Rum in the News
RENEGADE RUM
Renegade Rum has introduced a new range of aged and unaged natural rums that showcase its pioneering methodology to the United States. Since launching last summer, Renegade Rum sought to explore the effect terroir, cane variety and distillation style has on the natural flavors of rum. The flagship range brings the first Cuvée Concepts to Renegade Rum with two aged offerings of All-Island Cuvée: Nova and Single Farm Cuvée: Dunfermline and the one unaged offering with Cuvée: Aura. The All-Island Cuvée: Nova is considered the ultimate aged Renegade Rum bottling of the greatest assemblage of Single Farm Origin rums where Cuvée: Aura is an assemblage of Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin rums. The Single Farm Cuvée: Dunfermline contains an assemblage of the Dunfermline Single Farm Origin’s component terroirs into a cuvée rum. Additionally, the MicrOrigin: Hope focuses on flavor derived from not just an island, nor a farm, but an actual field within a singular Renegade Rum building block. Renegade Rum is a radical new distilling project that brings wine inspiration and whisky practices to the rum industry. With unrivaled transparency, the distillery harvests, mills and distills fresh sugar cane only — no molasses — from individual farms, one terroir, one field, at a time, using the innovative distilling techniques gleaned from founder Mark Reynier’s experience in the whisky industry. Three of these new unique rums are aged entirely in Grenada in a mixture of super premium French and American oak. https://renegaderum.com/
WORTH PARK ESTATE
At the recent Jamaica Food and Drink Festival, Worthy Park unveiled Worthy Park Overproof. Craig Nicholson, Senior Blender at Worthy Park told the Jamaica Observer “Worthy Park Overproof is partially derived from cane juice, where this lighter rum is skillfully blended with our molasses-based rums to achieve a crisper, more refined taste,” he revealed. “With an impressive 63 per cent alcohol content, it retains its strength while offering a delightful honey sweetness, making it a more approachable choice when compared to other white overproof rums on the market, which often boast bold and overpowering flavor profiles.” Tamika West, Marketing Manager at Worthy Park Estate added “There is so much more of a focus in the global rum community about identifying not only where rum is produced but where are the raw materials that make the rum from,” West continued. “The benefit of being a company that has a distillery, sugar factory, and cane fields is that we can be very genuine and authentic in creating a rum from grass to glass. The recent demand for rums made from cane juice, which is more common in the French islands, was also a reason why we thought it could be interesting to introduce a rum made using Jamaican cane juice for fermentation.” With a history spanning 350 years since being established in 1670, the island’s oldest distillery, family-run Worthy Park Estate uses the pot-still method to produce a heavy-bodied rum, crafting exquisite spirits to become a favorite both locally and on the international market, winning multiple awards every year for the past decade. https://worthyparkestate.com/
MOUNT GAY
Last month, Mount Gay’s first Single Estate release gathered a great deal of attention. During this same time, another Mount Gay product quietly snuck onto the market, Eclipse Navy Strength. I could not find a great deal of information on this new rum, but it appears to be the same blend of Pot and Column Still rums, aged in American ex-whiskey barrel but proofed to a higher 57.1% ABV. Some online stores are already offering it and seems like it is very affordable. Mount Gay also offers a higher proof version of their Black Barrel rum, but it is only available at the distillery. Hopefully, Eclipse Navy Strength will be successful and that will encourage Mount Gay to release the stronger Black Barrel to full distribution. https://www.mountgayrum.com/
ROLLING STONES CROSSFIRE HURRICANE RUM
The Rolling Stones, eternal symbols of musical prowess, are set to make history once again. The legendary band is introducing their very own signature rum, Crossfire Hurricane, inspired by the opening lyric of their hit song “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Available today at crossfirehurricane.com, this monumental endeavor comes on the heels of their global album launch in Times Square, where they announced ‘Hackney Diamonds,’ their first studio album in 18 years, to critical acclaim. The Rolling Stones said of the new venture, “We’re very excited to be teaming up with Universal Music Group and Socio Ventures to create our first ever premium spirits brand and look forward to sharing it with the world.”“The Rolling Stones continue to have an incredible impact on popular culture with the ability to reach fans across multiple generations around the world. We are excited and proud to announce this new venture with them that will further expand and build upon their iconic brand,” said Boyd Muir, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and President of Operations, Universal Music Group. The Stones’ love affair with rum began in the ‘70s while recording their album “Goats Head Soup” in Kingston, Jamaica. The Caribbean’s boisterous energy and music took hold of the group over the decades and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards often locate themselves on the islands when the band is off the road. Rooted in rock & roll, the rum encapsulates the edgy and timeless spirit of the band. The website states: this thoughtful Caribbean blend incorporates rums from Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic that are perfectly aged in carefully selected oak barrels. “Owning a business with The Rolling Stones is absolutely electrifying. It is an absolute privilege to create this product alongside some of the greatest artists of our time. The band’s vision and enthusiasm for Crossfire Hurricane set us apart and position us to redefine the rum category. And you’re all invited to the show,” said John Fincher, Socio Ventures Partner and Crossfire Hurricane Co-founder. https://www.crossfirehurricane.com/
PLANTATION RUM
Earlier in the year, Plantation announced the fifth edition in its Plantation Extrême Collection. This year the series feature three rums from the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados. They are representative of the diversity of WIRD’s rums and production methods. WIRD produces spirits in historic pot and column stills. It takes truly expert distillers to make these complex instruments sing. Distiller Henderson “Digger” Skinner has been with the distillery for over 40 years; Master Distiller Don Benn is dedicated to Barbados’ rum heritage, as well as reducing WIRD’s carbon footprint, and Andrew Hassell, Managing Director and rum historian, safeguards the historical archives carefully. The three releases do not use caramel coloring or a dosage.
BARBADOS WIRD 14 YEARS OLD 2007 is made from a molasses wash that is fermented for 3 to 4 days and then distilled on a Gregg pot still and a column still. It has been aged in the tropics for 2 years in 200L Bourbon barrels before being moved to Southwest France. There it was aged for 10 years and then transferred to 350L Ferrand Cognac barrels for an additional 2 years. 58.0% ABV
BARBADOS WIRD 21 YEARS OLD 2000 also starts with a molasses wash that is fermented for 3-4 days. These low wines are distilled on a Vulcan Chamber Still, a Gregg Pot still and a column still. Initial aging was in the tropics in 200L Bourbon barrels for 5 years. Like most of Plantation’s rums, it was then shipped to France where it rested for another 14 years before being transferred to 350 Ferrand casks for 2 years. 47.8% ABV
BARBADOS WIRD 35 YEARS OLD 1986 starts with the same raw materials and fermentation. It was distilled on the Gregg Pot Still and a direct flame still from the 19th century. Aging starts with 13 years in 200L barrels in the tropics. Then the rum was moved to France and aged another 21 years and then finished in 350L cognac barrels for 1 years. 55.1% ABV
https://www.plantationrum.com/
BACARDI
Bacardi celebrated its debut on the World’s Best Workplaces™ in 2023 list presented by Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine, coming in at #18. Global leaders were selected from organizations that participated in Great Place To Work’s employee survey process, representing the voices of 14.8 million employees worldwide. The 25 World’s Best Workplaces stood out for creating globally exceptional employee experiences, high-trust relationships, and workplaces that are fair and equal for all. “As a family-owned business for seven generations, we have a legacy of being Fearless, respecting each other like Family, and leading with a Founders mentality. We are so proud for others to recognize what we know so well, that Bacardi is a special place and our culture is our superpower” said Scott Northcutt, SVP Global Human Resources. More than 9,000 people make up the Bacardi global workforce and at work they are referred to as Primos, not employees. Primos, which means cousins in Spanish, is a nod to the Latin heritage and family business that is part of the company’s DNA. Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work added “Being a global employer comes with immense responsibility to people and to the planet. These extraordinary companies are having an incredible impact, supporting their people, and fighting for a fairer, safer, and healthier communities around the globe. When you empower people to work with purpose, they reward you with innovation and performance and help create a better world for all of us.” Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Its employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. http://www.bacardilimited.com, https://www.greatplacetowork.com/
LOST SPIRITS
Bryan Davis announced the release of Japonisme, a heavy-pot-still rum (often referred to as English style) fermented and distilled from 100% Kokuto sugar. Kokuto is a prized culinary ingredient that has been made in Okinawa since the 17th century. Unlike refined sugar, Kokuto is made by drying boiled sugarcane juice into brownish-black bricks. Davis believes that Japonisme the only rum produced from Kokuto in the United States and possibly the only rum made from this very special ingredient outside Japan. Post distillation, the rum was matured using toasted and charred American oak utilizing the aging technique Lost Spirits Distillery patented in 2015. Inventor (and Lost Spirits’ Co-founder) Bryan Davis was the first person to prove (using GCMS) that it was possible to mature spirits in a laboratory setting using a combination of heat and high-intensity light. The Company currently holds a portfolio of granted patents around the word for its maturation process. Davis stated, “We have been working on this project for over a year and I’m delighted to taste the results. It was a rewarding experience for all of us at Lost Spirits to get back to our roots.” https://www.lostspirits.net/
BRUGAL
Brugal is proud to commemorate a remarkable milestone, 135 years of unwavering dedication to the art of rum mastery. Since its inception in 1888 by the legendary founder, Don Andrés Brugal, Brugal has been crafting elegant, aromatic, and smooth Dominican rums that have become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Through five generations, the Brugal family has upheld the tradition of rum mastery. Each Maestro Ronero has played an indispensable role in carrying forward the brand’s legacy, ensuring that the quality and innovation that define Brugal remain unparalleled. The brand’s innovative techniques, including the signature double aging and the pioneering Aromatic Cask Toasting, have set new standards in the world of premium rum. Today, Brugal is led by fifth generation Maestra Ronera, Jassil Villanueva Quintana, Brugal’s first female and the industry’s youngest rum master, as well as Miguel Ripoll Castellanos, and Gustavo Ortega Zeller. In honor of Brugal’s 135th year, the brand hosted a special anniversary edition of “Wonders Await at La Casa Brugal” last month in Miami. Showcasing their range of releases, Brugal delighted guests throughout the night with a look into the brand’s history, followed by delightful Brugal 1888 Espresso Martinis, a make-your-own Brugal 1888 Old Fashioned Bar, and type-written live poetry. www.brugal-rum.com.
WEST INDIES RUM DISTILLERY
The West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) recently celebrated its remarkable 130th anniversary, blending history, music, family, art and the introduction of a special anniversary rum into a memorable event. The celebration kicked off with a guided tour led by the WIRD team, where guests had the chance to view the world’s oldest rum pot still, the Rockley, dating back to the 1780s and considered a cherished part of Barbados’ heritage. Attendees were encouraged to explore the historic Bond No. 8 barrelhouse, which ended with a rare opportunity for a rum tasting directly from the cask of the renowned Vulcan still, an experience usually restricted from public access. During his presentation, Andrew Hassell, Managing Director of WIRD, shared intriguing historical insights from the distillery’s treasure trove of archives within the Distiller’s Vault. Mr. Hassell’s passion for the rich history of rums and Barbadian heritage shined through as he recounted the epic journey of WIRD and its 130-year-old mission to craft “the world’s best Barbadian rum.” To commemorate this momentous occasion, WIRD created a one-of-a-kind 130th Anniversary Limited Edition Stade’s Rum. This rum is a blend created from the most rare distillation apparatus that the distillery is fortunate to possess, including the Vulcan, Gregg Farm and John Dore Franklyn stills. Only 130 cases of this special edition will be available in Barbados exclusively through Stansfeld Scott and at the soon-to-open Stade’s Visitor Center. Stade’s Rum 130th Anniversary Limited Edition is bottled at 46% ABV (92 proof). https://www.facebook.com/stadesrum/?locale=hi_IN
COLOURS OF RUM
The Colours of Rum series was born to showcase the best that the rum world has to offer. They have created one of the largest premium rum collections that keeps getting bigger and more diverse. So far, they have uncovered and bottled treasures from Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Fiji. I expect that Martinique can not be far behind. Their latest releases are:
Jamaica Blend 2008, 14 years, Jamaica edition No. B1 - A new exciting blend of four Jamaican rums: Long Pond 2005 Pot Still, Monymusk 2007 Pot & Column Still, New Yarmouth 2005 Pot Still, Worthy Park 2008 Pot Still. 14 years of continental aging in an ex-rum cask and bottled at 58,9% ABV. T.D.L 2009, 13 years, Trinidad edition No. 5 - TDL stands for Trinidad Distillers Ltd. and it is actually the company behind the Angostura rum brand. This Colours of Rum expression was distilled in a column still and was aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 13 years, 10 years of which were tropical aging, The rum was bottled in 2023 at 62,8% ABV.
Enmore 1994, 29 years, Guyana edition No. 9 - The Enmore sugar estate was established by Edward Henry Porter in the early 19th century. The distillery was once the home of the famed wooden stills, closed in 1994 before the equipment was moved to DDL’s Diamond distillery where it sits today. Enmore no. 9 was produced at Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still (REV). This expression has spent 29 years in an ex-rum cask and was bottled in 2023 at 45,8% ABV.
Hampden 2012, 11 years, Jamaica edition No. 14 - A pot-distilled rum from Hampden distillery in Jamaica. This 11yo Jamaican rum was distilled in 2012 in a pot still, and matured in an ex-bourbon barrel in the tropics for 3 years before being moved to Europe. It was bottled in 2023 at at 60,4% ABV. https://coloursofrum.com/
BEENLIGH DISTILLERY
Beenleigh Distillery has unveiled its Dragon Release Rum, a limited-edition rum crafted from a selection of rum aged in barrel for up to eight years, and in tribute to 2024 the Year of the Dragon. Master-distilled in The Old Copper, a distinctive Copper Pot Still that’s signature shape and style is known as a Vat Still, is the only one of its kind in Australia.The exclusive launch comes as Beenleigh Distillery triumphed at the Australian International Rum Awards, the prestigious competition that’s solely focused on rum and cane spirits from around the world. Beenleigh’s Double Cask Rum scored an impressive 94 points, clinching the trophy for best Pot and Column Still Rum in addition to winning a Double Gold medal. “We are humbled to compete and be recognized on the Global Stage once again. This accolade at the Australian International Rum Awards underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in the world of spirits,” says Chris Illman, Beenleigh Distillery Head of Sales & Marketing. https://www.beenleighrum.com.au/
GOSLINGS
Gosling’s is celebrating its fifth annual release of Papa Seal Single Barrel Rum at the Gosling’s Wine Cellar on December 2nd. The company said the “father of all rums” has always been released in late November or early December, selling out every year. Malcolm Gosling, president of Gosling’s Export (Bermuda) Ltd, said: “Five years ago we released our first single barrel rum on a rainy Tuesday in early December. We had no idea how the public would react but when we had a line outside of our store in the rain at 8.45am and completely sold out 45 minutes after opening, we knew our customers were excited, to say the least.” Andrew Holmes, Brand Director of Goslings Rum, said, “Papa Seal Single Barrel Rum is blended from pot and column distilled rums ranging between 10 and 21 years, aged in hand-selected once-used bourbon barrels, and married in American White Oak for an additional two years in Bermuda’s humid, salty air. Each barrel is carefully looked after and rolled at least once a week to ensure the liquid in constant contact with the wood. Each bottle is then filled and labeled by hand and individually numbered by Goslings Master Blender Alexander Holmes.
https://www.goslingsrum.com/
