Pure Single Rum – Molasses 100% Batch Pot Still Distillation
Pure Single Agricole Rhum – Cane Juice 100% Batch Pot Still Distillation
Single Blended Rum –  Blend of 100% Traditional Column and Pot Still rums

Traditional Rum – Traditional 100% Column Still Distillation
Modern Rum – Modern / Industrial Multi-Column Distillation

Pure = 100% Pot Still rum
Single = 100% Single Distillery rum

Thoughts/Conclusions

As you can see the classification groups rums by production method.  Like Scotch Whisky it differentiates between blended product and single – in this instance though using distillery not malt.

Which is really my first misgiving about the system.  Whether deliberate or not just like Scotch Whisky, it is in danger of creating a belief that Pure Single Rum with 100% Pot Still Distillation is the best.  Which in turn like Scotch Whisky will lead those who aren’t that well-informed to think that it is always the superior product.  Now I would say as an entry point into rum, 100% Pot Still rum is probably not the best place for most people to start their rum journey.

It creates intentionally or not a hierachy.  It will give someone the belief that the quality of the rum goes down as you pass down the list.  Like I say this may not be intentional but unfortunately that will be how people will see it. It is how some people are already seeing it.

Education will inform this but the belief that a Pure Single Rum that is 100% Pot Still batch is the “best” or the holy grail of rums is in my opinion and experience not always the case.

I really hope we aren’t looking to enter a world where Single Blended rum is no longer seen as an exceptionallly high quality product.  Moving further down the scheme of things even Modern Rum can be pretty damn tasty if we look to the likes of Don Q.

Which moves me along to my next misgiving about the system – Modern Rum.  You may recall earlier I mentioned Industrial rum.  Well originally that is how this section was named – Industrial Rum.  Hardly flattering in any context I’m sure you will agree.  I am pleased to see that this moniker has been changed.

Having said that I will still be surprised if producers of such rums will adopt the system.

Another complaint regarding the classification (though not from me this time) is that it doesn’t cover everything.  Well it does and it doesn’t.  Straight up it seems to miss out blends from multiple distilleries.  So rums such as Pussers Gunpowder might struggle to get a “classificiation”.  I’d question whether such rums really need it to be honest.

I would say it is in the hands of producers to decide if they wish to adopt the classification and then decide how they feel their rum fits.  I am not advocating at this stage they just make it up ie claiming Pure Single Rum when its modern.  Maybe the producers need to work with Luca to further develop and tweak the classification?

So what do I see on the plus side of the Gargano Classification?

Well the obvious one for me will be the availability of more information regarding the rum in the bottle.  Which from my point of view is a huge step forward.  In terms of transferring information across to my readers the Habitation Velier bottlings have been a god send.  The information contained on this bottlings is first rate and exactly what enthusiasts want.

To categorise rum by production method is absolutely the correct thing to do in my opinion.

It is also worth noting that whilst the classification doesn’t mention additives (such as sugar added post distillation) wherever 100% is used in the classification it means just that. So if you have added anything (barring water for proofing reasons) to your rum it must be placed in the Modern Rum category. This is a point which is very clear – once it has been pointed out to you. In my case Richard Seale made this (now obvious) point clear to me. Again, I am in favour of this

I also consider something else which  may be seen as a downside to many to actually being a source of strength for the classification.

The Big Boys won’t use it.

Yip that’s what I said – The Big Boys won’t use it.  Even taking the Industrial moniker away and replacing it with Modern Rum I still do not think the likes of Bacardi and Diageo will adopt the classification.

Now if you read many publications online you would automatically assume this would be a bad thing.  If (and this only an estimate) 90% of rums do not have the classification visible how will the system ever work?

Well obviously if most producers don’t adopt the system then it will be globally less visible.  However, if you buy cheap mixers from the likes of Captain Morgan and Bacardi how long do they last? A couple of weekends? A month maybe?

If you buy a more expensive rum how long will you keep it?  You’ll likely savour it – keep it for special occasions.  If you really like it you might rush out and buy a back up.  It’s likely you’ll hang onto the bottle considerably longer.  You’ll look at the bottle more, take in everything on it soon you’ll become familiar with “Pure Single Rum”.

Next time you are in a store or shopping online you’ll start looking for “Pure Single Rum” or “Single Blended Rum”.  You might even ask if the store stocks any such rums.  When the clerk can’t answer your query (because his stock of big boy rum doesn’t give an answer) its likely you’ll leave the store empty handed.

Once your curiosity has been piqued you will start to search for “Pure Single Rum” or “Single Blended Rum”.  If you cannot identify how a rum has been produced you will stop buying such rums. “Super Premium” just might not cut it if you can’t be told what is actually in the bottle.

The key to the classification is that it is giving you information.  Thus educating and giving you a better understanding of rum.

The fact is the success of this classification could be that the big boys don’t adopt it inadvertently guiding customers towards those producers who have.

Now do not think this will involve any Rum snobbery either.  Foursquare bottlings in the £30-35 price range have begun denoting if they are Pure Single Rum or Single Blended Rum etc.

The Big Boys continually use terms such as “Premium” and “Super Premium”.  How will these terms exist in a world where people are aware of the difference between Pure Single Rum and Modern rum?  Will we continue to see the likes of Bacardi thinking all they need to do is re-package the same multi column distilled rum and call it “Super Duper Premium”?

Has the recent Facundo range really set the world alight?

The next time they do a promotional article using the same old tricks will the Rum public be fooled or will we start asking more and more questions?

You see that is where the pressure will be applied to adopt the system.  If the average consumer wants more information on what they are drinking.  It is very difficult and also stupid to ignore your audience.

Whilst any classification system will have its pro’s and con’s this system is by far the best system to elevate rum and to enable the consumer to actually understand what is in the bottle.