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Will Hoekenga and John Gulla

The Rumcast

A Food , Arts and Society & Culture podcast

#64 in Food · 🇳🇿 #83 in Food · 🇳🇱
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About the show

Explore the world of rum by hearing from the people who are shaping it.

Newest episodes

The 5th Annual Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft Live from Boston Rum Week

1 hr 49 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In September we recorded the first ever Rumcast episode in front of a live audience at Boston Rum Week, and we decided to do something special for the occasion: our fifth annual fantasy rum draft. Selecting from only the rums available at the event (and there were many incredible ones), we each attempted to assemble our ideal rum bars while competing against a third team made up of special guests at Boston Rum Week. To account for the live format, we condensed the competition down to the following five categories: Unaged rum Aged rum Cane juice rum Unicorn bar rum (these were rare bottles available at a special bar at the event) Non-Caribbean rum The vote took place live at the show, so tune in to find out who won!

[Free Bonus Episode] Blind Tasting Alambique Serrano's New Vida Nativa Series Rums

1 hr 0 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. For more bonus episodes like this one, subscribe to the Rumcast Patreon community. In this free bonus episode, we blind taste through 4 of the new Vida Nativa Series rums from Oaxaca's Alambique Serrano. These are all aged cane juice rums that feature a wide variety of cask types and combinations of both pot and column still distillate. It was a wild ride that, much like last year's set of Vida Nativa rums, included one rum that was hard to compare to any others we've tasted before. Here's the list of the rums we tried: Vida Nativa Blend #2: Mariposa Vitral Vida Nativa Blend #3: Tepejilote Vida Nativa Blend #4: Mariposa 88 Vida Nativa Single Cask #7: Árbol de Pipe We'd love to know your thoughts on these rums! Which are you most interested in trying? If you've had any of them, what did you think? Send us an email or leave a comment on social and let us know.

Kate Perry's Next Chapter + Looking Back on 9 Years at Velier

1 hr 23 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Hey all! It's time for a bittersweet episode — this month, we sat down with Rumcast veteran Kate Perry, who will be stepping away from her position at La Maison & Velier at the end of the year for a new chapter outside the world of rum. Kate told us all about what's next, why she decided to pursue something outside the rum and spirits industry, and reflected on how much has changed for rum over the last decade. It was a great look back at the development of rum in the U.S. through the lens of Kate's work at Velier and La Maison & Velier, with lots of great stories along the way. Have a listen and raise a glass to Kate with us. If you want to support Kate's next venture, check out the GoFundMe here!

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All episodes

The 5th Annual Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft Live from Boston Rum Week

1 hr 49 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In September we recorded the first ever Rumcast episode in front of a live audience at Boston Rum Week, and we decided to do something special for the occasion: our fifth annual fantasy rum draft. Selecting from only the rums available at the event (and there were many incredible ones), we each attempted to assemble our ideal rum bars while competing against a third team made up of special guests at Boston Rum Week. To account for the live format, we condensed the competition down to the following five categories: Unaged rum Aged rum Cane juice rum Unicorn bar rum (these were rare bottles available at a special bar at the event) Non-Caribbean rum The vote took place live at the show, so tune in to find out who won!

[Free Bonus Episode] Blind Tasting Alambique Serrano's New Vida Nativa Series Rums

1 hr 0 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. For more bonus episodes like this one, subscribe to the Rumcast Patreon community. In this free bonus episode, we blind taste through 4 of the new Vida Nativa Series rums from Oaxaca's Alambique Serrano. These are all aged cane juice rums that feature a wide variety of cask types and combinations of both pot and column still distillate. It was a wild ride that, much like last year's set of Vida Nativa rums, included one rum that was hard to compare to any others we've tasted before. Here's the list of the rums we tried: Vida Nativa Blend #2: Mariposa Vitral Vida Nativa Blend #3: Tepejilote Vida Nativa Blend #4: Mariposa 88 Vida Nativa Single Cask #7: Árbol de Pipe We'd love to know your thoughts on these rums! Which are you most interested in trying? If you've had any of them, what did you think? Send us an email or leave a comment on social and let us know.

Kate Perry's Next Chapter + Looking Back on 9 Years at Velier

1 hr 23 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Hey all! It's time for a bittersweet episode — this month, we sat down with Rumcast veteran Kate Perry, who will be stepping away from her position at La Maison & Velier at the end of the year for a new chapter outside the world of rum. Kate told us all about what's next, why she decided to pursue something outside the rum and spirits industry, and reflected on how much has changed for rum over the last decade. It was a great look back at the development of rum in the U.S. through the lens of Kate's work at Velier and La Maison & Velier, with lots of great stories along the way. Have a listen and raise a glass to Kate with us. If you want to support Kate's next venture, check out the GoFundMe here!

The Ultimate Blind Rum Tasting: 6 Incredibly Old & Rare Single Casks from Legendary Distilleries

1 hr 49 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. This is an episode that's been months in the making. After our Rumcast Reserve project, Main Rum Company put together a mystery box of old and rare cask samples that they promised would wow us. Thanks to U.S. customs, it took nearly a year for us to actually get our hands on the samples, but once we finally did we can definitively say they did not disappoint. They were some of the finest rums we've ever tasted. For an extra bit of fun, we decided to try our luck at guessing their origins. This episode shows you how we did, all in real time, followed by a ranking of our personal favorites at the end. Here's a look ahead at what we tasted: 1992 Pampero aged for 34 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 42.3% ABV 1989 (or 1991?) Caroni aged 34-37 years in an ex-rum cask, 45.4% ABV, TMC8 mark 1983 blend of various Hampden and Long Pond marks (including DOK, HGML, C>H, >H, HLCF, LPS, and STC♥E), full aging details not revealed, 48.6% ABV, listen for more details Blend of Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana rums with an average vintage of 1990, though rums from '82, '83, '86, and '89 are also in the blend, 48.9% ABV 1989 Guyana (Uitvlugt Port Mourant) aged for 37 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 56.7% ABV 1984 Clarendon (MMW mark) aged for 42 years (including 34 at origin) in an ex-rum cask, 59.7% ABV These were all cask samples from Main Rum Company, so everything is cask strength and single cask. Have a listen, and see how wrong we were!

What's After Black Tot + the Real Life of a Rum Brand Ambassador with Mitch Wilson

1 hr 51 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we caught up with Mitch Wilson just a week before the end of his 7-year run as the brand ambassador for Black Tot Rum to discuss his exciting next gig, reflect on his Black Tot tenure, and go deep on what it's actually like to live on the road as a brand ambassador. We discuss: The new role he'll be taking on in the rum world Perception vs. reality of being a brand ambassador What it's like spending 250+ days on the road in a year The challenges small spirits brands face in the market How big brands buy their way onto cocktail menus The daiquiri strategy for becoming a brand ambassador His first (and worst) masterclass performance How to ask for better rum at bars without sounding like an a*****e The prospect of single-flagon Black Tot releases And more! As we mentioned at the beginning, come join us for the live Rumcast show on September 19 at Boston Rum Week!

The Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket Round 2: Modern Daiquiris

1 hr 13 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's time: we're back with the second entry in our series to determine the best daiquiri rums available on the market, the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket! This time, we're breaking down the "modern" portion of the bracket. Compared to the "classic daiquiri" rums in round one, these rums are typically more flavor-forward, and often composed of both pot and column still rums from multiple countries. Some of them also feature aged (and unfiltered) components. From heavy favorites like Probitas, to overlooked gems like Worthy Park Silver, to unavoidable bar staples like Planteray 3 Stars, to newcomers like Grander Cane Harvest, we put them all to the test to see what stood out and what disappointed. Here's the full rum list: Probitas / Veritas, the collaboration between Foursquare Distillery and Hampden Estate Holmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum (the people's choice vote winner!) Hamilton Breezeway Blend Planteray 3 Stars Worthy Park Silver Banter White Rum Transcontinental Rum Line High Seas Grander Cane Harvest Check it out and let us know which rums you prefer from the bunch. Cheers!

The Search for the Best American Rums with Mainland Rum's Seth Benhaim

1 hr 25 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with the founder of the only independent rum bottler exclusively focused on sourcing rums from the United States, Seth Benhaim of Mainland Rum. Since launching a little over a year ago, Mainland Rum has released some of the longest aged American rums to hit the market in recent years, including a 10-year-old Louisiana and a 9-year-old California to go along with releases sourced from Georgia and Florida. With their first unaged release from a Minnesota distillery set to hit the market soon, we figured it was a good time to catch up and learn more about Mainland's vision. We discussed: Arriving at the idea to focus solely on American rum The challenge of sourcing longer aged rums from craft distilleries Negative perceptions associated with the category The double-edged sword of releasing rums from closed distilleries First impressions of Mainland's unaged "S. Pombe" release sourced from Black Frost Distilling The future of the American rum category And more Have a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions! Learn more about Mainland Rum on their website.

Classic Daiquiris: Which Rum Makes the Best One?

1 hr 20 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. This episode is the first entry in our ongoing Daiquiri Bracket series. Join us for a head-to-head showdown between 8 rums to see which one makes the best daiquiri in the classic category — the crisp, clean, refreshing style of daiquiri that made the drink famous worldwide. Can anything top the beloved Cuban Havana Club? Are Bacardi rums as bland as their reputation among rum nerds would imply? Should multicountry blends belong in this category? Do pot stills have a place if we stretch our definition of "classic" a bit? We tackled all these questions and more as we tasted our way through daiquiris made with the following rums: Havana Club 3 Don Q Cristal Bacardi Heritage Bacardi Superior Hamilton White 'Stache Diplomatico Planas Flor de Caña Extra Seco Ron Barceló Blanco Have a listen to find out which rums reigned supreme! And let us know...do you have a favorite among these?

The Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket Part 1: The 32-Rum Selection Show

1 hr 24 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We've got something totally different for you today — a new series of episodes to determine the ultimate daiquiri rums currently available in the (mostly U.S.) market! We're calling it the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket, AKA The Daiq Braiq™. 32 rums will compete across 4 different categories of daiquiri rum styles. This episode is all about determining which 32 rums make the cut, and we need your help! During the episode we select our 28 top picks, leaving 1 open slot remaining in each category. Your job after listening is to vote on each category’s final rum. Here's the link to make your voice heard (it includes spoilers of the rums we selected, so be sure to listen first!): Submit Your People's Choice Votes Be sure to listen and send in your picks by Wednesday, May 27! Excited for all your thoughts and hot takes on this one. Cheers!

Behind The Rums of Mexico Series with Jason Cox

1 hr 20 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we caught up with Alambique Serrano founder Jason Cox about his latest project, The Rums of Mexico — a wide ranging series of rums sourced from aguardienteros and distilleries across Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Jalisco. We recently shared our thoughts on these rums in a bonus episode, but this interview with Jason gave us a chance to learn much more about the stories behind the rums, including: How the project came about The great (and not-so-great) rums Jason tried along the way to partnering with the 4 producers featured in these releases Why he sourced his first molasses-based rum, Melaza con Muck, for this series The wild flavor profile of "Caldo" Each producer's backstory The inspiration behind the label artwork Aging plans And more! Plus, we also caught up on all things Alambique Serrano and discussed what's next for the brand — including the upcoming second wave of Vida Nativa rums. You can learn more about The Rums of Mexico on their website. Have a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions!

Blind Tasting & Selecting La Maison & Velier's Next Flag Series Rums

2 hr 2 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. This episode is something fun we've never done before: Kate Perry (La Maison & Velier) and Brett Kozinn (PM Spirits) presented us with 7 mystery samples that are all candidates for the next wave of Flag Series releases for the U.S. market. We tasted through them together, debated our favorites, and attempted to guess origins before the exciting reveals, all while discussing all the factors that go into selecting rums like this for release. It was a super fun experience, and a cool sneak peek at what's to come from La Maison & Velier. Give it a listen and let us know how we did! We'd also love to know which of these rums sounded the most intriguing to you. Send us an email or comment on social to let us know.

Richard Seale & Ian Burrell Part 2: Jamaica Rum GI Debates, Aging Myths, and History vs. Tradition

1 hr 15 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Foursquare's Richard Seale and Ian Burrell, the Global Rum Ambassador. In this episode, we discussed common misconceptions of the Jamaica Rum GI, including a fascinating deep dive into the history of Jamaican rum aging overseas, media coverage of the story, and what might happen next. If you missed Part 1 on Richard and Ian's latest rum project, you can check it out here. You can listen to our previous episode on the Jamaica Rum GI with Christopher Gentles of the Spirits Pool Association here.

Richard Seale & Ian Burrell Part 1: Their New Project, the Future of Foursquare's ECS, & More

1 hr 19 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we sat down with the dynamic duo of Foursquare's Richard Seale and the Global Rum Ambassador himself, Ian Burrell, for a conversation that covered so much ground we broke it into two parts. In Part 1, we discuss their new project that's been years in the making, other collaborations on the horizon, the future of Foursquare's Exceptional Cask Selection series, and much more. Keep an eye out for Part 2 next week. Cheers!

Our Top 8 Predictions & Questions for Rum in 2026

1 hr 26 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's time for our annual predictions for the rum world in 2026, but with a slight format twist. Rather than just making predictions, we also include the biggest rum-related questions on our minds as we head into another year. What rum predictions or questions do you have for the next 12 months? Hit us up via email or social and let us know!

The Rumcast's Favorite Rums of 2025

1 hr 42 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's time once again for our annual lookback at our favorite rums of the year! This time, we both select favorites from the following categories for 2025: Value rum "New to me" rum Unaged rum Aged rum Blend Single cask "Am I the a*****e?" rum Overall rum Bottler of the year Distillery of the year As mentioned during the show, you can donate to the American Friends of Jamaica's Hurricane Melissa relief fund here: https://theafj.app.neoncrm.com/forms/afj-disaster-relief-fund Tune in and let us know your own favorites from 2025! Thanks, as always, for listening and supporting the show throughout the year. We're looking forward to running it back with you in 2026.

Carrying on the Mount Gay Legacy with Trudiann Branker, Master Blender

1 hr 20 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we sat down with Trudiann Branker to go inside her role as master blender at one of the rum world's iconic distilleries, Mount Gay. After taking over for former master blender Allen Smith, Trudiann has played a huge role in shaping the current era of Mount Gay and Barbados rum, from reformulating traditional blends to charting a new course with the estate rum program. We discussed: The surprise conversation that led to her becoming master blender What it was like to create new blends for XO, Black Barrel, and more The making of a Master Blender Collection rum The balance between tradition and trying new things Her philosophy as a blender Mount Gay's production process The future of the estate rum program Her table tennis skills And much more! This was one of our favorite conversations of the year, so we're excited for you to hear it! You can get more details on the rums discussed in this episode on Mount Gay's website. Catch up on our past episodes with others from the Mount Gay universe: Dr. Frank Ward Talks Barbados Rum, Mount Gay, and More Inside Mount Gay's Estate Rum & Agricultural Program with Jacklyn Broomes and Maggie Campbell

O Reizinho and the Tradition of Madeira Rum Making

1 hr 24 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums. We talked to Pedro about: What sets Madeira rums apart Evolving his father's small distillery from a clandestine "friends and family" operation to a commercial producer The unique challenges of cane cultivation in Madeira What it's like to send your rums through the tasting panel that certifies Madeira rum The pros and cons of operating a distillery from your own garage The direct-fire Portuguese stills that craft O Reizinho's rum Madeira's quirky age statement rules Local rum culture And more! If you're interested in learning more about Madeira rum, be sure to check out our Guide to Madeira Rum episode.

Building a Beginner's Rum Bar in 2025

1 hr 25 min

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we discussed something that we've somehow never dedicated a show to (but with a twist, of course): assembling a rum bar that would offer a beginner a complete view of the rum world. The twist, however, is that we have to do it in as few bottles as possible. Needless to say, it's a tough exercise! We debated how to define a beginner, catering to different spirits-experience levels, how to possibly represent a category as diverse as rum with just a handful or two of bottles, and a whole lot more. This is as much as episode for enthusiasts who often recommend rums to beginners as it is for folks who might consider themselves beginners. Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Cheers!

Announcement: The Rumcast Reserve Pre-Sale Is Live!

11 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can now pre-order our first-ever Rumcast Reserve single cask releases online! Head to our online retailer to grab your bottles today.

Adventures in Rum Experimentation at South Africa's Mhoba Distillery

1 hr 33 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we finally caught up with Robert Greaves, founder of Mhoba Rum, the South African cane juice rum distillery that's pumped out a steady supply of distinctive, high-octane ester bombs over the last several years. Robert's been on our list ever since we heard he not only founded the distillery, but also built most of it himself, from the pot stills to the sugarcane press. He also brought his distiller, Shaldon Engelbrecht, along for the ride, who's behind many of the distillery's current experiments in high ester rum production. Completing the guest triumvirate is Eric Kaye of Holmes Cay, who is bringing a handful of cool Mhoba releases to the U.S. right now, both under the distillery's label and his own. We discussed: What it was like to have Richard Seale try the rum in Mhoba's early days The unique process behind their "Select" unaged rum The influence of Martinique and Jamaican production styles on Mhoba Adventures in extended, high acid fermentations How their unique new high ester blend "The Shaldon" came to be The perils and potential of aging rum in peated whisky casks And much more! Related links: The Mhoba website Rum Revelations' Mhoba travelogue (great pictures and details on the distillery) All the details on Holmes Cay's latest Mhoba bottles

Unveiling the 2025 Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft Champion + Results Breakdown

1 hr 7 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We've tallied the votes and are ready to reveal the champion of the 4th annual Rumcast fantasy rum draft (along with the debut of a new hit rum-themed song from John Gulla — be sure to listen to the very end). Guest participant Arminder Randhawa of The Rum Revival joined us to break down the voting results for each category, which included a number of extremely close finishes and surprises. Was it a repeat victory for Arminder? A return to glory for former champion Will? A first-time breakthrough for John? Tune in to find out! After you've watched, let us know — were there any surprises to you? Injustices? Was a deserving winner crowned? Share your thoughts via email (host@rumcast.com) or social media!

Habitation Velier: Tasting Their 2025 Releases + a Brief History of an Iconic Rum Series

1 hr 27 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the iconic series of the rum world: Habitation Velier, Luca Gargano's collection of unique pot still rums from all corners of the globe. We start with a look back at a decade of Habitation releases and what's made the series such an enduring presence in the modern rum world. We then taste through the most recent 2025 releases, including a South African rum from Mhoba Distillery, their second release of Reunion's legendary HERR rum from Distillerie de Savanna, and a bottle from the now closed Renegade Distillery in Grenada. Finally, we throw out some of our own ideas for where the series could go next. What have been some of the standout Habitation Velier releases to you? Have thoughts on any of the releases we tasted? Leave a comment and let us know! Show Links: Velier's Habitation Velier Page The Lone Caner's "Key Rums of the World" article on Habitation Velier

The 4th Annual Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft

2 hr 8 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Note: We need your help to make the most of this episode! Go to rumcast.com/vote after listening to help determine the winner of this year's Fantasy Rum Draft. Thank you! For the fourth year in a row, we're back with our annual Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft. In this annual competition, we compete head-to-head to “draft” rums from the selection of an online liquor store (or, in this year's case, TWO online liquor stores) for 10 different rum categories. The goal? To create the superior desert island rum bar. Following his big win last year, we were excited to welcome 2024 champion Arminder Randhawa from The Rum Revival back to defend his crown! We drafted our picks from the rum inventories currently available (as of 9-7-2025) at Burlington Wine and Spirits and Baytowne Wine and Spirits. The categories were: Unaged Lightly Aged (1-4 Years) Aged (5-13 Years) Long Aged (14+ Years) Cane Juice Unaged Cane Juice Aged (Any Length) Multi-Country Blend Non-Caribbean 100% Column 100% Pot After you listen, head to rumcast.com/vote to access the complete list of picks, along with a link to our Fantasy Rum Draft Command Center if you'd like to have a look.May the best team win!

Behind Our 2nd Cask Selection + the Rumcast Reserve Label Reveal

1 hr 30 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Today's the day! We’re revealing the identity of the second cask selection that will be featured in our upcoming Rumcast Reserve release. And since two reveals are more fun than one, we're also unveiling the finished (pending TTB approval) label design. In addition to the reveals, we also take you through the work that went into them — from the twists and turns designing our label to the debates we had when choosing from our top 8 casks at The Main Rum Company. We also make one final decision regarding the label live during the recording, after some spirited debate of course. Have a listen and let us know what you think of our choices! We're excited to hear your thoughts and any questions you have. Check out Boston Rum Week — coming up September 14-21

Inside Rum Buying at The Whisky Exchange, with Dawn Davies

1 hr 24 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we caught up with Dawn Davies, head buyer for The Whisky Exchange—one of the premier spirits stores in the UK. Dawn is a huge rum fan with an excellent palate (she's one of the very few Masters of Wine in the world), and her position at The Whisky Exchange gives her a fascinating perspective on the world of rum. You can watch the video version of the episode here. We discussed: What goes into managing a store selection that includes nearly 1,000 rum SKUs Balancing esoteric rum geek bottles with mass market selections Which rums should be on more store shelves right now Standouts from The Whisky Exchange's 5th annual Rum Show this past July What it takes to go through the grueling 5+ years long Master of Wine process How Dawn approaches tasting rums Revisiting The Whisky Exchange's rum classification system 6 years in Annoying label terminology And more! Relevant links mentioned in the episode: Follow Dawn on Instagram The Whisky Exchange website The Whisky Exchange rum classification system The Whisky Exchange rum flavor camps Check out Boston Rum Week — coming up September 14-21

The Rumcast Guide to Guyana Rum: Part 2

1 hr 24 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. After releasing Part 1 last week, we're back with the second installment of our guide to all Guyana rum. We kick off Part 2 with a discussion of DDL's influence on the modern rum landscape through its El Dorado releases and notable releases from independent bottlers. Next up, we confront the additives questions that have been associated with the distillery since the early 2010s. What have they said about their practice of aging with caramel in the barrel? What's the current status of the practice at the distillery? At the end, we close things out with a game of True or False with the Demerara Rum GI. What does the GI say about aging at origin? And sweetening Demerara rum? Tune in for all this and more, and catch up on Part 1 if you haven't already. We consulted a good amount of sources for this episode, which you can peruse below: The Lone Caner's "The Age of Velier's Demeraras" Series: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Du Rhum interview with Luca Gargano Velier's catalog of DDL releases Our own interview with Shaun Caleb The Demerara Rum GI The Ian Burrell Facebook post on the Demerara Rum GI we referenced DDL's statement in response to social posts about the GI Demerara Distillers Annual Shareholder Reports The RumX community's amazing "Crowdsourcing Guyana Rum Marks" thread El Dorado Official Website Barrel Aged Thought's epic Demerara piece A number of Cocktail Wonk pieces: Demerara Distillers Ltd. Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 Q&A with Shaun Caleb Q&A with Komal Samaroo Q&A with Sharon Sue-Hang

The Rumcast Guide to Guyana Rum: Part 1

1 hr 18 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In the latest chapter in our Rumcast Guides series, we turn our eyes to Guyana and the legendary style of Demerara rum. As one of the world's most distinct, essential rum categories, this episode has been a long time coming. Whether you're new to the rums of Demerara Distillers Ltd. or a seasoned enjoyer, there's something in here for everyone. In Part 1, we set the stage by going over the factors that make Guyana's rums so unique, along with a brief timeline of rum production and a deep dive into the country's lone remaining distillery and its collection of historic stills. Part 2 will follow next week (with a focus on DDL's influence on modern rum, the additives question, and the Demerara Rum GI), so stay tuned! We consulted a good amount of sources for this episode, which you can peruse below: The Lone Caner's "The Age of Velier's Demeraras" Series Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 The RumX community's epic "Crowdsourcing Guyana Rum Marks" thread The Demerara Rum GI Demerara Distillers Annual Shareholder Reports El Dorado Official Website Our own interview with Shaun Caleb Du Rhum interview with Luca Gargano Barrel Aged Thought's epic Demerara piece Velier's catalog of DDL releases A number of Cocktail Wonk pieces: Demerara Distillers Ltd. Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 Q&A with Shaun Caleb Q&A with Komal Samaroo Q&A with Sharon Sue-Hang

Blind Rum Reviews #9 & 10: Dead Reckoning "The Black Pit" & Roaming Road 17-Year Spain Rum

59 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We're back with another chapter in our series of blind rum reviews — this time with two rums we've both had before, including one we just reviewed in a bonus episode for you a few weeks back! We begin with that very rum: Roaming Road's 17-Year Spain Rum. See how close we came to identifying a rum we both just argued over within the last month (and how not knowing its identity impacted our enjoyment of it). Next, we move to a rum we briefly sampled during our visit to The Black Parrot in London in January: Dead Reckoning's "The Black Pit." It's a blend of Port Mourant, Versailles, and Enmore still rums from Demerara Distillers Ltd. that features a rather unique cask finish. A big thank you to Patreon member Jordan from DC for supplying these mystery samples to both of us. Believe it or not, he actually sent these well before we independently tried and reviewed Roaming Road's Spain Rum. So it was a happy accident, not an evil trick!

Roaming Road Spirits: From Liquor Store Owner to Rum Bottler with Mike Gilmore

1 hr 34 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with Mike Gilmore, founder of Roaming Road Spirits, to go behind the scenes at one of the newest independent rum bottlers in the U.S. Roaming Road first got on our radar last year when they came out of the gate hot with an impressive slate of initial rum releases that included a memorable >H Hampden rum, among others. With Roaming Road's second wave of releases now out (which we tasted through on a recent bonus episode), we figured now was the right time to get their full story. We chatted with Mike about: His journey from liquor store owner to rum bottler Why he thinks store barrel picks have gotten worse in recent years Why he travels thousands of miles to sample casks in person (rather than receiving samples by mail) His tasting process What he looks for in a great rum How he ended up bottling a 17-year-old rum from Spain (and details on where it came from) The impact of cask finishes And much more! You can learn more about Roaming Road on their website. This episode was sponsored by the Key West Rum Fest. You can get more info on their website.

Revealing the Identity of Our First Ever Single Cask Release (and Why We Picked It)

51 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's finally time — we're revealing which rum we will be releasing for the Rumcast Single Cask Project (and our release date goal)! This is the cask we ultimately purchased from Main Rum Company following our in-person visit, where we sampled over 20 casks that originated from all over the world. We covered many of those casks in our previous Cask Project episode that took you inside our Main Rum visit. This episode was sponsored by the Key West Rum Fest. You can get more info on their website.

Behind the Blends at Black Tot Rum with Head Blender Oliver Chilton

1 hr 34 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with Oliver Chilton, the head blender at Black Tot Rum, to nerd out on all things blending—from their recently reformulated flagship blend, to their new solera blend, to their annual master blender's reserve releases, and beyond. We also got into a lot of in-the-works rum projects that we didn't know were coming down the pike. All of which are interesting. Oliver was a great hang and we learned a lot. We think you will too. You'll hear about: The rum Oliver was desperate to add to their Finest Caribbean blend (and why) How Oliver went from working at The Whisky Exchange to becoming a rum and whisky blender Their distillery project (and whether we might see rum coming from it) The coolest rare rums Oliver has had the chance to work with Misconceptions about sherry cask and solera maturation How solera casks different from typical ex-sherry casks used in aging rum Possible future releases And much more! You can get all the details on Black Tot’s blends at their website.

The Rumcast 2025 Hot List: The Top 20(ish) Buzziest Bottles (and Upcoming Releases) of the Year

1 hr 33 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we attempted a new mid-year exercise — picking 10 bottles each we think are the most talked about / anticipated releases of the year among rum enthusiasts, including bottles that have already hit shelves and some that are still on their way. The goal was not only to create a snapshot of what's popular with rum enthusiasts in 2025, but also to give you a handy list of bottles you may want to add to your list to try if you haven't already. After you've had a listen, send us an email or drop a comment on social to let us know — which releases are you most excited about this year? Which ones did we miss? We'd love to know! We've included the full lists below, so stop scrolling here if you want to be surprised! **Spoilers Below** . . . . . . . . . . . . . John's Top 10 List: 10. Holmes Cay Réunion Island Rum Traditionnel - Single Origin Edition #4 9. Black Tot Finest Caribbean (New Blend) 8. Dead Reckoning Vanuatu 83 Islands 7. Raising Glasses Full Circle Blend 6. Bedford Park Westerhall Grenada 27-Year 5. Alambique Serrano - Alambique de Cobre 4. Habitation Velier Hampden PM Spirits / Prestige-Ledroit Blend 3. Roaming Road Belize 18-Year 2. Renaissance Clouded Leopard 1. Alambique Serrano Vida Nativa Series #1: Pico Canoa Will's Top 10 List: 10. Black Tot Historic Solera Blend 9. Hampden 1753 8. Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection: Mandamus 7. Papalin Jamaica High Ester 6. Renaissance Clouded Leopard 5. Mhoba Rum: The Shaldon 4. Bristol Classic Rum Jamaica DOK 2009 3. Hampden The Maverick 2. Alambique Serrano Vida Nativa Series #1: Pico Canoa 1. El Dorado High Ester Blend #2: PM/DHE

Inside rum et al. — Los Angeles's Must-Watch Experimental Rum Distillery, with Robyn Smith

1 hr 45 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with the founder and distiller behind one of the most interesting rum projects in the U.S. right now, Robyn Smith of rum et al., a chemical engineering PhD turned rum distiller. The premise behind Rum Et Al is simple but fascinating. Robyn started with a foundational, always-available rum she named Baseline. She's since released batches in which she introduces a "variable" to the Baseline recipe, such as dunder. This allows you to taste the exact differences that the variable brings to the flavor profile when tasted side by side. If you're a rum geek, it's a really cool tasting experience. During the episode, we discussed: How she went from chemical engineering PhD to rum distiller Her experience in R&D for Lost Spirits Distillery How rum et al. came to be All the nerdy rum production details The joys and challenges of being a one-woman operation Congeners vs. esters How ester measurements translate to flavor profile What we might see from her next And much more! Be sure to check out her YouTube channel, This Blog's Neat! These videos about her rum et al. releases are a great place to start: How Baseline Was Made How Variable (Dunderclap) Was Made How Variable (Tailspin) Was Made Have you had a chance to try Robyn's rum? What stood out to you in the conversation? Let us know via email (host@rumcast.com) or social!

20 Rums in 60 Minutes: The First Rumcast Sample Extravaganza!

1 hr 21 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. Sometimes we get in the mood to do something a little crazy, and this episode is one of those times. After the debut of the latest musical number from John Gulla (don't miss this one), we spend 60 minutes putting a big dent in our backlog of rum samples by tasting and sharing rapidfire thoughts on 10 interesting rums each, for a total of 20. We set a timer for two minutes and 30 seconds for each sample, leaving ourselves some extra time at the end to discuss our favorites, what we learned from the exercise, and more. From recent releases like Papalin Jamaica High Ester Blend, to classics like Rhum Bielle Blanc, to up-and-coming producers like Taiwan's Renaissance Distillery and Australia's Mt. Uncle Distillery (including an Australian agave cask finish??), to recently closed distilleries like Japan's Nine Leaves, to soon-to-be-released rums that we saved as surprises — the range is wide and vast, just like the category of rum and John's vocal range. You can check out the complete list of rums below, or just dive right into the episode! After you've listened, let us know — have you tried any of these rums? If so, what did you think of them? Cheers! Complete List of Rums Sampled: Oxbow Rhum Louisiane 2022 Harvest (United States) Uruapan Cana Cristalina Single Agricola (Mexico) Below the Salt L'Ardois JaQ (Nova Scotia) Velier Nine Leaves 2023 Last Drops (Japan) Botran Rare Blend - Italian Wine Cask (Guatemala) Grander Toasted Oak Small Batch (Panama) Rum & Cane - Asia Pacific XO (Fiji / Indonesia Blend) Mt. Uncle Iridium X (Australia) Crooked Island Rum - Waterman (Jamaica / Dominican Republic Blend) Mt. Uncle Iridium X Agave Cask Edition (Australia) Dràm Mòr Single Cask - Secret Distillery 7-Year (Mauritius) Foursquare Magisterium (Barbados) Rhum Biell...

The Alambique Serrano Vida Nativa Series Tasting Guide

1 hr 6 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. If you keep up with rum releases it's been pretty hard to ignore the arrival of Alambique Serrano's Vida Nativa series — 5 limited release bottles from the Oaxacan cane juice rum producer that feature a wide range of interesting cask types, different stills, and distinct flavor profiles (watermelon cucumber water?). In this episode, we tasted through 4 out of the 5 bottles, plus the new 3-year blend that's designed to be their first always available release. Along the way we debated our favorites, discussed a possible early favorite rum of the year, revealed John's secret connection to a beloved pop music icon, and much more. We cover the specs of each release during the show, but if you'd like to follow along, the Alambique Serrano website has all the details here. Have a listen and let us know what you think of these rums if you've been able to taste them!

Heavy Rum from Panama? The Making of Grander's New Cane Harvest Rum

1 hr 26 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we invited Grander founder Dan DeHart on the show to break down the making of an atypical new unaged rum called Cane Harvest. Unlike the vast majority of rums that come out of Panama, this rum is made of 100% heavy column rum that typically only serves as a blending component with lighter-bodied rums. It's a fascinating glimpse at a type of rum we don't often get to experience on its own. You can watch the video version of this episode here. We talked to Dan about: How an idea to recreate the defunct Caña Brava rum led to this much different rum The source of the rum (hint: it's not from Las Cabras, the distillery where Grander has sourced all of its other rums to date) What makes this heavy style of column still rum different Whether we'll see an aged version of this rum How Grander has evolved over the last 5 years Most successful and most unsuccessful secondary maturations And much more!

Uruapan Charanda: 100+ Years of Making Mexico's Other "Rum" with Miriam Pacheco

1 hr 35 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, after a quick discussion of potential bottles for our Rumcast Single Cask Project, we dive into all things charanda with Miriam Pacheco, the general manager of Uruapan Charanda. If you're familiar with the aguardientes de caña from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, think of charanda like their cousin from the state of Michoacán — a similar Mexican cane spirit that is often made from fresh sugarcane juice, but can also be made from molasses or piloncillo. Once among the hundreds of charanda producers in the state, Uruapan is now one of only two or three remaining. Miriam talked us through the distillery's 100+ year history, including: What separates charanda from other Mexican cane spirits Why they put "rum" in quotation marks on their label Why the number of charanda producers has dwindled over the years The range of distillates they produce from their collection of pot and column stills Their newer line of single cane varietal rums What you might find aging in their warehouse of 400+ casks And much more! As we've said before, there's no shortage of interesting cane spirits coming out of Mexico these days. Uruapan is definitely one of them. Check out these links to learn more: Uruapan Charanda website Imbibe article on charanda The Rumcast Guide to Mexican Rum

American Cane: A New Chapter in the American Rum Revival w/ Maggie Campbell & Darin Vest

1 hr 41 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we're excited to bring you the first public window into American Cane — the new American rum company that announced Maggie Campbell would be joining as CEO back in October. If you've been listening to the show for a while, you'll know that we've followed Maggie's career closely from her days leading Privateer Rum to her more recent work at Mount Gay's Estate Rum Program. So ever since the announcement came that she would be returning to American rum, tons of rum enthusiasts have been waiting for more details. Disclosure:As discussed in the intro,Will has served on American Cane's advisory board since 2022. We sat down with Maggie and the co-founder of American Cane, Darin Vest, to get as many answers as we could to questions like: What exactly is American Cane, and how did it begin? What kinds of rum can we expect to see from them (and when)? Is there a distillery? Where will it be located? How is the role of CEO different from Maggie's past roles at rum companies? Where does American rum stand stylistically, and where is it headed? What do the next five years look like for the company? And a whole lot more! Relevant links: American Cane website Maggie Campbell Instagram

Inside Our Trip to Liverpool's Main Rum Company

1 hr 23 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. At long last, the day arrived — we visited the Main Rum Company in person to taste through dozens of incredible rum casks in search of the perfect one for our ongoing single cask project! In this episode, we take you inside the journey (and inside the warehouse itself) to show you exactly what it’s like to pick a rum cask for release. You'll hear about: A step-by-step breakdown of the entire in-person tasting day at Main Rum What a rum cask "offer sheet" looks like (and the types of casks they pulled for us) — check out the video version for a closer look at this The unusual brief we gave Main Rum on the types of casks we were seeking Standout casks we tasted throughout the day Excerpts from inside the warehouse as we tasted our way through unforgettable casks And much more! Our goal was to make it feel like you are there with us, so we included a lot of clips we captured inside the warehouse. Have a listen, and let us know what else you’d like to learn about the process!

Our Top 6 Rum Predictions for 2025 (Plus Grading Our 2024 Predictions)

1 hr 21 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's that time of the year again! Per our annual tradition, we each make three predictions for the world of rum in 2025 — from types of releases, to specific distillery developments, to broader trends that may impact rum enthusiasts, and beyond! And of course we also revisit our predictions from last year to see how close we came. Have a listen and then let us know what your predictions are!

The Future of the Jamaica Rum GI with Christopher Gentles, GM of the Spirits Pool Association

1 hr 5 min

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. In this episode we get an inside look at the status and future of the Jamaica Rum GI (Geographic Indicator) with Christopher Gentles, general manager of the organization championing the GI (and doing other interesting things), Jamaica's Spirits Pool Association. If you're a fan of Jamaican rum, this interview is a must-listen. We discuss: National Rums of Jamaica's legal challenge to the GI What rum enthusiasts can expect to happen next Why the GI is important to Jamaican rum The debates over aging at origin and adding sugar Creating a tasting panel for Jamaican rum marks The evolution of the Jamaican rum category in recent years And much more! Note: After the recording of this episode, the Jamaica Gleaner reported that National Rums of Jamaica has accused other producers of Jamaican rum involved in the GI of anti-competitive practices and sought help from the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission. If you want a deeper look at the Jamaica Rum GI, check out these articles: Jamaica Observer: Court battle over ‘Jamaica rum’ unfortunate, says Jimmy Lawrence; NRJ argues litigation necessary as JIPO erred in GI designation The Gleaner: New GI rum rules bar aging outside of Jamaica Rum Wonk: Jamaica's Rum GI Changes - Overview and Analysis Rum Revelations: Jamaica GI Rumblings with a French Twist

The Rumcast Single Cask Project Part 2: Name Update + Bottle Possibilities

1 hr 12 min

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. In the second installment of our Rumcast Single Cask Project series, we decide on a name for the brand and debate bottle designs ahead of our trip to Main Rum Company at the end of January. You can view the bottles in our bottles spreadsheet here. Like we mention in the intro, if you or someone you know has label design skills and is interested in collaborating (and knows the rum world), send us an email at host@rumcast.com! As a reminder, this episode is part of an ongoing series in which we take you along with us as we purchase a barrel of rum and do our first single cask release. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here.

2024 Favorites: Our Top Rums, Distilleries, and Bottlers of the Year

1 hr 43 min

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. Happy holidays and New Year (in advance), everyone! In our fifth (!) annual Year in Review episode we take a look back at our favorite rums of the year in the following categories: Unaged molasses rum Unaged cane juice rum Aged rum (5 years or less) Aged rum (Over 5 years) “New to me” rum Best value rum Most surprising rum Overall rum Plus, we each throw in picks for Distillery of the Year and Bottler of the Year, along with another round of "Am I the a**hole for being lower on this rum?" and another classic rum-themed holiday tune from John Gulla. Have a listen, and let us know your favorites in these categories from the past year! Also, what did we miss? What were we too high or low on? We'd love to hear your takes. The List (Spoilers Ahead!) . . . . . . . . . . . Unaged Rum (Molasses): Will: Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum from Raising Glasses John: Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum from Raising Glasses Unaged Rum (Cane Juice): Will: Alambique Serrano — Cartier 30 John: Alambique Serrano — Cartier 30 Aged Rum (5 Years or Less): Will: Hampden Estate Great House 2024 John: Ghana 2020 from Down Island Spirits Aged Rum (Over 5 Years): Will: Fiji 2012 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier John: Cambodia 2016 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier “New to Me” Rum: Will: O Reizinho Limited Edition White Rum John: The category of UK Rum Value Rum: Will: Shakara 12-Year John: Shakara 12-Year Most Surprising Rum: Will: Unaged Rum from Line 44 Distillery John: Ten To One Five Origin Select “Am I the A**hole?" Rum: Will: El Dorado High Ester Blend John: El Dorado High Ester Blend Overall Rum: Will: Alambique Serrano Blend #3: Matadiablo John: Fiji 2012 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier Distillery of the Year: Will: Krassel...

Semi-Blind Rum Review #8: Swell de Spirits Réunion Rhum Agricole 2011 (Isautier)

24 min

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. We're back with another entry in our semi-blind reviews series — but yet again with a twist! In this mystery sample edition, both of us have no idea what the identity of this rum is as we review it. Along the way, we offer our best guesses as to the rum's origin and key characteristics. This time, it's a 13-year-old rhum agricole from Isautier Distillery in Réunion Island bottled by Swell de Spirits. Rum specs: Bottler: Swell de Spirits Origin: Réunion Island Distillery: Isautier Base material: Cane juice Distillation: Column Age: 13 years Cask: Ex-Cognac ABV: 59.4% A special thank you to Rumcast patron Ben for providing the mystery sample.

Introducing Rosalie Bay: Dominica's First-of-Its-Kind Rum Distillery

1 hr 49 min

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. In this episode, we went inside a brand new distillery in a rarely explored rum origin of the Caribbean — Dominica (not the Dominican Republic). Rosalie Bay Distilling is a unique operation that is producing rum from sugarcane juice supplied by 80+ local farmers, and contributing 100% of its profits toward conservation efforts that protect sea turtles, coral reef, whales, and more. We got to sit down with Kernean George (head distiller), Marcella Harris (conservationist and board member of Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organization), and Brett Steigerwaldt (distillery advisor and head distiller at Lyon Rum) to learn about Rosalie Bay from a variety of angles, including: How a chance encounter at a Maryland rum distillery sparked Rosalie Bay Distilling A brief history of rum production in Dominica, and why it differs from neighboring islands Martinique and Guadeloupe Kernean's journey from not drinking rum to becoming a head rum distiller How Rosalie Bay developed its style of cane juice rum What it's like to source cane from 80+ local farmers The unique terroir of Dominica The dangers to sea turtles, coral reef, and sperm whales — and how the distillery funds efforts to protect them And much more! Links to things mentioned during the episode: You can order bottles of Rosalie Bay via Raising Glasses (it's also currently available in Massachusetts retail stores) Rosalie Bay's website Oceans Forward's website The Last Turtle documentary (available on YouTube) National Geographic's Secrets of the Whales docuseries (episode 4 features Dominica's sperm whales)

The Rumcast Guide to Madeira Rum

1 hr 57 min

Click here to watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! In this return to our Rumcast Guides series, we dive into Portugal's twist on agricole rum — Madeira! Madeira has been producing amazing cane juice rums for a very long time, but has only started becoming more well known in the broader rum world in recent years. So there's no better time than now to explore it! We take you through: A brief history of rum production and sugarcane cultivation in Madeira Their distinctive rules for rum production How their mythical "Chamber of Tasters" tasting panels for approving authentic Rums da Madeira work A look at each of the current Madeira rum distilleries Tastings of several Madeira rums from O Reizinho, Engenhos do Norte, Vinha Alta, and Engenho Novo On-the-ground reporting from a Rumcast correspondent who recently visited Madeira The reveal of a "Madeira Mystery" blind tasting And more! Related links: The official Rum da Madeira website Madeira Rum certification process PDF Madeira Rum organoleptic requirements PDF Our episode 55 interview with Peter Holland Our episode 73 interview with Richard Nicholson Secret Rum Bar's Madeira Rum series Fat Rum Pirate's Calheta rum review P.S.Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

A Flag Series Tasting Guide: Trying 3 New Rums from La Maison & Velier

47 min

Want to see video of this episode? Click here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! Check out the Rumcast Patreon community for more bonus content like this! In this free edition of our monthly bonus Patreon episode, we taste through three highly anticipated new rums in La Maison & Velier's Flag Series: Cambodia 2016: an 8-year-old pot still rum from Samai Distillery (48.7% ABV) Jamaica 2015: a 9-year-old pot still rum from Worthy Park (60.4% ABV) Fiji 2012: a 12-year-old pot still rum from South Pacific Distilleries (64.5% ABV) Tune in for some background on Cambodian rum, our thoughts on each rum, some reflections on the Flag Series as a whole, a digression on Bob Dylan, and more! Note: These samples were provided to us free of charge, and with no promise of a review or episode like this. Have you tried any of these yet? Is there one you're particularly interested in? Shoot us an email or comment and let us know! P.S.Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

Semi-Blind Rum Review #7: Compagnie Des Indes Trinidad 2003 (TDL)

22 min

Want to see video of this episode? Click here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel! We're back with our semi-blind reviews series — but with a twist! In this mystery sample edition, both of us have no idea what the identity of this rum is before diving in headfirst for a review. Along the way, we offer our best guesses as to the rum's origin and key characteristics. This time, it's a 20-year-old rum from Trinidad Distillers Limited bottled by Compagnie Des Indes. Tune in to see how close we get! A special thank you to Rumcast patron Ben for providing the mystery sample. Have a listen and let us know what you think of this rum! P.S.Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

Introducing the Rumcast Single Cask Project: Part 1 - What's in a Name?

1 hr 5 min

Want to watch the video version of this episode? Head to YouTube to watch and subscribe. Big news: we're buying a cask and branding, bottling, labeling, and releasing our own single cask rum! Throughout this process, we'll be taking you along on the journey as we conceptualize the rum, travel to the Main Rum Company in Liverpool to find the perfect cask, and do all the other stuff that goes into a first-time release. In this episode, we tackle our first creative challenge — coming up with a name for the brand / release! We discuss themes we'd like the name to capture, things we'd like to avoid, and then share ideas for names that we've brainstormed separately — including the bad, the ugly, and the...possibly OK? Have a listen and shoot us an email (host@rumcast.com), comment, or message with your thoughts, ideas, or things you'd like us to throughout the process. P.S. Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

Putting Sicilian Rum on the Map: The Making of Mater Rum & Distilleria Alma with Hugo Gallardo

1 hr 27 min

Want to watch the video version of this episode? Head to YouTube to watch and subscribe. In this episode, we're excited to take you inside a very new emerging rum locale — Sicily, the Italian island where Distilleria Alma is bringing back sugarcane cultivation. Since 2021, Hugo Gallardo and his co-founders have been crafting cane juice rum from multiple varietals and bottling it under the label Mater Rum. We were lucky to try multiple bottlings of Mater and can confirm that it's worthy of your interest not just because of its interesting origin, but also because it tastes pretty damn good. So obviously we had to get the full story from Hugo! We discussed: The long history of sugarcane in Sicily (and why it disappeared) How the distillery almost ended up in the Philippines The ongoing evolution of Mater's production process The differences between the yellow cane and purple cane rums Rumors of additional Sicilian rum projects from heavy hitters of the rum world Sicily's unique environment and culture What kinds of Mater releases we may see in the future Bringing Mater to the U.S. And much more! Check out Distilleria Alma's website for more info on Mater Rum. Relevant links to the Jamaica Rum GI discussion in the intro: The Gleaner: New GI rum rules bar aging outside of Jamaica Rum Wonk: Jamaica's Rum GI Changes - Overview and Analysis Rum Revelations: Jamaica GI Rumblings with a French Twist P.S. Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

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