Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum

Bythefatrumpirate March 24, 2021

Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum. Thanks to increased distribution in Europe and very generous samples from rum fans around the world, I’m beginning to build up a nice set of Privateer Rum reviews.

In this instance huge thanks to the person who sent me this particular sample of Overproof Rum. Very much appreciated. I often think I should thank people personally but I worry I may embarrass some. I could ask in advance I suppose…..

Anyway, what we have here is another Single Barrel release in the Distillers Drawer series of rums being released by Privateer International. So the rum comes in the familiar tall thin Privateer bar style bottle with a cork enclosure and a wooden stopper.

The front label details some information regarding the contents of the bottle. The handwritten style will be familiar to those who have had the Distillers Drawer series in the past. I like the presentation and the detail that is contained on the label.

So I have release no#107 from Privateer, they release a lot of single barrels. Hand Selected by P. Newsom which has been matured in “Neutral Vessel”. It is not at 126 proof or 63% ABV. 420 bottles in total were produced. The retail price was $35. Unsurprisingly this particular barrel is now sold out.

Further information on the Privateer website, reveals it was actually rested in a single stainless steel cask. On March 12th 2020 Kate Perry who works for Velier (who distribute Privateer in Europe) as a Brand Manager visited the distillery and helped with the production of this particular rum. She was also asked to select the final bottling proof. The rum was released as a homage to that particular day.

In the glass the spirit is unsurprisingly, crystal clear. Stainless Steel should impart no colour unlike a wooden barrel.

The nose is surprisingly creamy and quite soft after a little time in the glass. A quick swirl brings some fruitiness to the fore. Gooseberries, lime, some red apple and a touch of lychee. It shows its teeth a little more now!

There’s a peppery note as well dancing over the top of the fruitiness. There’s also a strong note of molasses and what I can only describe as booze!

Moving into the sip, Privateer International Distillers Drawer When in Rum Overproof Rum is quite sharp and very spicy. Lots of dark pepper, chilli like heat and some strong notes of caramel and molasses. At the full ABV it’s certainly a bit of an assault on the senses.

Luckily a couple of sips in and my palate is adjusting to the alcohol. Which is good because beneath that is a really nice balance of dark fruits, vanilla and some punchy molasses. I’m getting some tangy fruit notes – lemon/lime, sour grapefruit and those little Haribo “Tangfastic” sweets. (I’ll have to pinch a packet off the bairns after this)

The mid palate develops into a sweet caramel and almost honeyed sweetness. Then just as you think it’s mellowing out a little – it starts to heat up again. There’s also a big sweet/sour bourbon mash type vanilla flavour going on. As the heat builds you realise you are working towards the finish.

Whilst the rum finish isn’t long per se it is still very enjoyable. It builds into a fiery heat of chilli and black pepper and dark treacle – more intense than the molasses previou

sly. Due to the proof the “buzz” remains in your mouth for sometime but the overall flavour and heat fade quite quickly.

Trying to compare this to other Overproof White Rums in the mould of the traditional Jamaican rums. It’s just not like that at all. It nods more towards a Demerara Overproof but again – no not really. Closest thing to this I can think of taste wise would probably be Habitation Velier Foursquare 2015, which was also limited to around 400 bottles. I prefer this bottling to be honest.

In terms of mixing this – I did try it with a little cola and it did pretty much blow my socks off. In a good way. So probably a handy rum to have around for a bartender or mixologist.

Were we to see a Overproof White from Privateer become more commercially available and for sub £50 over here, I’d be buying one.

I certainly feel like I’ve put a few hairs on my chest today……..

Raising Glasses Clouded Leopard Renaissance Distillery Bordeaux Cask

Raising Glasses Clouded Leopard Renaissance Distillery Bordeaux Cask
Bythefatrumpirate March 11, 2026March 13, 2026

Raising Glasses Clouded Leopard Renaissance Distillery Bordeaux Cask. Rums from Renaissance Distillery have been attracting a lot of attention among rum enthusiasts over the last few years.

Located in southern Taiwan, the distillery has built something of a cult reputation for producing bold, experimental pot-still rums using long fermentations, dunder and unusual maturation casks. Production numbers are tiny and most bottles rarely leave Taiwan, which only adds to the mystique surrounding the brand.

The Clouded Leopard Bordeaux Cask Single Cask #19136 is one of the more unusual releases from the distillery even by their standards. The rum was distilled from molasses following a long 13-day fermentation using French West Indies yeast and dunder before being distilled on a Charentais pot still.

It was then aged entirely in Taiwan for around five years. Initially in new American oak before spending almost four years in a Saint-Julien Bordeaux wine cask from the Léoville-Poyferré estate.

Raising Glasses Clouded Leopard Renaissance Distillery Bordeaux Caskwas bottled in 2024 at full cask strength, a hefty 66.5% ABV, with an outturn of 90 bottles making their way to US Independent bottlers Raising Glasses. These have sold out now even at $250 price point. So secondary market again if you want to pick this one up. Sorry but I had to still review this.

The combination of heavy fermentation, pot-still distillation and an active red wine cask immediately suggests this isn’t going to be a delicate or easy-going rum. Or straightforward to review……..

In the glass the rum is a reddish-amber colour. It hints at the wine cask influence before you even get your nose anywhere near the glass.

The nose is immediately intense. This is not a gentle introduction. The first aromas that jump out are dark berries and stewed fruit plums, blackberries and something almost like raspberry compote. There’s also a darker edge lurking underneath. Cocoa powder, bitter dark chocolate and a slightly earthy note begins to appear.

The wine cask influence is fairly obvious here. It brings a strong red fruit character but also a slightly tannic edge which stops things from becoming overly sweet. Alongside that there’s a noticeable savoury note. Something slightly herbal and spicy. A touch of cumin, perhaps a little black tea and a vaguely umami drift through the background. Soy sauce? Marmite?

Give Raising Glasses Clouded Leopard Renaissance Distillery Bordeaux Cask a minute in the glass and the nose becomes even more layered. There are hints of roasted sweet peppers and warm spice along with something that feels almost medicinal. It’s quite an unusual aromatic profile and certainly not your typical rum experience.

On the palate the rum wastes no time reminding you that it’s bottled at full cask strength. The first sip delivers a serious punch of flavour along with a noticeable burst of heat. However, it never really crosses the line into harshness. Instead the alcohol carries the flavours in a big, bold wave.

Dark fruit flavours dominate again, particularly plum, raspberry and cherry. At times it almost edges into cough syrup territory, which sounds strange but actually works surprisingly well with the darker chocolate notes running alongside it.

Behind the fruit there’s a more savoury layer building up. Black tea, earthy spices and a slightly smoky character begin to develop. The Bordeaux cask influence brings a firm structure to the rum with noticeable tannins and a dry grip that keeps everything from becoming overly jammy or sweet.

There’s also a slightly funky edge that occasionally peeks through. Likely the result of the long fermentation with dunder. It’s not full-on Jamaican-style funk, but it adds another dimension to what is already a very complex flavour profile.

The finish is long, intense and very enjoyable. The darker fruit notes gradually fade away leaving behind cocoa, charred spice and a lingering herbal bitterness. The tannins from the wine cask remain present right to the end, giving the finish a dry, almost red wine like structure. After a few moments there’s also a faint savoury note that returns.

The combination of high strength, heavy fermentation character and active wine cask influence makes it quite a demanding spirit. It’s the sort of rum that rewards slow sipping and perhaps even a few drops of water to open things up further.

What makes this bottling particularly interesting is how different it feels from most traditional rum styles. It doesn’t really fit neatly into the usual flavour profiles. Instead it feels like something sitting at the crossroads not quite sure in which direction it is heading maybe.

For adventurous rum drinkers that’s part of the appeal. Renaissance Distillery clearly isn’t trying to replicate classic rum styles. Instead they’re pushing the boundaries of what rum can be, using unusual casks and fermentation techniques to create something genuinely distinctive.

Whether that works for everyone is another question. The wine cask influence is strong and occasionally threatens to overshadow the base spirit. When it all comes together the rum delivers a seriously complex and memorable experience.

Overall this is a bold, uncompromising rum that shows just how exciting the emerging Taiwanese rum scene can be. It’s intense, unusual and packed with flavour. Definitely not an everyday sipper, but certainly one that rum enthusiasts will find fascinating to explore.

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Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask

Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask Rum
Bythefatrumpirate July 14, 2021

Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask. I’ve covered a bottling from Rum & Cane Merchants previously. If memory serves me correctly that was an offering from Worthy Park Distillery in Jamaica.

The brand seem to cross over between being called West Indies Rum & Cane Merchants and just Rum & Cane Merchants. I fancy with all the cultural appropriation backlash, they may be looking to phase out the West Indies part in time. The brand is based in London but the parent group Crucial Drinks are based in Scotland. So not very West Indian in terms of location certainly.

The brand first came to my attention a few years back. As well as releasing Single Cask bottlings they have also released regional blends from around the globe. For the next couple of months I will be reviewing a series of their recent Single Cask offerings.

I am starting the series today with a bottling from Mauritus and the La Bourdonnaiss distillery. In 2006 Rhumerie des Mascereignes was built at the Domaine de Labourdonnais Estate. In 2014 the name as changed to La Bourdonnais. They produce a number of rhums under the La Bourdonnais brand such as Classic Gold, Spiced Gold and more premium offerings such as XO Vintage 2010. They have a website which covers the whole estate’s activities which is well worth a look.

The rum today is made Sugar Cane Juice made with Sugar Cane grown at La Bourdonaiss estate. In some of the information on their website they mention it is a “blend” of Cane Juice and Molasses. Either way it is distilled on a Coffey Column still. The rum has been aged in a refill Ex-PX Sherry butt. There are 481 bottles available.

Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask has been bottled at 46% ABV. It is 100% natural with no colourings or flavouring and is non-chill filtered. You can always tell when a whisky background is present in the rum world. They love saying stuff is non-chill filtered………

The rum comes in what is termed an “onion style” decanter and I can certainly see why. The rum comes complete with a sturdy circular tin for storage – which is a nice touch. In the UK the rum is available via Amazon and also direct from Crucial Drinks. It retails at £64.95.

Now before I begin my tasting I’ll just point out a couple of things which might hold this rum back and make people opt for something else…….

In the world of Independent bottlings and Single Cask releases – the age statement is absolutely key. With so many bottlings and choice even from smaller distilleries such as La Bourdonaiss, not having a clear age statement could lead to sales going elsewhere. Despite a lot of information about the cask used, distillation etc – their is no age statement beyond “XO”.

In the rum world doesn’t mean a lot unfortunately. However in the “rhum” world X.O. (Extra Old) refers to a rhum which is at least 6 years old. As such, I can’t really comment on how good value this rum may or may not be. Not that you should judge a rum by its age. That said age is a consideration for many, when buying these types of rums.

Another and personally this is not so much of an issue, is the ABV. A lot of the time when people buy Single Cask rum they like to feel they are getting it direct from the Cask, with no further interference. For some even the addition of water will lead them to seek out a Cask Strength alternative.

Anyway, enough of my jabberings. Lets get on a see how this rum goes down.

In the glass Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask is a reassuring medium-dark brown colour with a yellow to orange hue. As it is non-chill filtered it is slightly cloudy but that is certainly not an issue – that cloudiness adds flavour!

The nose is sweet. It’s slightly vegetal with some nice sweet sugar cane notes. It is certainly at least partially – if not entirely a Sugar Cane Juice r(h)um. It is reminding me very much of aged Agricole Rhum especially the Saint James line up.

Despite being aged in an ex-sherry butt it is still full of vanilla and caramel sauce. I’m getting a fruitiness as well – Apple turnover, hints of raisins, cherries and a slightly peppery spicy note making its self noticed.

It’s a complex and very moreish kind of nose. It’s the kind of rum you will leave in the glass for a long time – just nosing it. Not because it doesn’t seem very inviting, far from it. Just because it’s so very pleasant and so wonderfully balanced and aromatic.

Sipped Rum & Cane Merchants Mauritius XO Single Cask is sweeter than the nose suggests. The initial entry is very sweet with a fair hit of sweet sherry like notes and fresh sugar cane juice.

It’s very fruity with lots of stewed dark fruits, Apple Crumble, Stewed Plums and rich tart Gooseberries. Alongside this sweetness is a very gluey kind of note which might sound unpleasant but is actually quite interesting!

The mid palate moves the rum in a spicier more oak influenced direction. It becomes less sweet and drier and spicier on the palate. It has a real spicy tang. I’m getting what I can only describe as a very spicy chilli like heat – which reminds me of Thai curry or a spicy Pad Thai. This really is quite a spicy rum!

The finish remains quite fiery with the spicy chilli and the oaky spices leading the way. The initial sweetness of PX Sherry has all but disappeared and as the finish fades out you are left with lingering notes of Sugar Cane and a fading chilli/pepper heat.

The length of the finish is just right and it begins to fade at just the right time.

This is a really interesting bottling. It’s best described as aged Rhum Agricole with a drop or two of Tabasco towards the end. It combines everything you want and enjoy in aged Agricole Rhum with spicy twist at the end.

Considering the price of your average aged Rhum Agricole (and bear in mind many “brands” are bottled at 40-46% ABV anyway) – I don’t think anyone who is a fan of such rums would feel robbed by this bottling.

I do think this has got a good age to it and even if it hasn’t I’ve really enjoyed this bottling.

Equal parts familiar and equal parts different.

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Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004
Bythefatrumpirate May 29, 2020August 11, 2020

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004. Fiji has been on the “rum radar” recently with Plantation Rum releasing the newest addition to their Signature Blends in the shape of the “Isle of Fiji” which I reviewed earlier this month. It has also been revealed that Plantation have an agreement with South Pacific Distillery (the only active distillery on Fiji) to be the exclusive buyer of their rum.

Going forward that will mean less Independent bottlings of Fijian rum will appear on the market. Instead the Fijian rum will be produced by South Pacific Distillery, under their own brands and by Plantation, as part of the agreement. No other bottler or producer will be able to access Fijian rum. That said E&A Scheer and the Main Rum Company, here in the UK still have plenty of casks ageing in their warehouses……so it may be a while before we notice any difference.

One such cask, which has been ageing here in the UK for the past 4 years has now been bottled by Eric Kaye. Eric runs Homes Cay Single Cask Rum. Coming out of New York City, Eric is introducing rare and exciting premium rum to the US. He previously bottled a relatively “safe” bottling a vintage 2005 Foursquare rum to widespread acclaim. It was a fantastic debut!

For the next Holmes Cay release Eric has decided to push the boundaries and really go a little “out there”. He is releasing a “safer” Port Mourant Guyana, at the same time as this bottling but he is really putting his faith in the juice rather than the name with this particular bottling.

Fijian rum hasn’t quite got a “name” for itself in the way Jamaican, Barbadian or Guyanese rum has over the past 5-10 years. Aside from Bounty Overproof there is no real “staple” Fijian rum. The attempts by Coca Cola (who own South Pacific Distillery) to market the Ratu brand – hasn’t quite caught peoples attention for one reason or another.

As far as Independent bottlings of Fijian rum have been concerned, they have been very variable in terms of both quality and profile. In some instances you would be hard pushed to even guess the rum was from the same distillery. Trying to explain the profile of Fijian rum is difficult. It can be anything from a lighter St Lucian style of rum, right upto a Jamaican Overproof style of funk and esters. It’s a distillery which never ceases to surprise and confuse me on my rum journey.

So what do we have in our glass today? Well, as is the case with most Independent bottlers, Eric at Holmes Cay is very keen to share as much information as possible.

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004 is, as the title tells us a single cask of rum. Which yielded just 240, 75cl bottles. It has been bottled at 58% ABV. 100% Pot Still rum. Aged for 12 years in Fiji and 4 years in the UK, at Main Rum Company, Liverpool. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels. (It was re-casked in Liverpool) It may prove difficult to find this in Europe and the UK but here is a list of current stockists at least for the US.

I’ll let you know how I came about being able to review this rum at the end. In the meantime lets take a look at the liquid I have in my glass.

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004 is a light golden brown. Certainly not as dark as I might expect of a 16 year old rum, with a high proportion of Tropical Ageing. That said, this is perhaps testament to the fact Holmes Cay have not added anything to this rum. No colours no additives.

Nosing Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Fiji 2004 is a much lighter experience than I had expected. For a 100% Pot Still rum this shows a remarkable amount of balance and restraint. I was expecting a lot of funk, brine and booze. Instead I am getting a very well balanced profile.

Wafts of vanilla ice cream and cream soda are immediate. There is a slightly salty aroma – a touch of sea brine and some green olives. A touch of pine cone. This is all brought together by a layer of toffee and a dusting of icing sugar.

I’m not sure blind I would guess this was from Fiji. I think I may have thought it was from Worthy Park or even St Lucia Distillers. Maybe a blend of them both?

Certainly not bad company to be keeping!

Sipped, this is a very punchy flavourful rum. It has a good hit of brine and some funky Jamaican notes. It also has a really good weight of vanilla, toffee and double cream to keep it all together. Great balance even sipped at 58% ABV.

The mid palate builds and builds with an array of spices and wonderful aged oak notes. Cinnamon, butterscotch, ginger, white pepper and some smoky notes all put in an appearance.

The finish is long and lingering with a fantastic array of woody spices and a dry smoky finish which just goes on and on. It has a wonderfully chilli like heat which builds but never dominates or throws it off balance. This is not just one of the best Fijian rums I have tried but also one of the best rums I think I have had…..ever.

I’ll make a little disclosure but in all honesty, I doubt anyone who tries this rum will be disappointed by it. I wouldn’t have said what I said to Eric upon first trying this if I didn’t think it was as good as it is.

In October last year I met Eric Kaye at London Rumfest. He came out to dinner with our group after spending a large part of the day socialising with us. He had samples of Holmes Cay Barbados and he was keen for me and others to try it. The result was my review in November and I was suitably impressed!

Following, on from this meeting Eric arranged for Main Rum Company to send me some samples. He was working out what he wanted to buy. For some reason he valued my opinion. Amongst them was this SPFD (South Pacific Fiji Distillery) 2004 sample.

Upon trying it, I told Eric if he didn’t buy it I would! I really did think straight away it was excellent.

An absolutely fantastic find.

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Angostura Premium Rum Aged 7 Years

Angostura Premium Rum Aged 7 Years
Bythefatrumpirate October 31, 2024July 12, 2025

Angostura Premium Rum Aged 7 Years. It’s been a long time since I have reviewed anything from Angostura or for that matter Trinidad Distillers Limited. Until a few days ago I wouldn’t have been expecting to be sitting down and reviewing this rum either.

However, we have Amazon sales to thank for todays review. I was looking for something slightly above supermarket standard as a slightly more premium mixer/sipper and found this on offer for £24.99. The way prices are going in the UK at the moment I figured it wasn’t a bad price, so I plumped for a bottle.

Angostura Premium Rum Aged 7 Years is produced on a multi column still at Trinidad Distiller Limited. It is a blend of 7 different rums aged in ex-bourbon barrels. Once blended together the rum is then “filtered” – which sounds like something I’d expect to hear in Vodka marketing.

Sadly that is pretty much all I can find out about this particular rum. In the UK it is bottled at 40% ABV and a 70cl bottle will usually set you back around £32 The Whisky Exchange usually have stock.. Which is in keeping with similar rums such as Bacardi’s 8 Year Old, Flor de Cana 7 and Doorly’s 8 Year Old.

My experience with Angostura products in the past has been mixed. I truly hated their heavily sweeteneed No1 Expression and was pretty much indifferent towards their Aged 5 Years expression and their 1919. The core range doesn’t experiment too much and the only noticeable difference as you work your way up is the amount of sweetening they use. For this bottling the Hydrometer bobs at 40% ABV – but I do still suspect that there is some sweetening or alterations post distillation.

With little else of note to say we may as well press on and get on with the nosing and tasting of this rum.

Angostura Premium Rum Aged 7 Years in the glass presents itself as a classic golden rum. On the nose it’s very much influenced by the barrel. So plenty of vanilla and soft oak tones. It’s not hugely woody but it is definitely taking most of its flavour profile from the barrel. I doubt the actual distillate off the still had much “going on”.

It’s sweet but not overly floral like some Angostura offerings. Light caramel, peanut brittle and some shortbread. It’s easy going and accessible. It has a nice balance to it.

There are no real “bum” notes with this rum. Unfortunately it lacks any real depth on the nose. There’s also a slightly alcohol/ethanol led undercurrent which is a little disappointing to find in a 7 year old rum.

Sipped it is very easy going – sweetness leads the way with a lot of vanilla, caramel and those peanut notes. There is however a slight bitterness on the after taste and again the alcohol just doesn’t feel as well integrated as I might have expected.

The mid palate is especially “hot” on the alcohol side. It’s not so much that it has a strong alcohol burn it just has quite a high alcohol like taste. It feels as if a shot of vodka has been mixed in with the rum.

Even when mixed you still get this strong alcohol flavour lurking beneath the sweeter notes and the soft oak. The rum has a fairly nice mouthfeel initially and it goes down really easily whether mixed or sipped. It just has that after taste that is a little off putting.

Even at £25 I can’t see me buying another bottle of this. It’s not a terrible rum but it is a little one dimensional. It’s bang average if I’m being honest.

I think it might be a while before I review another Angostura rum………….

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The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years

The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years
Bythefatrumpirate September 16, 2020

The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years. Yet another rum from Dutch Independent Bottler The Duchess this time from a Trinidad distillery that I didn’t even realise existed!

To be fair to me by the time I got into rum in the early part of the 2010’s Ten Cane was fading out. Production of any rum produced under the Ten Cane banner ceased in 2015. It was a short lived thing being introduced in 2005. I actually have some of the original Ten Cane rum to review. So I will save the Ten Cane “story” for that review. I should still have enough to talk about with this release from The Duchess.

I first noticed a Ten Cane Distillery noted Independent bottling, earlier this year from Compagnie des Indes. Didn’t think all that much of it, I just thought it was a “trendy” way to bottle a rum from Trindidad Distillers Limited that perhaps had originally been intended to be a Ten Cane rum. Ten Cane was actually a purpose built distillery producing rum from Fresh Sugar Cane Juice using Copper Pot Stills in small batches. Artisanal or craft rum as it was noted as back then. The rum world has changed a lot in short time.

The Ten Cane rum that came to market was a blend of this Fresh Sugar Cane Juice rum and aged Trinidad molasses rum. I assume the aged molasses rum came from Trinidad Distillers Limited.

This particular rum was distilled in 2008. It was bottled in 2019 and is noted as being 11 Years Old. The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years is from cask number 80. 232 bottles were yielded from this cask. It is bottled at 63% ABV cask strength. The rum in this cask was originally aged Tropically for 7 years before being moved to Europe and aged there for a further 4. It has been aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

This is will be one of the last releases in the Hummngbird series designed by Hans Dillesse. This bottling is adorned with a Tufted Coquette. The bottlings are similar to the Silver Seal wildlife bottlings though I would say they are a bit more modern and contempory. The rum is housed in a 3/4 stubby style bottle with a light/baby blue wax seal. This hides the chunky cork stopper. The Duchess rums are becoming more sought after and are now available at a great number of stores in Europe and even one in the UK. For the EU you could try Zeewijck or Best of Wines. In the UK you might want to look at Edencroft. It is priced at between €/£89-95.

In many ways, not having experienced Ten Cane Rum previously and not being totally sure on the exact make up of this rum, I’m not sure what to expect.

Which isn’t a bad thing as often I already have a pretty good idea of what a rum might taste like. With this I am totally unsure.

So lets have a look at this rum and see how it goes down!

In the glass The Duchess Ten Cane Distillery Trinidad Aged 11 Years is a dark brown with a very vivid red/orange hue around the edges and throughout the rum.

The nose is quite rich. Lots of dark spicy oak and burnt rubber. It’s not as heavy as a Caroni but its certainly not the light type of rum that Angostura prefer to produce. There are some slight petrol and creosote like notes but they are tempered by a rich fruity sweetness. Notes of Sugar Cane and some slightly sour gooseberries.

It’s a fascinating nose that smells almost like some kind of funky/tarry yet sweet island blend. At first you think it might be a bit unbalanced but it has an almost Bajan like harmony. It reminds me a little of independently bottled rum from Travellers Distillery, Belize.

Further nosing sees the fruitier notes comes out more – prunes, raisins and blackberries. This is complex stuff and a joy to sit and nose.

Sipped at the full ABV this is a heady mix! It’s initially quite tarry with a fair whack of diesel fumes and creosote but it quickly evolves into a huge burst of very grassy yet very funky fruity rum. Which again twists as you move into the mid palate and you get a much less aggressive more balanced note. Baking spices, gingerbread and some tart treacly dark fruit jam.

Throughout this it has a wonderfully pleasant slightly smoky/burnt note which just seems to give this rum yet another layer.

Whilst this might share a lot in common in the notes with a Caroni – it is an entirely different beast. It is fruitier and funkier. It is not what I would call “easy going” but it will be welcome introduction to any rum fan looking for something a touch out of the ordinary. It’s a funny rum both familiar but at the same time distinctive. I’m reminded of the old John Peel quote about The Fall “they are always different, they are always the same”. Which just abouts fits with my feelings about this rum.

The finish does not disappoint as pretty much everything you have had in the lead up to the finish seems to come back in a long lingering slow burn of flavours.

One of the most interesting rums I have reviewed this year. A really good cask pick yet again.

Drink Y’Self Fitter……..

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Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum

Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum
Bythefatrumpirate September 17, 2023December 9, 2025

Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum. There has been quite an explosion of rum production in the UK over the past 5 or so years. Many of these rum “producers” are doing little other than “spicing” an existing imported Caribbean rum base and then proclaiming it as British, English or Scottish or even Welsh “rum”.

I’ve not focused very much on such offerings, though I have tried quite a few of them. It’s just not something I really wish to encourage or “promote” if you like.

What I am interested in however are the actual distilleries in the UK that are producing their own rum from scratch.

Black Ven Distillery in Lyme Regis, Devon is one such operation. The ethos behind the brand led by John Tucker is refreshing and in line with what a lot of Rum Enthusiasts are seeking nowadays. Tired of being deceived by so-called Premium (and Ultra Premium) brands and bored with the never ending cycle of Spiced Rums.

I reached out to John upon trying his Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum and he provided a lot of quite “geeky” information on his distillate. I will share that with you in this review as it is refreshing to get so much information from a producer.

Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum is handcrafted from scratch in a small distillery housed in a converted artist’s studio. The distillery/studio itself is flooded with soft natural light with high ceilings and far reaching views of the Black Ven cliffs. Which give the distillery its name. The rum is aged nearby in a small eco-friendly warehouse.

The molasses used in the production of Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum is sourced from a local bakers co-operative. Black Ven is currently the only distillery customer. The molasses is not overly processed which means more of the natural sugar remains.

The rum is produced in small batches. Typically around 900 litres of rum wash at a time. Produced from 100% molasses. A healthy drop of dunder is taken from each batch and recycled into the next fermentation. This is typically done up to 10 times before the cycle is reset. This is because large amounts of dunder can make the fermentation overly acidic and begins to have an impact on alcohol yield.

Once the fermentation is complete a Continuous Still is used to strip the wash. The whole strip takes around 8 hours to complete.

The spirit run is conducted on a smaller Hybrid Still. Once distillation is complete then the rum is diluted to 60% ABV. The rum is then aged for 4 years in oak or more specifically ex-French Red Wine Barrels.

The final bottle strength is 50% ABV. Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum batches are typically around 250 bottles with the batch and bottle number hand scribed on the bottle. The bottle designs are from a local student (Jack Price) and the bottles are spray painted – labels are not used.

Black Ven Rum Distillery Dark Rum is available direct from their own website. It is priced at £48 for a 50cl bottle.

So there you have it. Thanks to John for supplying so much information. I hope you all have found it interesting. Don’t quote or question me on any of the technical aspects of what I have been told. I have long confessed to not being much a Rum Geek in that regard…..

In the glass Dark Ven Distillery Dark Rum is a a very dark brown colour with an orange/reddish hue.

On the nose you initially get molasses but perhaps a sweeter more “golden syrup” like note than you might be used to. Beneath this I am getting some tannins and some fruity red wine notes – blackberries and redcurrants. The nose is rounded off by a very light smokiness and a nice hit of oak spice and vanilla.

It’s rich and very intense. The molasses note is particularly strong giving aromas of black treacle, caramel, treacle toffee and some dark chocolate. Its a powerful rich nose which reminds me of Navy Style Rum.

Sipped at the full 50% ABV the rum packs a nice punch but the sweet fruity notes and the treacly molasses notes make it a very enjoyable sip. Its sweet but not overly so and has a nice weight of dark berries and acidic wine like notes to give it a more rounded flavour.

This is backed up further by a drying on the mid palate. Which brings out more of the dark chocolate notes. Throughout the sipping experience you get a nice backdrop of oak spices. Followed by vanilla, which gives further depth to the sip.

The finish is a good length and you get a nice hit again of the oak spices alongside a touch of zesty lemon and some vanilla. The molasses notes continue throughout right to the very end.

As well as sipping this I was curious to see how this would fair in cocktails and in a simple rum and coke.

Black Ven Distillery Dark Rum works brilliantly in a rum and coke giving a very rich and very intense taste experience. It certainly isn’t overshadowed by the coke that’s for sure!

In cocktails again it seems to work well with cocktails calling for a “dark rum”. It works very nicely as a float in a Zombie.

That said I would predominantly use this particular rum as a sipper. Although relatively young it does have a unique profile.

At the price point I certainly think this is more than worth a punt. I’ve really enjoyed my bottle. I would be keen to see how this evolves. I feel longer ageing will further enhance the distillate. So maybe some longer aged releases are in the pipeline? It is a young distillery after all.

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