Angel's Share Title
Kula Organic Rum
In all the years of exploring rums, especially those made in the United States, it was a special treat to discover Kula Rum in one of my local stores. The last time I saw it, we were traveling in Hawaii, and the tall 750 ml bottle is hard to forget. So of the three choices on the shelf, I picked up the unaged with an eye towards picking the other two up in the future. The Kula Rum line is produced on the island of Maui, Hawaii by Hawaiian Sea Spirits LLC. The company ferments fresh sugarcane juice, then distills the rum in column stills. The rum is blended with “Deep Ocean Mineral Water” to 40% ABV and bottled on site before being distributed in the United States.
Kula Organic Rum
Appearance
The rum is packaged in a tall, uniquely shaped 750 ml bottle that has an interesting Hawaiian art design around the neck. The label on the front of the bottle provides a few details about the rum, but the back label is loaded with information. The rum is clear in the bottle and glass. Agitating the liquid leads to a thick band forming around the glass. It slowly thickens, then drops a wave of fast-moving legs before evaporating, leaving a ring of beads behind.
Nose
Smelling the liquid reveals sweet vanilla, salt brine, and pungent alcohol, punctuated by a strong mineral note.
Palate
Like the aroma the rum leads with a sweet floral vanilla, the alcohol flows in and is quite dominant while a bit of saltiness, and other earthy minerals nipping around the perimeter of the tongue.
Review
Kula Rum used to be exclusively distributed in Hawaii, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover it in one of my local stores. Not much could be found about how the rum was produced, but during my research I was able to discover a bit about the company from people who had visited their operation on Maui. The column stills sticking out of the roof of the building is the only reason I am comfortable stating that the rum is made using a column still. At first, it was apparent to me that the product was unaged. The flavors were an interesting juxtaposition; sweet vanilla was balanced with the mineral earthy notes, while at the same time, the harsh alcohol notes were countered by the salty brine notes in the profile. Collectively, not an enjoyable sip, but at the very least an interesting and unique one. The rum is, by design, recommended to be used in cocktails and holds up well in a basic Daiquiri. The company has two other products in their lineup: a coconut rum and an aged product that I will be curious to explore in due time. For those curious about this line, I found this rum to be fairly priced and a worthwhile exploration into a Hawaiian rum I was not familiar with.
