Following your feedback we have decided to introduce a Rum of the Month. Every month we will trawl the archives and select a rum which has scored between 3 and 5 stars (Good to Superb). As well as posting the original review we will also give the reason behind the selection. It may have some relevance to the particular month or it may just be an old bottle I re-discovered in back of the drinks cabinet.
Blog Archives
The Indian Ocean Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits are delighted to announce the release of the fourth batch of Penny Blue XO Rum.
Named after the world’s rarest stamp, Penny Blue is distilled at Medine, the oldest operational distillery on Mauritius, dating back to 1926. The estate is situated a few metres from the sea on the west of the island, near Bambou.
Cadenhead’s are an independent Scotch Whisky and Spirit bottler from Campbelltown, Argyle in Scotland. They are well respected, not only for their whiskies but also for producing some legendary rums over the years. They have put out several 30 plus years old Demeraras and have a very eclectic mix of rums currently available.
Gosling’s don’t tend to rush their releases or have many lines in their portfolio. Until recently their only rum commercially available was the Black Seal and the Black Seal Overproof.
In recent times Gosling’s have introduced a Gold Rum and finally got around to releasing this well guarded Family Secret. I quite enjoyed both the Black Seal and the Gold rum so I felt it only fair to review their more premium offering as well.
Bristol Classic Rum are a wonderful little bottling and ageing experiment, overseen by drinks legend John Barrett. They produce some of the rum worlds most interesting independent bottlings and they price them competitively and sensibly, so most can access their wares.
I did contact John Barrett regarding this rum but unfortunately he is a very busy man and to date hasn’t got back to me. I’ll send him a copy of this review when I’m finished and see if I get a response. I appreciate that people are very busy so I’m always very grateful and appreciative when people do respond to my queries.
Havana Club have recently re-branded and re-formulated their entry level Anejo Especial dark rum. Whether this has anything to do with Bacardi’s recent re-branding exercise I’m not sure. I doubt however that the two giants weren’t aware of what the other had planned……
Bacardi Carta Fuego – Red Spiced Rum to give it it’s full moniker. In 2011 Bacardi moved away from creating weird and wonderful Flavoured Rums and introduced their competitor in the Spiced Rum market – Bacardi Oakheart.
If things had went to plan then we would all be at least familiar with, if not drinking an Oak And Coke. As many of you will be puzzled by this, its safe to say that things didn’t go quite as planned for Bacardi as Oakheart failed to make a major dent in Captain Morgan’s Musket and The Kraken seem to have the Dark end of the Spiced rum market all sewn up. That’s not to mention Sailor Jerry and the numerous copy-cats which have sprung up in the wake of the success of the now deceased Tattoo Artist at the tail end of the “noughties” (00’s).