Rum Review by Mr. Paul Senft in the "Angel's Share" section of the January 2015 issue of "Got Rum?" magazine.
Koloa Kaua’i Spice Rum
Koloa Kaua’i Spice Rum
Koloa Kaua’i Spice Rum
In January of 1778 the explorer Captain James Cook and his crews of the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery landed off the coast of Kaua’i at Waimea harbor. This made him the first European to make contact with the people of Hawaii. He called his discovery the “Sandwich Islands” after the fourth Earl of Sandwich. His travels then took him to the West Coast of the Americas and on his journey home he met his fate at the hands of Hawaiian people in 1779. That is a story for another time.
In 1835 Koloa town was established on Kaua’i and a sugar plantation and mill were developed as part of its industrial infrastructure. Today the island grows a tall variety of sugarcane that is used by the Koloa rum company for their rums. To create their spiced rum they twice distill their crystallized sugar based rum using a 1210 gallon copper pot still. They age the rum for an unspecified amount of time in used American Bourbon barrels. When it is ready, the company blends the rum to 88 proof using water from Mt. Wai`ale` while infusing their special blend of spices before bottling.
Appearance/Presentation
In the bottle and glass Koloa Spice rum has a nice solid gold color. Swirling the glass created a razor thin ring with legs that descend quickly down the side. The bottle is a standard 750 ml design with white and black labeling. The plastic screw cap is secured to the bottle with a white security wrap that is easily removed with a pull tab.
Nose
Pouring the rum in the glass, the vibrant vanilla and spice aroma filled the air. I let it settle and covered the glass for a few minutes. Once settled the aroma revealed caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange, light clove, and a sweet nut undertone that I found intriguing.
Palate
I took a small sip and let the liquid roll around my tongue. It was easy to tell that the rum is higher proof than most spiced expressions as I experienced the potency of the alcohol enveloping the tongue. The rum started with a warm kick of cinnamon, and nutmeg balanced by an undertone of coconut, macadamia nuts and cocoa. The sweet swirl of vanilla and caramel balanced the spicy notes revealing a pop of clove and hint of citrus before the spicy sweet finish quickly faded away.
Review
I enjoyed the fiery uniqueness of this rum. The combination of flavors, while familiar, came together in such an interesting way. As my palate became more and more comfortable with the initially strong kick of alcohol, cinnamon and nutmeg the deeper flavors began to reveal themselves. The deeper coconut, macadamia nuts and cocoa flavors were a pleasant earthy surprise as the fiery heat of the alcohol and spice relented.
I mixed it with some hot apple cider and honey and created a relaxing toddy drink. Koloa Spice rum should stand out in any cocktail that requires spiced rum, just keep in mind the higher proof of the product. Experiment and enjoy.
Review written by Mr. 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 bartenders, 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 try the rums and make your own opinions. The world is full of good rums and the journey is always best experienced with others. Cheers!