Rum Fire Overproof Rum

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Rum Fire Overproof Rum

Rum Fire overproof rum is produced in the Trelawny parish of Jamaica at Hampden Estate. This historic distillery is well known for producing bulk rums for the European market. Rum Fire was the first Hampden Estate product sold in Jamaica and it has slowly been making its way into the U.S. market since 2011. Created using proprietary yeasts and a slow fermentation process, it is distilled using heavy pot stills before it is blended to 63 abv.

Appearance/Presentation

The rum is clear in the bottle and glass. When I swirled the liquid it created a thin band around the glass that released tiny, extremely slow moving legs. These bands evaporated quickly leaving a ring of dense beads clinging to the side of the glass.

Nose

The aroma has the high ester funk one would expect from a Jamaican pot still but it goes well beyond that. Exploring the rum revealed molasses, tropical fruit- light pineapple, ripe banana and a strong dose of grapefruit. As the aroma fades there is a pop of mineral laden funk that lingers before reluctantly dissipating.

Palate

When evaluating overproof spirits it is always best to take tiny sips to dissect the flavor profile. The first sip delivers a potent amount of heat and fruity esters. Additional sips bring the ripe banana note from the aroma. The grapefruit citrus note forms a base while sweet pineapple dances in the high notes. A wash of molasses takes over; as the sweetness fades the mineral notes lay heavily across the tongue as the alcohol ignites the throat warming the chest.

Review

The aroma of Rum Fire always brings back the memory of sitting at a table with fellow writer David Russell and discussing the world of Jamaican rums.  It was this conversation that inspired my deeper exploration and enjoyment of Jamaican pot still rums and raised my understanding of their complexities.

Rum Fire with its fruity complexities and high esters is a fine example of all these things. Yes, it is an overproof with the expected volatility and under normal circumstances I would not recommend sipping it. However, if you take your time and gently wet your palate with it, you may find the fruity ester notes enjoyable. With this flavor profile it is easy to imagine it being used as a float or ingredient in Tiki cocktails, but I would also encourage working with it in citrus or berry based cocktails and punches.

-Rum Review 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 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!