Rum-Bar Rum is a brand which is part of the Rum-Bar Brand family.

They have two types of rum; Overproof and Gold, plus a Rum Cream Liqueur and even a Vodka all from the Worthy Park Estate in Jamaica.  

Rum-Bar Rum is the original core product and is in the Overproof Rum Category.

A direct competitor for the more established Wray & Nephew White Overproof. Similarities between Rum-Bar White Overproof and Wray & Nephew are immediate – both use the colours of the Jamaican flag – Yellow, Green and Black and come in tall clear bottles which display the crystal liquid inside.This offering from Worthy Park has a slightly more contempory feel to it.  The Rum-Bar branding and the Worthy Park emblem are striking and give this rum its own clear identity.The rum is currently available in the UK in 200ml bottles at Tesco (who also stock Wray & Nephew) and online from Ashanti drinks.

All three of Rum-Bar offerings can be had including P&P for little over £60.The Worthy Park Estate discontinued rum production in the mid sixties.  So not to repeat myself, more information on Worthy Park can be found in my interview with Alexander Kong along with my review of Rum-Bar Gold.  Currently in the UK a bottle of Rum-Bar White Overproof 70cl will set you back £28.99.  Rum-Bar White Overproof comes in at 63%.  It is a blend of 3 unaged rums. Although they don’t capitalize on this fact, it is 100% Pot Still distilled rum which differentiates it from the competing overproof rums.  Unlike other Jamaican rum producers Worthy Park do not use Dunder pits and they rely on their unique yeast strains and state of the art technology to produce their rums.

Which may make some of you think that this White Overproof may be refined and slightly lighter on flavour/funk.  I’ve deliberately delayed reviewing this rum as I have been comparing and contrasting it to Wray and Nephew but also a Clairin from Haiti.

If you aren’t familiar with White Overproof rums, especially those from Jamaica then I will give you a little background.  In Jamaica Overproof White rum accounts for around 90% of all rum sales.  If 63% isn’t strong enough for you and you visit the island there are several “rum shacks” that will happlily sell you something stronger from under the counter and albeit not so legal.  It is commonly mixed with a grapefruit soda called Ting to make what is often referred to as Sting-Wray.  And yes it does have a sting in the tail! Worthy Park have worked very hard to try and capture some of the domestic market and are currently expanding their operations into the Global Market and are currently working on some aged expressions.

The nose on Rum-Bar White Overproof is very pungent, probably due to the 100% Pot Still feature.  It is full on Jamaican funk – think Smith & Cross and the obvious Wray and Nephew. It’s vegetal almost like freshly cut sugar cane.  It smells of sweet alcohol mixed with freshly cut grass – there is an almost sour slightly fermented note.

The “sweet” does not come from added sugar as sugar addition is not permitted according to the Jamaican Rum Standard.

If you add a little water you get more exotic fruits Papaya and a little Passion Fruit some fermented Pineapple.Like the Clairin’s it is more interesting to sip than outright enjoyable.  It’s too much at 63% neat – it just burns and tastes of alcohol.  With water you begin to appreciate the depth of flavour.  Banana, Papaya, sweet Passion fruit like notes, hints of grassy vegetal agricole like notes.  There is a lot going on.

It is long drinks or as an Overproof cocktail float where Rum-Bar really shines.  As you can see from my first photo I have enjoyed this rum mixed with cola.  It offers a very hearty rummy rum and coke.  With the rum being so intense and full of flavour it also pairs very well with a variety of fruit juices.  A rum “Screwdriver” (traditionally a Vodka and Orange) works particularly well.  It also mixes very well with Ting – though sadly I can’t think of a name as catchy as a Sting-Wray.

As a Tiki-float it also works well giving extra oomph to any cocktail.Rum Nation released a similar rum also from Worthy Park fairly recently (with a slightly higher price tag).  This I understand is roughly the same juice.

Rum-Bar White Overproof is an Unaged Overproof Jamaican White Rum – anyone buying this should not view this as a super charged Bacardi.  The only similarity is the colour.  If you enjoy a Sting-Wray then you might want to consider trying this instead. I personally think this might have just a little bit more flavour.