A rum to enjoy with a piece of dark chocolate in hand. The second release in RomDeLuxe's Selected Series takes the road through the Dominican Republic and the Spanish rum style's soft, coffee-like character.

Expert Description

RomDeLuxe Selected Series Rum no. 2 Dominican Republic is a Dominican Republic Rum aged 5 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is distilled in the Dominican Republic and has since spent 5 years in American bourbon casks in the tropical climate, giving it a rich, complex flavour profile. RomDeLuxe selected this rum as the second release in the house's Selected Series and highlights it as a classic representative of the Spanish rum style, where purity and a soft, lightly sweet character take centre stage over the more powerful, ester-rich Jamaican style.

RomDeLuxe recommends the rum as a natural companion to a piece of dark chocolate, a combination that underscores its coffee and cocoa-driven notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Coffee, dark chocolate and vanilla.

Palate

Round and soft with tones of roasted coffee, cocoa and a light sweetness from the bourbon casks.

Finish

Soft and medium length, with a lingering chocolate note.

Specifications

Name: RomDeLuxe Selected Series Rum no. 2 Dominican Republic
Bottler: RomDeLuxe
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American bourbon casks
Serving Suggestion: Neat, ideally alongside a piece of dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Coffee-forward · Chocolatey · Soft · Round · Sweet

Did You Know?

The Spanish rum style, of which this rum is an example, stems from a tradition where the rum is filtered and aged with a focus on purity and softness, a clear contrast to the more rustic, funky style found in countries like Jamaica.

See our full range of RomDeLuxe

Colombia's only family-owned rum house, three generations of the same family, and a solera stretching all the way to 21 years. La Hechicera is a rarity in the rum world.

Expert description

La Hechicera Reserva Familiar Extra Añejo is a Rum from Colombia, blended in a solera system from rums 12 to 21 years old in former bourbon casks, bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from La Hechicera, founded in 2012 in Barranquilla by the Riascos family, who have preserved the craft of rum-making through three generations. The rum is produced at Casa Santana in Colombia without added colour or sweetening, just cask to bottle. Reserva Familiar is the house's most ambitious solera blend, where the long maturation gives a deep, rich and well-integrated profile.

Tasting notes

Nose

Roasted coffee, orange, chocolate and tobacco, with ripe banana, dried fruit, vanilla and oak plus a hint of cocoa.

Palate

Silky and round with caramel, toasted wood, dried fruit and a hint of spice, powerful and long.

Finish

Lingering, soft and lightly dry, with elegant spice.

Bottler: La Hechicera
Region/Country: Colombia
Type: Rum
Age: 12-21 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Former bourbon casks, solera system
EAN no.: 7707180703013
Serving suggestion: Neat in a snifter glass

Flavour profile

Rich · Spiced · Fruity · Elegant

Investment potential

Low to medium. La Hechicera is one of the most respected Colombian rum brands, and Reserva Familiar is the house's most matured release, making it interesting for collectors of premium Latin American rum.

Did you know?

La Hechicera is Colombia's only privately owned, family-run rum house and has preserved the craft through three generations of the Riascos family, with a promise of nothing added between cask and bottle.

See our full range of La Hechicera

Cardamom, cinnamon and star anise meet Mauritian rum in this spiced expression, bringing warm, exotic tones to the glass.

Expert Description

Emperor Royal Spiced is a Mauritian Spiced Rum bottled at 40%.

The rum is refined with selected spices, including cardamom, cinnamon and star anise, adding a warm and exotic dimension to the Mauritian rum base. The fine balance between sweetness, spice and fruitiness makes Emperor Royal Spiced an accessible, versatile rum, suited both to enjoying neat and as a base in spiced cocktails.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spicy and exotic with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel as well as fine roasted tones, dominated by gingerbread, cinnamon and honey, followed by notes of grey pepper and lime.

Palate

Full-bodied and lightly sweet with aromas of caramel, honey, ripe fruit and fine spices, complemented by cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, roasted coffee and wood.

Finish

Lingering, soft and spicy-sweet with subtle smoky tones and a fine hint of orange zest.

Specifications

Name: Emperor Royal Spiced
Region/Country: Mauritius
Type: Spiced Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8712436141241
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat, on the rocks or in spiced cocktails

Distillery: Emperor Rum

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Exotic · Sweet · Full-bodied · Warm

Did You Know?

Emperor Royal Spiced is flavoured with a selected combination of cardamom, cinnamon and star anise – spices that have historically travelled along the same Indian Ocean trade routes Mauritius itself was once part of.

See our full range of Emperor Rum

Two rum traditions in one bottle – Emperor Heritage unites the molasses-based rum heritage with the fresher, more agricole-driven style from pure sugarcane juice.

Expert Description

Emperor Heritage is a Mauritian Blended Rum, a blend of traditional molasses rum and rhum agricole made from fresh sugarcane juice, bottled at 40%.

The rum matures in French and American oak casks, giving it a layered complexity that balances fruitiness, spice and woody tones. By uniting the two classic rum styles – molasses and agricole – in one bottle, Emperor Heritage honours Mauritius' dual rum heritage and showcases the distillery's versatility.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sustained vegetal notes of forest floor and floral fragrance, dominated by oak, vanilla, roasted almond, caramelised fruit and a hint of spice.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with a harmonious blend of tropical fruit, caramel, spicy wood and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, where molasses and fresh sugarcane blend with notes of chocolate and coffee.

Finish

Concludes with a subtle, smoky finish that leaves a lasting impression.

Specifications

Name: Emperor Heritage
Region/Country: Mauritius
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French and American oak
EAN no.: 6091067481011
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or on the rocks

Distillery: Emperor Rum

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Fruity · Spicy · Smoky · Rounded

Did You Know?

Emperor Heritage is one of the few rums that deliberately blends molasses rum and rhum agricole in the same expression – two production styles traditionally kept separate, which Emperor unites to celebrate Mauritius' full rum heritage.

See our full range of Emperor Rum

A blend of pure sugarcane juice and molasses that, after years of maturation, receives a final six-month finish in sherry casks – Emperor Sherry Finish is Mauritius' answer to a classic European cask finish.

Expert Description

Emperor Rum Sherry Finish is a Mauritian Blended Rum matured for 5-12 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a blend of rum made from both fresh sugarcane juice (40%) and molasses (60%), matured for 5 to 12 years in American and French oak casks, before undergoing a final six-month finish in sherry casks before bottling. This dual approach to the raw material, combined with the sherry finish, gives the rum a rich golden colour with a reddish copper sheen and a complex, sherry-driven character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Complex with raisins, roasted nuts, vanilla and a hint of sherry, complemented by red fruits, woody and floral tones as well as an earthy sweetness of dried red fruits, sweet fig and orange marmalade.

Palate

Mild and round with dried fruit, oak, caramel and fine spice, where candied tones are accompanied by subtle spices and a touch of coffee.

Finish

Medium-long, soft and pleasantly fruity with a subtle woody structure, where the charm of candied fruit and the elegance of sherry linger.

Specifications

Name: Emperor Rum Sherry Finish
Region/Country: Mauritius
Type: Rum
Age: 5-12 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American and French oak, finished in sherry casks
EAN no.: 6091067481004
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or in cocktails such as L'Empereur

Distillery: Emperor Rum

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Spicy · Rounded · Elegant

Did You Know?

Emperor Sherry Finish is the key ingredient in the cocktail L'Empereur, a signature drink created to highlight the rum's sherry-driven character and used by several renowned bars in London.

See our full range of Emperor Rum

No casks, no colour, no shortcuts. Mhoba White Pot Stilled is the distillate in its purest, most unprocessed form.

Expert description

Mhoba White Pot Stilled is a White Pure Single Rum from South Africa, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice on handmade pot stills and unaged, bottled at 43%.

The rum comes from Mhoba Rum Distillery in Mpumalanga. After a 7 to 10 day fermentation with standard baker's yeast and no temperature control, the rum is distilled on the distillery's handmade pot stills, after which the distillate is selected and diluted with local pure crystalline water before hand bottling. Without cask maturation, White Pot Stilled shows sugarcane's pure, agricole-like character in its most unprocessed form.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and fresh with clear notes of freshly cut cane, creamy with a hint of menthol.

Palate

Sweet and creamy on first impression, reminiscent of lightly whipped cream, with cane and herbal notes plus earthy spice nuances.

Finish

Fresh cane and cream, with a hint of light brine character.

Distillery: Mhoba
Region/Country: South Africa
Type: White Pure Single Rum
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Pot still from fresh sugarcane juice
Serving suggestion: In a daiquiri or Ti Punch

Flavour profile

Fresh · Clean · Herbal · Light

Did you know?

Mhoba uses standard baker's yeast with no temperature control during fermentation, a deliberate departure from modern precision techniques that gives the rum a more rustic, unpredictable and characterful base.

See our full range of Mhoba

Pineapple, both grilled and fresh, combined with Mhoba's own rum. Franky's Pineapple is the distillery's South African take on a tropical infusion.

Expert description

Mhoba Franky's Pineapple is a Pure Single Rum from South Africa, a blend of Glass Cask rum and two white pot stilled rums infused with grilled and fresh Natal Queen pineapples, bottled at 43%.

The rum comes from Mhoba Rum Distillery in Mpumalanga. Instead of adding artificial pineapple flavour, the distillery separately infuses the rum with both grilled and fresh pineapples of the local Natal Queen variety, giving two distinct layers of fruit character, the sweeter, caramelised grilled note and the sharper, juicy fresh note.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet pineapple, young wood and grilled fruit, with caramel and a hint of smoke.

Palate

Fruity with grilled pineapple and earthy notes, supported by woody character and a light sweetness that doesn't overpower the rum's own character.

Finish

Long and creamy, with lingering pineapple sweetness.

Distillery: Mhoba
Region/Country: South Africa
Type: Pure Single Rum
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat or in tropical cocktails

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Smoky · Creamy

Did you know?

Natal Queen is a local South African pineapple variety grown close to the distillery, meaning the entire production chain behind Franky's Pineapple, from sugarcane to pineapple, stays within a relatively small geographic radius.

See our full range of Mhoba

Glass demijohns filled with charred oak staves sound like a homemade solution. At Mhoba, it's the very method behind one of South Africa's most acclaimed rum expressions.

Expert description

Mhoba Select Reserve Glass Cask is a Pure Single Rum from South Africa, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice and matured over 2 years on charred American oak staves in large glass demijohns, bottled at 60%.

The rum comes from Mhoba Rum Distillery in Mpumalanga. Instead of traditional oak casks, Mhoba uses large glass demijohns filled with virgin American oak staves that are cut and charred over wood coals, a method that gives intense contact between spirit and wood without the cask's own breathing. The result is more balanced and refined than the house's American Oak Aged, yet still with a clear, powerful oak character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoky American oak and brown sugar, with sweet, almost bourbon-like notes of caramelised sugar, vanilla and ripe fruit.

Palate

Mild heat with warm butterscotch pudding, muscovado sugar and smoked pecan pie, with a gradually growing coffee and cocoa character.

Finish

Long, with dry notes of charred oak, toffee, cola and a hint of wild African honey.

Distillery: Mhoba
Region/Country: South Africa
Type: Pure Single Rum
ABV: 60%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred American oak staves in glass demijohns
Distillation method: Agricole style from fresh sugarcane juice
Serving suggestion: Neat or in an Old Fashioned

Flavour profile

Smoky · Powerful · Caramel · Refined

Investment potential

Low to medium. Mhoba is one of the most talked-about new rum producers among enthusiasts, giving Select Reserve Glass Cask some interest among collectors of unconventional rum expressions.

Did you know?

The method of charring oak staves over wood coals instead of using finished casks is unique to Mhoba and gives the distillery full control over how much and how the wood influences the rum.

See our full range of Mhoba

From Mpumalanga in South Africa comes a rum that smells more of a bonfire than a Caribbean beach. Mhoba does things its own, very hands-on way.

Expert description

Mhoba American Oak Aged is a Pure Single Rum from South Africa, distilled from fresh sugarcane juice in agricole style and matured in American oak, bottled at 43%.

The rum comes from Mhoba Rum Distillery in Mpumalanga, founded by Robert Greaves, whose family has grown sugarcane at the foot of the Makhonwja mountains since the 1980s. Mhoba distils on a small scale directly from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, giving a raw, earthy starting point. The rum is first matured in large glass demijohns with charred and cut American oak staves, before being moved to casks from South African whisky for a second maturation period.

Tasting notes

Nose

Charred wood, smoke and caramel, with vanilla, bonfire embers and powdered sugar.

Palate

Powerful and spiced with dry oak, grilled smoked meat and buttery caramel, supported by dark chocolate.

Finish

Dry and medium length, dominated by oak and light vanilla, with lingering charred smoke that grows increasingly bitter.

Distillery: Mhoba
Region/Country: South Africa
Type: Pure Single Rum
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak, finished in South African whisky casks
Distillation method: Agricole style from fresh sugarcane juice
Serving suggestion: Neat or in an Old Fashioned

Flavour profile

Smoky · Powerful · Spiced · Earthy

Did you know?

Mhoba is one of the most talked-about new rum producers outside the traditional rum-producing countries and has gained international attention for distilling directly from fresh sugarcane juice, a method otherwise primarily associated with Caribbean Rhum Agricole.

See our full range of Mhoba

Two extra years in oak casks give this Savanna a deeper, more toasted character than its 5-year-old little sibling – still carrying the distinct Réunion signature.

Expert Description

Savanna 7 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel is a Rum from La Réunion matured for a minimum of 7 years in oak casks and bottled at 43%.

The rum belongs to Savanna's Traditionnel series and is based on molasses from La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The extra two years of maturation compared to the distillery's 5-year expression give the rum a deeper, more toasted complexity with more pronounced notes of roasted wood and dark caramel.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and creamy with vanilla, caramel and briny tones, opening with molasses, coffee and dark caramel, complemented by roasted and burnt wood notes.

Palate

Crisp and clean with floral and sweet tones of vanilla, tropical fruit and a hint of coffee, where the attack reveals green banana and olive with heavy, fruity aromas and notes of fireplace and caramelised pecans.

Finish

Dry and intense finish with a smooth, creamy conclusion.

Specifications

Name: Savanna 7 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel
Distillery: Savanna
Region/Country: La Réunion
Type: Rum
Age: 7 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 3760077780126
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat in a snifter glass

Distillery: Savanna

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Deep · Dry · Vanilla-forward · Complex

Did You Know?

Savanna is one of the most acclaimed distilleries on La Réunion, producing both traditional molasses-based rum and agricole rum from pure sugarcane juice under the same roof, giving them a broad spectrum of rum styles to work with.

See our full range of Savanna Rum

La Réunion is one of the Indian Ocean's most surprising rum destinations, and Savanna's 5-year-old Traditionnel is a gentle introduction to the island's distinctive style.

Expert Description

Savanna 5 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel is a Rum from La Réunion matured for a minimum of 5 years and bottled at 43%.

The rum belongs to Savanna's traditional series, based on molasses produced on the island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean. After at least 5 years of cask maturation, the rum shows a clear, golden colour and an approachable, woody character, making it a great starting point for exploring the Réunion rum style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Floral with sugarcane, banana and tobacco tones, complemented by woody and spicy notes as well as a hint of vanilla and exotic fruit.

Palate

Soft with traces of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, floral tones, vanilla and a hint of salt, complemented by toffee, dried banana and liquorice.

Finish

Long and warm with a medium, pleasant finish.

Specifications

Name: Savanna 5 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel
Distillery: Savanna
Region/Country: La Réunion
Type: Rum
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3760077781178
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or on the rocks

Distillery: Savanna

Flavour Profile

Woody · Vanilla-forward · Floral · Gentle · Approachable

Did You Know?

La Réunion, where Savanna produces its rum, is a French island in the Indian Ocean with a volcanic landscape that gives the island's sugarcane a unique mineral character compared to the Caribbean rum regions.

See our full range of Savanna Rum

Select Barrel is Clément's take on an entry point into the older agricole rums, neither fully young nor fully old, but exactly the spot where cane and oak meet in good balance.

Expert Description

Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole Select Barrel is a Martinique Rhum Agricole selected from particularly characterful casks and bottled at 40%.

Like the other Vieux expressions from Clément, the rum is distilled from fresh cane juice at Habitation Clément in Le François, then aged in French oak casks under Martinique's tropical climate. Select Barrel differs in that the finished product is assembled from casks chosen specifically for their balance of fruit, spice and wood, a process that gives a more approachable and softer style than the more uncompromising VSOP.

The result is a rum that retains the green, herbal cane character but with a rounder, more relaxed presentation thanks to the careful cask selection.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft vanilla and light caramel, with cane and a touch of tropical fruit in the background.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet with brown sugar, mild spice and a fresh herbal core.

Finish

Short to medium, soft and slightly dry, with a closing hint of cane.

Specifications

Name: Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole Select Barrel
Distillery: Clément
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Selected French oak casks
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice
EAN: 3107460005280
Serving Suggestion: Neat, over ice, or in a simple rum cocktail

Flavour Profile

Soft · Vanilla-forward · Round · Herbal Base · Lightly Spiced

Did You Know?

Habitation Clément was the site where French president François Mitterrand met US president George H.W. Bush in 1991, making the distillery part of Martinique's diplomatic history as well as its rum history.

See our full range of Clément

From green and sharp to deep and round. Clément VSOP shows what French oak can do for a rhum agricole when it's given at least four years to settle.

Expert Description

Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole VSOP is a Martinique Rhum Agricole aged at least four years in French oak casks and bottled at 42-45%.

The rum is distilled from fresh cane juice at Habitation Clément in Le François and then aged under Martinique's tropical sun, where evaporation is far faster than in a colder climate. The tropical climate forces the rum to absorb colour and flavour from the oak in a shorter time, giving VSOP surprising depth for its age. The casks have often previously held cognac or other French spirits, adding a light winey character to the agricole's typically green base.

The result balances the raw, herbal cane character with dried fruit, spice and a soft wood sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit and light vanilla, with a lingering hint of cane and freshly planed wood underneath.

Palate

Round and spiced with brown sugar, toasted oak and a hint of apricot.

Finish

Medium length, dry and lightly spiced, with a closing herbal freshness from the cane.

Specifications

Name: Clément Rhum Vieux Agricole VSOP
Distillery: Clément
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole
Age: Minimum 4 Years
ABV: 42-45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: French oak casks
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice
EAN: 3107460004528
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or in an aged Ti' Punch

Flavour Profile

Dried Fruit · Spiced · Oaky · Round · Herbal Base

Did You Know?

Because of Martinique's tropical heat, far more rum evaporates from the casks each year than in Scottish or Irish climates, the so-called "angels' share", meaning rhum agricole matures faster and more intensely than whisky of the same age.

See our full range of Clément

First harvest, first pressing, first bottle. Première Canne is Clément in its most unprocessed form, a white rum that lets the sugar cane speak, without a single cask allowed to interfere.

Expert Description

Clément Première Canne is a Martinique Rhum Agricole Blanc distilled from fresh sugar cane juice and bottled at 40%.

The rum is distilled at the Fonds-Préville distillery, while ageing and bottling take place at the historic Habitation Clément in Le François. After distillation the rum rests for nine months in stainless steel before being brought down to drinking strength with volcanic spring water from Martinique's mountains and bottled without cask ageing.

The name Première Canne, "first sugar cane", refers to the fresh, unprocessed style, where the soft floral notes and green, herbal character of the freshly harvested cane juice stand out clearly.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft fruit blossoms, yellow apple and citrus, complemented by greengage plum, herbal and fresh notes.

Palate

Cocoa bean, bittersweet chocolate and black tea meet fresh grass and beans, closing on a graceful, lightly caramelised finish.

Finish

Clean and lightly salty, reminiscent of manzanilla sherry or buttered popcorn.

Specifications

Name: Clément Première Canne
Distillery: Clément
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice
EAN: 3107463810065
Serving Suggestion: In a classic Ti' Punch or Mojito

Flavour Profile

Floral · Herbal · Fresh · Lightly salty · Clean

Did You Know?

The water used to bring Première Canne down to drinking strength comes from volcanic springs in Martinique's mountains, making the rum a product of both the cane fields and the island's volcanic geology.

See our full range of Clément

Shrubb is an old Caribbean tradition where bitter orange peel is left to steep in rum for weeks. Rhum JM's version adds spice and vanilla to the mix, creating a liqueur far more complex than the name suggests.

Expert Description

Rhum JM Shrubb D'Orange is a Martinique Rum Liqueur flavoured with bitter orange peel and bottled at 35%.

The base is a blend of white rum and three-year-old cask-aged rum from the Fonds-Préville distillery, macerated with bitter orange peel, natural cane syrup, and vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg for several weeks. The shrubb tradition dates back to a time when Caribbean households used citrus peel maceration in rum as a way to make full use of the fruit, long before it became a cocktail ingredient.

The result is a liqueur that sits somewhere between an English orange marmalade and a spiced digestif, where the mild agricole rum binds the orange's bitterness together with sweetness and spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Candied orange peel and cranberry-orange muffin, opening toward a bright orange sorbet.

Palate

Sweet and fruity with candied orange and spice, harmoniously woven into the mild agricole rum.

Finish

Long with a lively hint of lime zest and freshly grated nutmeg.

Specifications

Name: Rhum JM Shrubb D'Orange
Distillery: Rhum JM
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rum Liqueur
ABV: 35%
Size: 70 CL
Serving Suggestion: Neat, over ice, or as the base in a digestif cocktail

Flavour Profile

Orange-forward · Spiced · Sweet · Round · Lively

Did You Know?

The shrubb tradition dates back to a time when citrus peel wasn't allowed to go to waste, and Caribbean families macerated it in rum to create a household liqueur, long before shrubb became a recognised category in international spirits shops.

See our full range of Rhum JM

In the shadow of Mount Pelée, where the soil is black with volcanic ash, sits one of Martinique's oldest distilleries. Rhum JM is considered by many to be the first to ever put Rhum Agricole into production, and VO is the house's accessible entry point into the older, cask-aged style.

Expert Description

Rhum JM VO is a Martinique Rhum Agricole aged in oak casks on volcanic terroir and bottled at 43%.

The rum is distilled at the Fonds-Préville distillery in Macouba, in the northeast of Martinique, where Rhum JM has been producing since 1845. The distillery sits at the foot of the active volcano Mount Pelée, and the volcanic soil is thought to give the sugar cane a particular mineral richness that later shows through in the rum. VO is the house's youngest cask-aged expression and a fitting starting point for exploring the older style.

After a short period in oak, the rum takes on a character that's lighter and more straightforward than the older VSOP and XO expressions, but already carries clear traces of wood and spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Heavy with oak and vanilla, complemented by dried fruit and coconut, opening with time in the glass toward grilled tropical fruit.

Palate

Round and lightly toasted with natural sweetness, a hint of cinnamon, faint grassy character and a touch of banana.

Finish

Medium length with oak, fruit and natural sweetness, where a faint smokiness and pineapple appear towards the end.

Specifications

Name: Rhum JM VO
Distillery: Rhum JM
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oak casks
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice
EAN: 3329060003521
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or in a Ti' Punch

Flavour Profile

Oaky · Vanilla-sweet · Lightly toasted · Spiced · Tropical

Did You Know?

Rhum JM is considered by many to be the first distillery to officially put Rhum Agricole into production, and it sits so close to Mount Pelée that the 1902 eruption that destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre could be seen directly from the fields.

See our full range of Rhum JM

From the Fiji Islands in the Pacific to southwest France – Planteray Isle of Fiji has sailed a long way, earning 98 points and the Best Aged Rum award at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2020 along the journey.

Expert Description

Planteray Isle of Fiji is a Fijian Rum matured in two stages and bottled at 40%.

The rum first matures in Fiji's tropical climate in bourbon casks, before being shipped to southwest France for a second maturation period in French casks. This double maturation, a hallmark of the Planteray range, gives the rum its characteristic balance of tropical fruitiness and European cask complexity. In 2020, the rum was awarded 98 points and the Best Aged Rum title at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense with molasses, pear and varnish, developing into apple, banana and gooseberry, complemented by nutmeg, vanilla and a hint of smoke.

Palate

Rich and round with vanilla fudge, honey, ginger and fruity notes of prune and coconut.

Finish

Very long with dried banana, bourbon and allspice.

Specifications

Name: Planteray Isle of Fiji
Region/Country: Fiji
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and French casks
EAN no.: 3460410531650
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or in tropical cocktails

Distillery: Planteray

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Spicy · Rounded · Sweet · Complex

Did You Know?

Isle of Fiji won 98 points and the Best Aged Rum title at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2020, making it one of the most acclaimed releases in the Planteray range.

See our full range of Planteray Rum

The solera system comes from Spain, but Rum Nation has used it to create one of its most acclaimed Panama releases.

Expert description

Rum Nation Panama Release Solera 18 Years is a Rum from Panama, blended solera-style, where the oldest distillate in the bottle is 18 years, bottled at 40%.

The rum combines sugar cane's natural richness with a Spanish-inspired distillation and maturation style, resulting in a light, soft and aromatic rum with great complexity. The sugar content is reduced to below 20 grams per litre, setting it apart from many sweeter Panama rums and highlighting the underlying distillate rather than added sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and honeyed, with cola, bergamot, dates, orange peel and a hint of vermouth.

Palate

Soft and well-balanced with molasses, dark chocolate and raisins, spiced with orange peel, cola and coconut.

Finish

Sweet, fruity and refreshing with a harmonious complexity.

Region/Country: Panama
Type: Rum
Age: 18 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8033749406316
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Light · Soft · Fruity · Aromatic

Did you know?

The solera system this rum is matured under was originally developed for sherry production in Spain and is now used by several rum producers to create a consistent flavour profile across multiple vintages.

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The Demerara river runs thick and brown through Guyana, and the name has clung to the rum longer than anyone can remember. At Plantation Diamond stands the country's last distillery. The rest have closed, been dismantled, forgotten - but the casks and the recipes survived. It is from here the Italians at Rum Nation source the molasses distillate for their solera.

Expert description

Rum Nation Demerara Solera No 14 is a Demerara Rum from Guyana, aged in ex-Bourbon casks with a 12-month further maturation in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is distilled from cane molasses at Demerara Distillers' Diamond Distillery, which today is the only remaining distillery in Guyana. Rum Nation blends distillate from pot still, which gives body and estery weight, with distillate from column still, which keeps the rum light enough to drink easily. The blend is built up in a solera system, where casks of different ages are continually topped up, so the expression stays consistent from bottling to bottling instead of carrying an age statement.

The main maturation happens in used American oak casks from Bourbon, which lay down vanilla and a creamy sweetness at the base. Then follows 12 months in fresh Sherry casks that have held Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez, and this is where the spice, the raisins and the dark chocolate come in. Finally a small proportion of very old Enmore rum is added, pulling the whole blend in a deeper, more estery direction. Colouring has been added.

Demerara Solera No 14 belongs to Rum Nation's core range and has been on the market for so many years that it now serves as a benchmark for what softer, semi-sweet Demerara rum tastes like.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark and a touch musty in a good way. Concentrated molasses first, then mocha, cola and white chocolate, with bergamot and a distinct hint of barbecue smoke behind it.

Palate

Syrupy and velvety. Molasses, dark chocolate, coffee and raisins, spiced up with cinnamon, cloves, orange peel and black pepper. Towards the end it dries out and shows oak.

Finish

Long and sweet, almost vermouth-like, with liquorice, aniseed and leather. Underneath the sweetness lies a bitter herbal note that lingers long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Rum Nation Demerara Solera No 14
Distillery: Demerara Distillers Diamond Distillery
Bottler: Rum Nation
Region/Country: Demerara, Guyana
Type: Demerara Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon casks, further matured 12 months in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks
Natural colour: No
Distillation method: Blend of pot still and column still
EAN no.: 8033749400178
Serving suggestion: Neat in a tulip glass at room temperature, or as a base in an Old Fashioned

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Spiced · Sherry-finished · Molasses · Dark Chocolate

Did You Know?

Rum Nation is Danish-owned. Mac Y bought the brand in 2018, and Fabio Rossi, who founded it in Italy in 1999, stayed on as blender. An Italian bottling of Guyanese rum with a Danish passport.

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Green, grassy notes meet Cognac-like finesse in a blend that shows just how versatile a rhum agricole can be.

Expert description

Saint James XO Rhum Agricole is an AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole, blended from rums aged between 6 and 10 years in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 43%.

The XO expression deliberately balances two styles: the fresh, green cane notes characteristic of agricole rum, and a more refined sweetness reminiscent of Cognac. The ex-bourbon casks add a clear spiciness and citrus freshness, while the blended age gives a complexity beyond what a single vintage could achieve alone.

Tasting notes

Nose

Grassy initial notes tempered by Cognac-like sweetness, hazelnut, praline, cinnamon, ginger and orange, complemented by cocoa, coffee and mocha.

Palate

Elegant and easy-going, zesty with lemon, lime and orange zest, spicy and minty with fresh, vegetal cane notes and a hint of peach.

Finish

Long and complex with woody roundedness, lime peel, melted spices, coffee, cocoa and plum.

Specifications

Distillery: Saint James
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique
Age: 6-10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon
Edition: XO
EAN no.: 3147699114384
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Citrus · Spiced · Nutty · Elegant · Complex

Did you know?

Saint James XO uses exclusively American ex-bourbon casks rather than the more common French oak, giving it a clearer vanilla sweetness and citrus freshness than the house's other age-stated releases.

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It all started in a crab and seafood restaurant in the small coastal town of St Ives, Cornwall. Dead Man's Fingers has nothing to do with old rum tradition, and that's exactly the point: a spiced rum built on curiosity rather than rules.

Expert Description

Dead Man's Fingers Spiced Rum is a Spiced Rum from the Caribbean and England, bottled at 37.5%.

Behind the rum stands the Rum and Crab Shack, a restaurant in St Ives, where the founders began experimenting with rum as a side project in 2015. The base is a blend of rums from Trinidad and Barbados, aged for up to three years before being blended with spices and brought to the Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery in England, where it's finished and bottled.

The spicing is applied with a firm hand: orange, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla give a sweet, lightly festive character, while a hint of saffron and black pepper keep the rum from becoming too perfumed.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange peel and caramel meet cinnamon and nutmeg, with a sweet hint of saffron cake.

Palate

Full and spiced with brown sugar, vanilla and dried fruit, carried by a warm cinnamon note.

Finish

Medium length with a final touch of black pepper and a hint of orange fading gently out.

Specifications

Name: Dead Man's Fingers Spiced Rum
Distillery: Bristol and Bath Rum Distillery
Region/Country: Caribbean / England
Type: Spiced Rum
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN: 5011166056775
Serving Suggestion: Enjoyed over ice, with cola or ginger ale

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sweet · Orange-forward · Caramel · Cocktail-friendly

Did You Know?

The name Dead Man's Fingers comes from the sea anemones of the same nickname found along the Cornish coast, close to the restaurant where the brand was born.

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From the house of John Aylesbury comes this rum, which after its initial maturation in American white oak receives a final finish in casks that previously held the renowned French dessert wine Barsac.

Expert Description

Corsario Reserve Cask is a Rum-based Spirit Drink in the Nicaraguan style, bottled at 40%.

The rum is built on a distillate in the Nicaraguan style, which is first matured in American white oak before being finished in Barsac casks, where the world-renowned French dessert wine was previously aged. This finish lends the rum a delicate sweetness and a hint of the honeyed, fruity tones for which Barsac wine is known.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fruity, light and sweet.

Palate

Honey, white peaches, apricots and vanilla in a soft, rounded palate.

Finish

Silky smooth and pleasantly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Corsario Reserve Cask
Type: Rum-based Spirit Drink
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: American white oak with Barsac finish
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat, ideally with a cigar

Bottler: John Aylesbury

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Sweet · Honeyed · Soft · Elegant

Did You Know?

Barsac is a French appellation known for its sweet dessert wines, closely related to the more famous Sauternes, and casks from this wine production give rum a distinct honeyed and fruity sweetness.

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A cannonball of rum, forced through peated whisky casks for half a year, this is not a random title but a very precise description of what awaits in the glass.

Expert description

Compagnie des Indes Boulet de Canon No. 6 is a Blended Rum composed of matured distillates from Nicaragua and Panama, finished for 6 months in ex-peated Islay whisky casks and bottled at 46%.

The blend is released by the French independent bottler Compagnie des Indes as a limited edition, bottled in 2018. The Central American rum base provides a round, fruity foundation, which is then given a pronounced smoky layer from the previously peated Islay whisky casks, a combination unusual even within Compagnie des Indes' experimental Boulet de Canon series.

Tasting notes

Nose

Exotic and fruity, with spices such as pepper and curry, finishing with a subtle smoky tone.

Palate

Smooth to start with hazelnut and praline, developing mid-palate into a vegetal, full-bodied character.

Finish

Delicately roasted and smoky.

Bottler: Compagnie des Indes
Region/Country: Nicaragua and Panama
Type: Blended Rum
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-peated Islay whisky casks, 6-month finish
Bottled: 2018
Serving suggestion: Neat, in a rocks glass

Flavour profile

Smoky · Nutty · Spiced · Complex

Did you know?

Compagnie des Indes' Boulet de Canon series is named after cannonballs and is the house's playground for unorthodox cask experiments, where rum meets casks from everything from whisky to beer and wine, far from the more traditional single cask releases the bottler is otherwise known for.

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Four countries, one bottle. Compagnie des Indes West Indies 8 Year is proof of how differently the Caribbean can taste when gathered into a single glass.

Expert description

Compagnie des Indes 8 Year West Indies is a Blended Rum composed of distillates from Guyana, Panama, Barbados and the Dominican Republic, bottled at 40%.

The blend is assembled by the French independent bottler Compagnie des Indes, without additives, bringing together rum from four very different Caribbean traditions in a single bottle. The result is a rum that attempts to gather the best of several styles rather than cultivate one single distillery character, making it a good starting point for understanding the breadth of Caribbean rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fermented fruit, rock candy and spices, with ripe tropical fruit and a hint of toasted oak.

Palate

Rock candy, molasses and a hint of fruit brandy, supported by caramel, honey and spiced oak.

Finish

Pleasantly long, with a mild sweetness, warm wood notes and a hint of spice.

Bottler: Compagnie des Indes
Region/Country: Guyana, Panama, Barbados and the Dominican Republic
Type: Blended Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3760255020853
Serving suggestion: Neat or in a mellow rum cocktail

Flavour profile

Fruity · Molasses · Spiced · Round

Did you know?

Compagnie des Indes takes its name from the historic European East India companies, and the bottler's philosophy is likewise to travel the world in search of the best rum distillates rather than sticking to one region.

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Cinnamon and nutmeg in a glass of rum sounds like a shortcut. At Bacardi it is closer to an old holiday tradition, poured out of the bottle all year round.

Expert description

Bacardi Spiced is a Spirit Drink spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and bottled at 35%.

Bacardi Spiced blends unaged and aged rum from the house's Maestros de Ron, after which the blend is infused with cinnamon and nutmeg. The rum has rested in charred American oak casks, the same type used for several of the house's darker expressions, giving it a hint of smoke and its distinctive caramel colour. Because spices and natural flavouring are added, it is correctly sold as a Spirit Drink rather than pure rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon and nutmeg, with a hint of dark cocoa and sweet caramel.

Palate

Caramel-like vanilla with almond and dried dark fruit, rounded off with cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of honey.

Finish

Softly finishing with a sweet, lightly smoky spice note.

Distillery: Bacardi
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 35%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Charred American oak casks
EAN no.: 7610113007518
Serving suggestion: On the rocks, with cola or in hot chocolate

Flavour profile

Spiced · Vanilla · Caramel · Sweet

Did you know?

Bacardi uses the title "Maestros de Ron" for its experienced blenders, a title passed down internally within the house and held by those behind all Bacardi blends, both the classic and the spiced expressions.

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Thirty years in cask is rare in the world of rum. This bottle is testament to what time can do to a distillate from one of Guyana's legendary stills.

Expert description

Enmore 1988/2018 30 Years Sherry Finish is a Rum from Guyana, distilled on the Enmore still, matured 30 years and finished in sherry casks, bottled by Bristol Classic Rum at 46.5%.

The rum comes from the historic Enmore still, one of the preserved wooden stills from the Demerara region in Guyana, distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2018 by English independent bottler Bristol Classic Rum. After first maturing in used bourbon casks for around 20 years, the rum was finished in sherry casks, adding an extra layer of flavour to the already mature distillate. Bristol Classic Rum is known for bottling only single still or single estate rum without added colour or filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla and smoke, with dried fruit, raisins and nuts, supported by elegant woody notes and a hint of sherry.

Palate

Pleasant sweetness and exotic fruitiness, with spicy notes and a hint of wild herbs.

Finish

Long and elegant, with lingering sherry character and a dry, oak-driven close.

Distillery: Enmore
Bottler: Bristol Classic Rum
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Rum
Age: 30 years
ABV: 46.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished in sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1988
Bottled: 2018
Serving suggestion: Neat, to round off an evening

Flavour profile

Elegant · Fruity · Sherry-driven · Complex

Investment potential

High. With 30 years of maturation, a respected Demerara still and a well-known independent bottler, this is a bottle that attracts serious rum collectors, and that kind of maturation is rarely seen on the shelves.

Did you know?

The Enmore still is one of the historic wooden pot stills from the Demerara region of Guyana, a type of distillation equipment preserved today by only a handful of producers worldwide.

See our full range of Guyana rum

The Trois Rivières plantation sits so close to the sea that you can taste it in the rum. Cuvée de l'Océan is the distillery's tribute to the salty breeze that blows in over the cane fields every single day.

Expert Description

Trois Rivières Cuvée de l'Océan is a Martinique Rhum Agricole Blanc distilled from fresh sugar cane juice and bottled at 42%.

The rum is produced at the Trois Rivières plantation in southern Martinique, where the distillery's proximity to the sea gives the rum an unmistakably mineral and salty character. As a Rhum Agricole it's distilled from fresh, unpressed cane juice rather than molasses, and as Cuvée de l'Océan it's neither cask aged nor filtered in a way that would strip away its raw, green character.

The name is no coincidence: the coastal location leaves clear traces of iodine, sea salt and beach pebbles, a profile that sets Cuvée de l'Océan apart from most other white Rhum Agricole from the island.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Freshly cut grass and raspberry, with a hint of sea breeze, sweet cane flower and a mineral, iodine-like nuance.

Palate

Fruity sweetness of passion fruit and peach, balanced by pink pepper and red chili, with fresh, freshly cut cane.

Finish

Long and salty with mineral notes and an elegant return of fresh cane.

Specifications

Name: Trois Rivières Cuvée de l'Océan
Distillery: Trois Rivières
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice
EAN: 3267130032432
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or in a Ti' Punch with lime and cane sugar

Flavour Profile

Mineral · Salty · Fruity · Fresh · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Trois Rivières plantation gave its name to the entire town of Trois-Rivières in southern Martinique, and the distillery's proximity to the Atlantic is so pronounced that you can see the waves breaking along the coast from the fields.

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Cold-brewed coffee from Nicaragua meets seven-year-old Dominican rum in this liqueur, where only a hint of cane sugar is added to round off the flavour.

Expert Description

A. Michler Ron Espero Coffee & Rum is a Coffee Rum Liqueur from the Dominican Republic, bottled at 40%.

The liqueur is made by bottling cold-brewed coffee from Nicaragua together with seven-year-old Dominican rum in small batches. Since the combination of coffee and rum naturally lacks sweetness, a light touch of pure cane sugar is added to balance the flavour, without drowning out the coffee's and rum's own aromas.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense coffee notes accompanied by vanilla, chocolate and sweet rum.

Palate

Full-bodied, harmonious and rich with strong coffee, caramel, rum sweetness and a hint of fine spice.

Finish

Long-lasting, round and aromatic with a lingering coffee aftertaste.

Specifications

Name: A. Michler Ron Espero Coffee & Rum
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum Liqueur
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 742832146623
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled, on the rocks or as a base for cocktails

Distillery: Ron Espero

Flavour Profile

Coffee · Sweet · Full-bodied · Spicy · Rounded

Did You Know?

The coffee beans for this liqueur come from Nicaragua, while the rum is Dominican, making the product a result of two different Central American and Caribbean raw material traditions.

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209 grams of esters per hectolitre of pure alcohol sounds like a laboratory figure. On the palate, it becomes one of the most intense Jamaican rums you can find on the shelf.

Expert description

Velier Forsyths WPM 2006 is a Pure Single Rum from Jamaica, distilled on the Forsyths pot still in 2006, matured for 11 years and bottled at 57.5%.

The rum comes from Worthy Park Estate, located 1,200 feet above sea level in the hills of Lluidas Vale, and is released by the Italian bottler Habitation Velier under its philosophy of rum without added sugar, colour or flavour. WPM is the second most concentrated of Worthy Park's ester marques, reaching levels up to 209.3 grams of esters per hectolitre of pure alcohol, giving it a bold, empyreumatic character. This bottle is assembled from 25 fully matured American oak casks and was distilled in 2006, before being bottled in 2017 after 11 years in cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Tropical fruit such as pineapple and banana, followed by phenolic notes of glue, solvent and varnish, along with woody, spicy, toasted character and leather.

Palate

Intense and oily, with tropical fruit battling a powerful ester backbone and a warm, spiced undertone.

Finish

Long and fat, with baked apple, leather and a lingering ester character.

Distillery: Worthy Park Estate
Bottler: Velier
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Pure Single Rum
Age: 11 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak casks
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Pot still
Distilled: 2006
Bottled: 2017

Flavour profile

Ester-rich · Tropical · Smoky · Bold

Investment potential

Medium. The Habitation Velier series is sought after among collectors for its unblended style without additives, and several Worthy Park vintages have already become hard to find.

Did you know?

Worthy Park closed its distillery for 45 years and only reopened in 2005, just one year before this very vintage was distilled, making the 2006 releases among the very first from the reborn distillery.

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Niña was the smallest and fastest of Columbus's three ships. This rum carries the name forward as a sweeter, softer part of the range.

Expert description

Ron Cristobal Niña is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, matured 8 to 12 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is named after Niña, one of the three ships Christopher Columbus used to cross the Atlantic in 1492. It is produced by Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos, the Dominican Republic's largest alcohol producer, which grows its own sugar cane, ensuring the rum is made exclusively from Dominican crops. The company was founded in 2007 when two Dominican families, each with their own rum production, joined forces.

Tasting notes

Nose

Green strawberries and flowers, rounded with notes of fresh oak and crème brûlée with caramelised sugar.

Palate

Full with mint chocolate and marshmallows.

Finish

Mild and soft with vanilla, leaving a silky soft sensation in the mouth.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 8-12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5712718005547
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Sweet · Soft · Fruity · Silky

Did you know?

Niña was the smallest of the three ships Christopher Columbus used to cross the Atlantic in 1492, but also the fastest, a detail that has given this rum its name.

See our full range of Ron Cristobal