Cardinal Spirits Tiki Rum
Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Cardinal Spirits Distillery operates out of a converted sheet metal factory. Using a Copper Column still the company produces a spirit line of vodkas, gins, liqueurs, whiskey and rum.
Their “Tiki Rum” is named after Tiki Tuesday events hosted by staff bartenders, Baylee Pruitt and Chris Resnick. The success of the events led the Cardinal Spirits team to experiment with a combination of sugar cane juice, molasses, and a variety of yeasts until they discovered the flavor profile they wanted for their product. Working with Indiana University Biochemist Matt Bochman, the distillery uses Hefeweizen yeast for their rum. Combined with their special balance of sugarcane juice and molasses during the distillation process, they distill their rum up to 150 proof and then blend and bottle at 40 abv.
Appearance/Presentation
The bulbous 750 ml bottle has simple but informative front and back labels and is secured with a plastic cork with a wooden cap that has the Cardinal Spirits logo on it. Everything about the bottle draws attention to the clear liquid inside. Look closely and you will discover bits of particulate suspended in the rum.
Agitating the rum creates a medium sized ring around the glass that spins off thick legs and takes a surprisingly long time to evaporate.
Nose
The aroma of the rum has a strong banana and coconut forward aroma. Subtle hints of strawberry and herbs follow with a tweak of ginger at the end of the experience.
Palate
Sipping the rum unveils the banana and coconut experience from the aroma as the alcohol ignites the tongue with a warm mouth feel. Notes of strawberry and cantaloupe carry the flavor forward with a pleasant hit of lime and ginger coming in as the rum transitions into a pleasantly sweet finish.
Review
Created for cocktails, this rum does not disappoint and its flavor profile holds up nicely in cocktails that have a heavy fruit or berry base. Available online and in Indiana, please visit cardinalspirits.com for more information about their products and where to find them.
-Rum Review by Mr. Paul Senft-
paul,senft
My name is Paul Senft - Rum Reviewer, Tasting host, Judge and Writer. My exploration of Rums began by learning to craft Tiki cocktails for friends. I quickly learned that not all rums are created equally and that the uniqueness of the spirit can be as varied as the locales they are from. This inspired me to travel with my wife around the Caribbean, Central America, and United States visiting distilleries and learning about how each one creates their rums. I have also had the pleasure of learning from bar tenders, brand ambassadors, and other enthusiasts from around the world; each one providing their own unique point of view, adding another chapter to the modern story of rum. The desire to share this information led me to create www.RumJourney.com where I share my experiences and reviews in the hopes that I would inspire others in their own explorations. It is my wish in the pages of “Got Rum?” to be your host and provide you with my impressions of rums available in the world market. Hopefully my tasting notes will inspire you to tr y the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!