Pussers Founders Reserve Limited Edition Caribbean Rum 47,75%

In 1978 Charles Tobias was out at sea near Gibraltar, and over fifteen days he and his crew emptied a flagon of navy rum. That was the start of Pusser's. A year later he blended his first rum on Tortola, and that very blend has now been recreated, with the founder's signature on the label.

Expert description

Pusser's Founder's Reserve Limited Edition is a Caribbean Blended Rum partly aged in oak casks and bottled at 47.75%.

The blend recreates the first rum Charles Tobias mixed himself in 1979, when he founded Pusser's on Tortola. It draws on three Caribbean traditions: pot still rum from Demerara Distillers in Guyana, oak-aged rum from Trinidad and the now closed Caroni, and a small amount of sugarcane rum from Callwood Distillery in the British Virgin Islands. Parts of the blend have spent up to ten years in cask.

Only 6,552 bottles exist. Each one is numbered and carries the founder's own signature, along with the years 1934 and 2025. He died in October 2025, and the release is a tribute to the man who brought navy rum back to the shelves in 1979, nine years after the Royal Navy ended the daily rum ration on Black Tot Day.

The style is dark and classic. Molasses and tobacco on the nose, stewed raisins and chocolate on the palate, and a dry finish where the casks come through. The bottle sits in a dark blue tube with a map of the three countries of origin.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dark molasses and pipe tobacco, with toasted nutmeg on top. Underneath sit caramel, vanilla and dried fruit, and a hint of toasted wood.

Palate

Caramelised sugar and stewed raisins first, then dark chocolate and tropical fruit. Warm spice in the middle, and vanilla and charred oak at the very end.

Finish

Long and warm. Spice and wood linger, and it ends dry, almost like a Cognac.

Specifications

Name: Pusser's Founder's Reserve Limited Edition
Distillery: Demerara Distillers, Caroni and Callwood Distillery
Bottler: Pusser's Rum
Region/Country: Guyana, Trinidad and the British Virgin Islands
Type: Caribbean Blended Rum
ABV: 47.75%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Number of bottles: 6,552
Edition: Limited Edition, individually numbered
Serving suggestion: Neat at room temperature, perhaps with a drop of water, or in a Painkiller

Flavour profile

Molasses · Tobacco · Dark chocolate · Dried fruit · Spicy · Toasted oak

Did you know?

Before Pusser's, Charles Tobias spent five years sailing around the world on a 57 foot wooden ketch. Among those on board were a chimpanzee called Tommy and a cheetah called Fifi.

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Frequently asked questions about Pusser's Founder's Reserve

What does Pusser's Founder's Reserve taste like?

Dark and warm, built on molasses, tobacco and stewed raisins. The nose brings nutmeg and caramel, the palate dark chocolate and tropical fruit, and the finish is long, spicy and dry, almost like a Cognac.

How is Founder's Reserve different from Pusser's Gunpowder Proof?

Founder's Reserve sits at 47.75%, while Gunpowder Proof is navy strength at 54.5%. Founder's Reserve is a recreation of the first blend from 1979 and is a little rounder in style. If you want to read about the stronger Pusser's rums, we have written a blog about Pusser's Gunpowder Proof and Select Aged 151.

How do you drink Pusser's Founder's Reserve?

Neat at room temperature, ideally with a single drop of water to open up the spice and fruit. It also works in a Painkiller, the tropical classic Pusser's is known for. A tulip shaped nosing glass holds the aromas best, and you will find one among our Whisky Glasses.

What goes well with Pusser's Founder's Reserve?

Dark chocolate and roasted nuts follow the dark, spicy tones well. A mature cheese or a cake with raisins and spice can also work.

Is Pusser's Founder's Reserve a good gift?

Yes, especially for someone who likes rum with a story. The bottle is numbered and comes in a tube with a map of the three countries of origin. If you are unsure what the recipient likes, you will find many more bottles under Rum.

Who was Charles Tobias?

The founder of Pusser's Rum, born in 1934 and died in October 2025. He was a pilot in the US Marine Corps and sailed around the world before he gained access to the Admiralty blend in 1979 and started Pusser's on Tortola.

What does the name Pusser's mean?

It is British naval slang for a purser, the ship's supply officer who handed out the rum to the crew. The Royal Navy ended the daily rum ration on 31 July 1970, known as Black Tot Day, and Pusser's has kept that tradition alive ever since.