth, soft and eminently drinkable. Best Buy. 37.5% alc./vol. Rating: 85-89 - note sourced from www.wineenthusiast.com

Other reviews...Golden amber color. Sweet buttery caramel, banana, and apple aromas. A round entry leads to lush, dry medium body with buttery caramel and mashed banana flavors. Long nut and peppery spice fade. A brilliant mixing rum.
International Review of Spirits Award: Silver Medal
RATED: 89 points (Highly Recommended) -  note sourced from www.tastings.com

Here is a standard “Jamaica Punch” recipe:

Start with plenty of Mt.Gay rum and ice;
fill with an equal amount of orange and pineapple juice,
combine a good measure of lime juice or lime cordial.
Add sliced fruit if you want to have something to eat while you drink.

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In Venezuela, locals don’t ask for Pampero Especial by name but simply a “Caballito Frenao", literally asking for a “rearing horse” – a homage to the label's iconic Llanero (Venezuelan Cowboy), a symbol of freedom. Described as one of the company's most versatile rums, this light molasses-based spirit is aged in x-Bourbon barrels, with the heat of Venezuela’s unique micro-climate breathing flavour into the rum at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. This process delivers a smooth, balanced expression with notes of wood, vanilla and sweet fruits.

Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022

4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com

Other reviews... Despite the relatively young age of the rum it doesn’t burn much at all when sipped. It’s really quite an easy going rum.  There is a little burn and the finish lingers in the mouth giving a little spice. It’s quite a dry rum – again similar to a Bajan (think Seales 10 year old).  It has quite a long finish and leaves notes of toffee and slight sugary caramel. These notes aren’t very distinct though it isn’t by any stretch of the imagination a particularly sweet or fruity rum.  There is a little bit of banana and vanilla initially but isn’t in spades like some rums. As a mixing rum its perfectly acceptable. - thefatrumpirate.com

Few people will be aware that as well as being home to the famous rum based medicinal bitters, Angostura, Venezuela makes a number of well-respected barrel-aged golden and dark rums. Local producers say the combination of tropical humidity and cool winds that bathe Venezuela's sugar-cane fields helps to age the rum faster than in other countries. As José Mandry, president of the Venezuelan Alcohols Chamber that groups most of the country's rum makers says, 'Venezuela is a blessed land situated at the north of South America where the winds don't tear us up but gently rock us, and gently rock our rums.' The change in temperature from day to night stimulates interaction between the alcohol distilled from cane juice and the barrels, enhancing the taste.

Produced at the Licorero del Centro distillery in Caracas, Pampero Blanco is crafted using three stills (Column, Kettle Batch and Copper Pot) giving the Rum Master a mixture of light, heavy and semi-heavy spirits to work with. Blended and aged for around two years in x-Scotch whisky casks then charcoal filtered to remove the colour before bottling, the result is a rum where the flavours are delicate yet confident enough to mix with others, be it in a rum & coke or as a “supporting actor” in a cocktail, such as the classic Mojito.

Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021

4.5 Stars - diffordsguide.com

Conceived by Velier's Luca Gargano, the Papalin project is dedicated to Caribbean styles of yesteryear, though specifically to rums of the late 1800s when Jamaican traders began to create blends from different distilleries. Myers’s and John Wray Nephew are two famous historical examples. In addition to exporting rums to Europe, they also produced their own blends, never specifying their origins. In the last seventy years an increasing number of European brands surfaced, then in the 1970s, distilleries began selling their own products. In light of all these changes, Papalin marks a return to the ancient tradition of rum blending, now with a transparency that will be welcomed by rum purists.

The label's first release was dedicated to Jamaica. The spotlight now shifts to Haiti, with a rum distilled from sugar cane juice, sourced from five different distilleries: Sajous, Vaval, Casimir, Distillerie de Port-au-Prince and Le Rocher. A total of 32 selected casks made the cut, all entirely aged in the tropical climate, with maturations taking place in ex-cognac, ex-bourbon and ex-whisky barrels. Technically, this is classified as a vatted rum. It's considered a versatile, accessible introduction to Clairin. 6000 bottles are available globally, and despite being young, its intriguing character has surprised many seasoned tasters. 53.1% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... "Wow, a complex clairin that is really fun! Great, soft nose. The 4 years of tropical maturation bring a great creaminess. Pear and fresh sugar cane are added. Alcohol very well integrated. A real insider tip!" - Rum-x.com

Landing at a slightly higher ABV, the L'Or is named for its perfect gold colour derived from three years in French oak tuns. Brief aging presents the otherwise assertive, vegetal, grassy spirit in a soft fruity light. Like Pere Labat's other bottlings, it is made using fresh pressed sugar cane juice rather than molasses, distilled via a creole column still. 45% Alc./Vol.

Labat's Reserve Familiale is aged for a minimum of six years in 200L ex-bourbon casks offering drinkers a delicious blend of expressive agricole restrained by sweet oak. Distiller, Jean-Cedric Brot is careful not to overwhelm the rum's distinctive character, resulting in an easy-sipping alternative for those who find un-aged, high strength agricoles too assertive. Enjoy it straight or mix it up in a Ti' Punch. 42% Alc./Vol.

Pere Labat's unaged agricoles come in three variants with differing alcohol strengths, but with similar looking minimalistic labels. Some prefer the '40' because it has all the signature flavours of the Island Proof 59 without the spirit heat. Expect a classically clean and grassy agricole profile with a slightly sweet edge. 40% Alc./Vol.

Distillerie Poisson (est. c.1860) is the oldest operation of its kind on Marie-Galante and custodian of one of the most venerable stills in the Caribbean. Built in 1916, not much has changed in the last century, but in 2007, Guadeloupe native, Jean-Cedric Brot purchased the distillery and committed to reinvigorating the storied spirits that made it famous. He has named his brand after Père Labat (Father Labat), a multi-talented French Dominican missionary who introduced Charentaise distillation, the same method used to make Cognac. It made for a rum that was more "floral and round instead of sharp and burning". Today, four kinds of cane are used: red, white, blue, and gray. Some are grown on the estate, some are purchased from local growers. All are hand-cut and brought to the distillery by ox-drawn carts. 72 hour fermentations yield a vin de canne at 5% abv. Distillation takes place in one of two copper creole column stills which have eleven stripping plates and four rectifying/enriching plates. The spirit comes off the still between 69% and 71% abv. The Rhum blanc is placed in open top wooden foudres for 10-15 days and demineralized water is added to bring it down to proof.

From the small island of Marie-Galante, a part of Guadeloupe, about one hour boat-ride from the mainland. Here the sugar cane fields, distilleries and warehouses sit in a pristine environment, employing indigenous sugarcane varieties and distilling exclusively from fresh pressed cane juice.

Distillerie Poisson (est. c.1860) is the oldest operation of its kind on Marie-Galante and custodian of one of the most venerable stills in the Caribbean. Built in 1916, not much has changed in the last century, but in 2007, Guadeloupe native, Jean-Cedric Brot purchased the distillery and committed to reinvigorating the storied spirits that made it famous. He has named his brand after Père Labat (Father Labat), a multi-talented French Dominican missionary who introduced Charentaise distillation, the same method used to make Cognac. It made for a rum that was more "floral and round instead of sharp and burning". Today, four kinds of cane are used: red, white, blue, and gray. Some are grown on the estate, some are purchased from local growers. All are hand-cut and brought to the distillery by ox-drawn carts. 72 hour fermentations yield a vin de canne at 5% abv. Distillation takes place in one of two copper creole column stills which have eleven stripping plates and four rectifying/enriching plates. The spirit comes off the still between 69% and 71% abv. The Rhum blanc is placed in open top wooden foudres for 10-15 days and demineralized water is added to bring it down to proof. Pere Labat has several variants, but this edition is bottled at "Island Proof". Aside from being the ultimate choice for a Tiki Punch and a stunner in Daiquiris, it is considered by some as one of the best rhum agricoles in the world. The rums are bottled without chill filtration to maximise the raw fruitiness of the cane. 59% Alc./Vol.