Ten months in a 2000-litre armagnac cask from Gascony. An unusually long journey for a rum that began life in the Caribbean.

Expert description

Bapt & Clem's 8 Years Armagnac Cask Finish is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, matured 8 years in bourbon casks in the Caribbean and finished 10 months in armagnac casks in Gascony, bottled at 45%.

The rum spends its first years in bourbon casks in the Caribbean, after which it is sent to Gascony in southwestern France, where it is finished in massive 2000-litre casks that previously held armagnac for 30 years. The long French-Caribbean journey gives the rum a complexity spanning from classic rum notes to floral, honeyed nuances from the armagnac cask.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clove, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger marinated in honey and orange blossom water, with creamy notes and a hint of sandalwood.

Palate

Soft summer fruit and smoky earthiness, with honey, syrupy peach, apricot and pear, plus rose petals and crushed violets.

Finish

Polished oak, cedar and sandalwood, in waves of woody nuances.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 45%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, finished 10 months in armagnac casks
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Spiced · Floral · Honeyed · Fruity

Did you know?

The armagnac casks used for the finish hold a full 2000 litres and previously held armagnac for 30 years, making them considerably larger than the casks typically used for cask finishing in the rum world.

See our full range of Bapt & Clem's

Guyana's Demerara River has for centuries delivered rum with a heavy, earthy character. Bristol Spirits captured a single distillate from the Diamond distillery in 2003 and let it mature for the best part of a decade before bottling it without embellishment.

Expert Description

Diamond Distillery 2003/2015 Bristol Classic is a Guyana Rum distilled on column stills and bottled at 43%.

The rum was distilled in 2003 at the Diamond distillery, owned by Demerara Distillers Limited on the east bank of the Demerara River, and cask aged until 2015, when it was bottled by the independent English bottler Bristol Spirits under the Bristol Classic Rum label. The rum is molasses-based and column distilled, a style that offers a cleaner, more traditional expression than the heavy pot still rums Guyana is also known for.

The twelve years of ageing, partly in Guyana and partly after transport to England, has given the rum a balanced character, where fruit and wood meet without either dominating.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Orange and grapefruit meet laurel and verbena, with a hint of herbs in the background.

Palate

Soft and balanced with ripe citrus, light sweetness and an earthy oak character.

Finish

Medium length and dry, where the citrus fades out alongside a hint of herbs and oak.

Specifications

Name: Diamond Distillery 2003/2015 Bristol Classic
Distillery: Diamond Distillery
Bottler: Bristol Classic Rum
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Rum
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Column distillation
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2015
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Citrus-forward · Herbal · Balanced · Dry · Earthy

Did You Know?

Diamond Distillery is today the last remaining distillery in Guyana and houses several historic distillation styles under one roof, including both column and pot still technology, after the country's other distilleries closed during the 20th century.

See our full range of Diamond Distillery

Up to 18 years in bourbon casks, followed by a stay in Spanish sherry oak from Andalusia. The XO edition takes Bumbu's lantern bottle into a different league.

Expert description

Bumbu XO is a Rum from Barbados, matured up to 18 years in American bourbon casks and finished in Spanish sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

The rum is distilled through continuous column stills from locally grown sugar cane and matured in ex-bourbon casks for up to 18 years, after which it is finished in white Spanish oak casks from Andalusia that previously held sherry. The final sherry finish adds a layer of dried fruit sweetness and tannic complexity that lifts the XO edition considerably above the house's standard edition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toffee and toasted oak, followed by rich vanilla and a bright orange zest, with a hint of dried fruit from the sherry cask.

Palate

Rich toffee and brown sugar, followed by coffee, baking spice and a hint of black pepper.

Finish

Short and sweet, reminiscent of marmalade with a hint of cinnamon.

Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
Age: Up to 18 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon casks, finished in Spanish sherry casks
EAN no.: 0813497006154
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Sweet · Sherry-influenced · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

The Spanish sherry casks used for Bumbu XO's finish come from Andalusia, the same region of Spain that has historically supplied the best sherry casks to the whisky and rum industry for centuries.

See our full range of Bumbu

Untreated orange peel left to macerate in alcohol and blended with matured rum – the result is a bottle that smells of Caribbean summer.

Expert description

A. Michler Ron Espero Caribbean Orange is a Rum built on a 12 year old base, infused with natural orange flavour and bottled at 40%.

The rum belongs to the Ron Espero range from the German bottler Albert Michler, where untreated orange peels are macerated directly in alcohol rather than using extract or essence. This gives a fresh citrus character that sits on top of the soft sweetness from the 12 year old rum base, without drowning the rum's own wood character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh orange meets fine rum spice and a light caramel sweetness.

Palate

Harmonious with orange upfront, a soft sweetness and clear, mature rum with fine wood influence.

Finish

Soft and long, with fresh citrus and a hint of spice lingering.

Specifications

Bottler: Albert Michler Distillery
Type: Rum
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8594009451373
Serving suggestion: On ice or in a Rum Old Fashioned

Flavour profile

Citrus · Spiced · Caramel · Soft · Fruity

Did you know?

The orange peels in Caribbean Orange are macerated whole and untreated – with no spray or wax – giving a cleaner, more natural citrus note than most flavoured rums on the market.

See our full range of A. Michler

Two types of casks and two continents meet in Brugal's most celebrated release, named after the year the Brugal family founded their distillery.

Expert description

Brugal 1888 New Ron Gran Reserva is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, distilled on a column still and matured in both American bourbon casks and European sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

The rum takes its name from 1888, the year Andrés Brugal Montaner founded the family's rum distillery in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The 1888 edition is doubly matured, first 8 years in American bourbon casks and then a further 6 years in European sherry casks, giving the rum its complex, layered character. The rum won gold in the "Premium Aged Rum" category at the Miami Rum Festival 2015.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced tones, a hint of chocolate, roasted coffee beans, cinnamon and dried fruit.

Palate

Caramel, ripe fruit, cocoa and discreet oak notes in a well-balanced whole.

Finish

Full-bodied and long, with lingering caramel, wood and a hint of liquorice.

Distillery: Brugal
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American bourbon casks and European sherry casks
Distillation method: Column still
EAN no.: 7460855209141
Serving suggestion: Neat, in a cognac glass

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Elegant · Complex

Did you know?

Andrés Brugal Montaner founded the family's rum distillery in 1888 in Puerto Plata, and the name of this edition is a direct tribute to the founding year.

See our full range of Brugal

Guatemala's highlands, 2,300 metres above sea level, give a slower maturation than most Caribbean rums ever experience.

Expert description

Ron Botran No. 18 Solera 1893 is a Ron de Guatemala, matured through a solera system in Guatemala's highlands and bottled at 40%.

The Botran family has distilled and matured rum in the Quetzaltenango highlands since 1939, and the name "1893" refers to the year the family's rum tradition originally began. The high altitude means lower temperatures than traditional Caribbean maturation environments, giving a slower, gentler maturation and an unusually smooth, round character for a rum with the solera 18 designation.

Tasting notes

Nose

Elegant with vanilla, cocoa, spice and tobacco, complemented by mocha coffee, apple tart, caramel and rolling tobacco leaf with a light cinnamon note.

Palate

Balanced, complex smoothness with orange peel and dried fruit, rich caramel and dark chocolate with a hint of mocha coffee, backed by toasted oak and discreet tobacco.

Finish

Medium length with cracked black pepper and candied ginger in a spiced caramel and cake finish.

Specifications

Distillery: Ron Botran
Region/Country: Guatemala
Type: Ron de Guatemala
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 0699013000802
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Vanilla · Cocoa · Caramel · Smooth · Complex

Did you know?

The Botran family matures its rum in Guatemala's highlands at altitudes up to 2,300 metres, where the cooler climate makes maturation slower and gentler than in most traditional Caribbean maturation environments at sea level.

See our full range of Ron Botran

Natural sweetness, no added sugar – just 15 years of patient maturation in Guatemala's highlands.

Expert description

Ron Botran 15 Year Reserva is a Ron de Guatemala, matured for at least 15 years in Guatemala's highlands and bottled at 40%.

The Reserva expression sits between the house's younger standard releases and the more complex No. 18 Solera 1893, representing a robust, succulent and elegant style where sweetness comes naturally from maturation rather than added sugar. The honest, unadulterated approach to production reflects the Botran family's focus on authenticity over artificial sweetness.

Tasting notes

Nose

Reddish-brown colour with notes of exotic fruit and a sweet aroma, led by dominant oak, a touch of char, spice and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Robust, succulent and elegant with delicate notes of ripe fruit and spice, toasted caramel and vanilla, with some palates noting almonds and tropical fruit overtones.

Finish

Direct, pleasant and long-lasting with a slightly sour close.

Specifications

Distillery: Ron Botran
Region/Country: Guatemala
Type: Ron de Guatemala
Age: 15 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 0699013001229
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass or over ice

Flavour profile

Oak · Spiced · Fruity · Robust · Elegant

Did you know?

Botran 15 Year Reserva is deliberately marketed as an "honest, unadulterated rum" with no added sugar, setting it apart from several other Latin American rums that are often sweetened after ageing to achieve a softer profile.

See our full range of Ron Botran

After 25 years in rum barrique, the rum is transferred to a used whisky cask. It is a rare move that gives the bottle its own distinct direction.

Expert description

Opthimus 25 Years barricas de Malt Whisky Finish is a Rum from the Dominican Republic, finished in a used Single Malt Whisky cask and bottled at 43%.

The rum is matured for at least 25 years in ex-bourbon casks, after which it is finished in a used cask from a Tomatin Single Malt Whisky, giving it a more complex and less sweet character than the classic Opthimus 25 Years. The rum won gold in the "Aged Rum Special Cask" category at the Miami Rum Festival in 2015.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, candied sugar, syrup, ripe fruit and a hint of malt whisky.

Palate

Marked sweetness, nougat, full-bodied and rich, with spice from the whisky cask, plus oak, mocha and chocolate.

Finish

Long and airy, with sweet spice in a lingering tail.

Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum
Age: 25 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks, finished in Single Malt Whisky cask
EAN no.: 74668771100516
Serving suggestion: Neat, as a digestif

Flavour profile

Complex · Spiced · Sweet · Chocolate

Did you know?

The whisky cask used for the finish comes from the Scottish distillery Tomatin, making this edition of Opthimus 25 Years a rare meeting between Dominican rum tradition and Scottish whisky heritage.

See our full range of Opthimus

Reserva Exclusiva is the bottle that truly put Diplomatico on the world map, a sweet, dessert-like rum many enjoy as the finishing touch to a meal.

Expert description

Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva is a Ron de Venezuela matured up to 12 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from Destilerías Unidas in La Miel, Venezuela, founded in 1959 and today part of the Brown-Forman group. Reserva Exclusiva is a blend of rums distilled using several different methods, including the rare batch kettle technique, and matured up to 12 years, giving a rich, syrupy character with pronounced sweetness and depth that has made it one of the house's most acclaimed releases.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel, toffee and liquorice, alongside rich caramel, vanilla, oak and baking spice, plus caramelised molasses and dark dried fruits like dates and figs.

Palate

Fudge-like, sliding into oak and vanilla, spiced and medium-bodied on the palate, creamy, fruity and spiced all at once, with orange bitters, vanilla and brown sugar.

Finish

Sweet and syrupy with sherry, dark chocolate and dried fig.

Specifications

Distillery: Destilerías Unidas
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Ron de Venezuela
Age: Up to 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 7594003620059
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass after dinner

Flavour profile

Syrupy · Sweet · Caramel · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

Reserva Exclusiva was for many years the release that truly introduced Diplomatico to the international market, laying the foundation for the house's later status as one of Venezuela's most acclaimed rum brands.

See our full range of Diplomatico

Brazil is the homeland of sugar cane. Miles of green fields, heavy heat and a tradition of pressing the juice fresh instead of boiling it down to molasses. This is where this bottle comes from - named after a man who would rather fly than stay on the ground.

Expert description

Santos Dumont XO Elixir is a Brazilian Rum Liqueur built on Santos Dumont XO Rum aged in Bourbon casks, PX Sherry casks and Port casks and bottled at 40%.

The base rum is distilled from freshly pressed sugar cane juice - not molasses - in old pot stills. Then comes the ageing, and it happens in three stages. Bourbon casks of American white oak lay down vanilla and a dry peppery edge. PX Sherry casks pull honey and ripe dark fruit into the rum. Port casks round it off with sweetness and a light tannin.

Once the rum is finished, local herbs and a measured amount of cane honey are added. That is the step that turns Elixir into Elixir. The result is not a dry rum you analyse your way through, and it does not try to be. The label says Elixir, and that is exactly what is in the glass: thick, amber and sweet, with beautiful legs down the glass. Bottling happens in small batches under Old St. Croix Spirits ApS in Dragør, which is also behind A.H. Riise.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Banana and coconut first, then ripe fruit and a nutty note of apricot kernel. Honey sits underneath it all, and after a little time in the glass, vanilla and candied orange emerge.

Palate

Sweet and full-bodied. Honey and fermented fruit carry the palate, with caramel, coconut and raisin in the background. There is a light tingle on the tongue that keeps the sweetness from turning flat.

Finish

Warm and long. Honey and dried fruit, a touch of cinnamon and oak spice at the very end.

Specifications

Name: Santos Dumont XO Elixir
Bottler: A.H. Riise Spirits
Region/Country: Brazil
Type: Rum Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, PX Sherry casks and Port casks
Distillation method: Pot Still
EAN no.: 5712421040200
Serving suggestion: As an after-dinner drink with coffee, or in a cocktail glass over crushed ice

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Honeyed · Coconut · Fruity · Spiced

Did You Know?

Alberto Santos-Dumont grew tired of fumbling with a pocket watch while piloting his flying machines. He asked his friend Louis Cartier for a solution, and in 1904 he got a watch strapped to his wrist. It is still called the Cartier Santos - one of the world's first wristwatches, invented because a Brazilian needed both hands in the air.

See our full range of Santos Dumont

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Four bottles, one rum blend, four different sweetness levels – this gift set is the easiest way to understand just how much sugar actually shapes a rum's character.

Expert description

Alta Gama Gift Set is a tasting set of four 10 cl bottles from the same Guyana rum blend, all bottled at 41%.

The set contains Brut Nature with no added sugar, Extra-Sec with 15 grams of added sugar per litre, Sec with 25 grams and Demi-Sec with 35 grams. The two sweetest expressions, Sec and Demi-Sec, exceed the EU's 20 gram per litre limit for products labelled as rum and are therefore legally described as Spirit Drink, while Brut Nature and Extra-Sec remain Rum. All four are based on the same blend from the Port Mourant, Enmore and Uitvlugt stills at Demerara Distillers, matured between 5 and 15 years in ex-bourbon casks of American oak, differing only in the amount of added sugar.

Tasting notes

Nose

All four share a base of burnt Demerara sugar, liquorice and orange peel, but the sweetness and syrupy character increase markedly from Brut Nature to Demi-Sec.

Palate

The progression runs from dry and sharp in Brut Nature to full-bodied and markedly sweet in Demi-Sec, with Extra-Sec and Sec as steps in between.

Finish

Similar oak and spice notes across all four, but the length and sweetness of the finish increase noticeably through the set.

Specifications

Distillery: Demerara Distillers
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Tasting set (Rum and Spirit Drink)
ABV: 41%
Size: 4 x 10 CL
Cask type: Ex-Bourbon American Oak
Serving suggestion: Tasted side by side at room temperature

Flavour profile

Molasses · Liquorice · Progressive Sweetness · Round · Spiced

Did you know?

Because the four bottles in the set are the exact same rum with different amounts of added sugar, they offer a rare chance to taste your way through just how much 20 grams of sugar per litre can shift a product from the Rum category into the Spirit Drink category under EU rules.

See our full range of Alta Gama

Sometimes a rum liqueur should not be overthought. Companero Elixir Orange is made to pour a touch of Caribbean sun into the glass, no fuss involved.

Expert description

Companero Elixir Orange is a Rum Liqueur from Trinidad, flavoured with orange and bottled at 40%.

The liqueur is part of the Companero series from the Danish independent bottler 1423, which has sourced rum from around the world for its headquarters in Ringe since 2008. Here, rum from Trinidad is used as the base and then refined with orange and a touch of sweetness, resulting in a light, fresh liqueur rather than a heavy digestif. This bottle is a 5cl miniature.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh orange peel with a sweet rum note in the background.

Palate

Sweet and citrusy, with a round rum base and a touch of spice.

Finish

Short and fresh, with orange fading gently.

Bottler: 1423
Region/Country: Trinidad
Type: Rum Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 5712718000665
Serving suggestion: Chilled, neat or in citrus-based cocktails

Flavour profile

Citrus · Sweet · Light · Fresh

Did you know?

The Companero series is named after the Spanish word for "friend" or "companion," and the whole idea behind it is rum you bring along, share and enjoy in good company, which is also reflected in the small, practical miniature bottles.

See our full range of Companero

The word "compañero" means friend or companion in Spanish, and that is exactly the role this small miniature bottle plays: a trusty sidekick for tasting on the go.

Expert description

Companero Extra Añejo is a Spirit Drink from Panama, solera-aged for up to 12 years and bottled at a powerful 54%.

The rum is part of the Companero series from the Danish independent bottler 1423, which has imported and released rum from around the world from its headquarters in Ringe since 2008. This Extra Añejo is column-distilled in Panama and matured through the solera system in fresh ex-bourbon casks of American white oak, giving it a heavy, chocolate-forward character far bolder than most standard rums from the region. This bottle is a 5cl miniature, perfect for getting acquainted with the style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Creamy and heavy, with dark chocolate and warm cocoa.

Palate

Sharp orange meets toasted oak and roasted coffee, carried by the high strength.

Finish

Long and warm, with a lingering note of toasted wood and bitter chocolate.

Bottler: 1423
Region/Country: Panama
Type: Spirit Drink
Age: Solera, up to 12 years
ABV: 54%
Size: 5 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon American oak casks, solera
Distillation method: Column still
EAN no.: 5712718000641

Flavour profile

Chocolate · Coffee · Spiced · Bold

Did you know?

1423 takes its name from a specific year: 1423 is when sugarcane truly began its journey from the Mediterranean towards the Atlantic islands and later the Caribbean, which would later become the birthplace of rum.

See our full range of Companero

A German rock band, three countries and a result that has surprised many who expected a pure marketing product.

Expert description

Rammstein Rum is a Rum, blended from pot still rum from Jamaica and Guyana plus column still rum from Trinidad, matured 12 years and bottled at 40% without added colour.

The rum is associated with German rock band Rammstein, founded in 1994 and one of the world's most famous bands. The blend combines two pot still rums from Jamaica and Guyana, both highly valued by master blenders for their powerful body and deep aromas, with the more elegant column still rum from Trinidad, which tames the strong characters of the other two countries.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced aromas with light fruit notes and a hint of smoke.

Palate

Balanced with depth from the pot still character and elegance from the column still.

Finish

Medium-length, with lingering spice and a lightly smoky close.

Region/Country: Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad
Type: Rum
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Pot still and column still
EAN no.: 5712718000764
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Balanced · Spiced · Smoky · Fruity

Did you know?

Rammstein was founded in 1994 and is known for its theatrical concerts and pyrotechnic shows, an energy that in a way is reflected in the spiced, smoky character of the band's rum.

See our full range of Rammstein Rum

In old Venezuela, the mantuanos were the top tier of Creole landowners, famous for their refined taste and their love of the very best the land had to offer.

Expert description

Diplomatico Mantuano is a Blended Rum from Venezuela, composed of distillates from several different still types and bottled at 40%.

The rum comes from the DUSA distillery in La Miel at the foot of the Andes, where Diplomático blends distillates from column stills, a rare batch kettle and traditional pot stills. Mantuano is the brand's best-selling expression and works as a calling card for the whole range: a blend of younger and older rums, matured in oak casks that previously held bourbon and malt whisky, for up to 8 years. The name pays tribute to Don Juancho Nieto Meléndez, known as "El Mantuano," and to the old Venezuelan upper class's appreciation of quality.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit, plum and light oak spice, with a hint of vanilla and caramel in the background.

Palate

Soft and round, with dark caramel, dried apricots and a light nutty sweetness, seasoned with baking spice.

Finish

Long and rich, with oak and dark fruit that linger well after the last sip.

Distillery: Diplomático
Region/Country: Venezuela
Type: Blended Rum
Age: Up to 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and ex-malt whisky oak casks
EAN no.: 5099873027189
Serving suggestion: On the rocks or in a Rum Old Fashioned

Flavour profile

Fruity · Round · Caramel · Spiced

Did you know?

Diplomático has access to a rare distillation source called a batch kettle, a type of still found in only a handful of places worldwide, which gives the rum a heavy, aromatic character before it is blended with the lighter column and pot still distillates.

See our full range of Diplomático

HMS Formidable was Admiral George Rodney's own flagship at the Battle of the Saintes, where the French fleet was driven back in 1782. Fittingly, the Formidable bottling is the oldest and most full-bodied in the Admiral Rodney series.

Expert Description

Admiral Rodney HMS Formidable is a St Lucia Rum aged in American bourbon barrels and bottled at 40%.

Behind the rum stands St Lucia Distillers, which blends rums distilled on Coffey stills and aged for up to twelve years in American white oak. As the flagship expression of the series, HMS Formidable is the oldest and most complex blend in the range, named after Rodney's own command ship during the decisive victory over the French.

The long ageing in bourbon barrels gives a deep, honeyed character, where raisin, walnut and a hint of tobacco leaf mingle with the classic sweetness of the oak.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honeyed sweetness with raisins, vanilla, nutmeg and a hint of walnut and dark chocolate.

Palate

Rich and oaky with honey, cinnamon, dark chocolate and a lightly bitter note of coffee beans.

Finish

Long with tobacco leaf, oak and a final caramel sweetness fading gently out.

Specifications

Name: Admiral Rodney HMS Formidable
Distillery: St Lucia Distillers
Region/Country: St Lucia
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: American bourbon barrels
EAN: 5060184940863
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed neat at room temperature, ideally as a nightcap

Flavour Profile

Rich · Honeyed · Oaky · Spiced · Complex

Did You Know?

HMS Formidable was the ship Admiral Rodney himself commanded from during the Battle of the Saintes, making this particular bottle in the series a tribute to the admiral's own flagship.

See our full range of Admiral Rodney

The Battle of the Saintes in 1782 turned Admiral George Rodney into a naval hero, and on St Lucia his name and his ships still lend their honour to the island's rum. HMS Monarch was one of the vessels that made a difference that day.

Expert Description

Admiral Rodney HMS Monarch is a St Lucia Rum aged in ex-bourbon and port wine barrels and bottled at 40%.

The rum is produced by St Lucia Distillers and is a blend of Coffey still rums aged between six and nine years before being married into the finished blend. Some of the barrels previously held port wine, giving a clear streak of red berries and dark fruit on top of the classic bourbon-barrel character of vanilla and caramel.

The name HMS Monarch honours one of the ships in Admiral Rodney's fleet during the Battle of the Saintes, where the British defeated the French fleet in 1782, a victory still celebrated in the naming of the Admiral Rodney series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and caramel meet red and black berries, with a sweet hint of dried sultanas.

Palate

Full-bodied and balanced with brown sugar, dark chocolate, candied fruit and a light tannic structure from the port casks.

Finish

Long and sweet with tropical spices and a final hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: Admiral Rodney HMS Monarch
Distillery: St Lucia Distillers
Region/Country: St Lucia
Age: 11 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and port wine barrels
EAN: 5060184940900
Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed neat at room temperature or with a single ice cube

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Sweet · Berry-forward · Spiced · Balanced

Did You Know?

The entire Admiral Rodney series is named after ships from Rodney's fleet at the Battle of the Saintes, where HMS Monarch was among the vessels that took part in the decisive British victory over France.

See our full range of Admiral Rodney

A handful of raisins, a spoonful of honey and seven years of rest on American oak – that is the recipe behind this small, sweet indulgence from Albert Michler.

Expert description

A. Michler Ron Espero Elixir is a Spirit Drink built on a 7 year old Añejo rum matured in American oak casks, infused with raisins that have macerated in alcohol and bottled at 34%.

Elixir belongs to the Ron Espero range from the German bottler Albert Michler, which has refined Caribbean and Latin American rum since the 1800s. Because the raisins are macerated separately before being blended into the aged rum, the drink gains a rich sweetness without drowning the rum's own character. At 34% ABV it sits below the classic threshold for rum, so it is correctly sold as a Spirit Drink rather than rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet raisins and honey unfold immediately, backed by a gentle caramel sweetness from the oak.

Palate

Fruity and sweet with raisins in front, sherry-like notes and a touch of honey tying it together.

Finish

Long and soft, the raisin sweetness slowly giving way to a dry, lightly oaked close.

Specifications

Bottler: Albert Michler Distillery
Type: Spirit Drink
ABV: 34%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak
EAN no.: 8594009451359
Serving suggestion: Best served at room temperature or over ice, lovely with dessert

Flavour profile

Sweet · Raisin · Honey · Rich · Soft

Did you know?

The raisins in Elixir are macerated on their own for a full month before being blended into the aged rum – a method closer to a liqueur kitchen than a traditional distillery.

See our full range of A. Michler

An elegant blend of Caribbean rum aged between 12 and 18 years, composed using the traditional solera method in a limited release.

Expert Description

A. Michler Ron Espero XO Extra Añejo Limitada is a Caribbean Blended Rum matured 12-18 years in a solera system, bottled at 40%.

The rum is an elegant blend of Caribbean distillates aged between 12 and 18 years, composed using the traditional solera method, where younger and older vintages are continuously blended through a system of stacked casks. This limited release highlights the rum's fruity, honeyed character combined with a deep, spiced oak complexity.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Delicate with notes of tropical fruit, banana, citrus fruits and coconut, plus pronounced sweet honey.

Palate

Full-bodied and harmonious with raisins, honey, chocolate, toffee and spiced oak.

Finish

Long-lasting, smooth and elegant with sweet and woody nuances.

Specifications

Name: A. Michler Ron Espero XO Extra Añejo Limitada
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Rum
Age: 12-18 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Solera system
EAN no.: 742832695954
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a snifter glass

Bottler: Ron Espero

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Honeyed · Spicy · Full-bodied · Elegant

Did You Know?

The term "Limitada" underlines that this XO edition is a limited release within the Ron Espero range, where the solera method ensures that every bottle carries traces of rum older than the stated 12-18 years.

See our full range of Rum

A single cane variety, grown for its own sake. Canne Bleue is Clément's tribute to a cane variety that's harder to grow, but that delivers a far more intense rum in return.

Expert Description

Clément Rhum Agricole Blanc Canne Bleue is a Martinique Rhum Agricole Blanc distilled exclusively from the blue cane variety and bottled at 50%.

Canne Bleue, or "blue cane", is an older and less widely grown variety than the more common cane typically used in rhum agricole. The variety is known for a lower yield and for being more sensitive to weather conditions, but in return it delivers a markedly more intense and aromatic juice. Clément has chosen to bottle this edition uncut at 50%, a higher strength than the house's standard Blanc, precisely to let the cane variety's full character shine through.

The result is a rum that's even sharper and more mineral than the classic Rhum Blanc Agricole, with an intensity that demands respect.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Exotic fruit mixed with orange blossom, softened by light honey, along with pink pepper, green apples and fresh cane juice.

Palate

Lively, dry and powerful with lime, herbs, white pepper and mineral freshness, supported by meringue and cucumber.

Finish

Long and clearly structured, with earthy and herbal nuances and a tingling pepper.

Specifications

Name: Clément Rhum Agricole Blanc Canne Bleue
Distillery: Clément
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole Blanc
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation Method: Column distillation of fresh cane juice from the Canne Bleue variety
Serving Suggestion: As the base of a powerful Ti' Punch

Flavour Profile

Mineral · Sharp · Herbal · Fruity · Powerful

Did You Know?

The Canne Bleue variety is today grown only on select fields around Habitation Clément, because its low yield makes it economically less attractive than modern, more robust cane varieties, making this edition something of a rarity within rhum agricole.

See our full range of Clément

A seven-year-old molasses rum forms the foundation of this liqueur, where soft, exotic coconut meets the rum's depth and complexity.

Expert Description

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

The liqueur is made on the basis of a seven-year-old molasses rum, combined with natural coconut to create a balance between the rum's depth and the coconut's soft, exotic sweetness. The result is a liqueur where the mature rum base adds complexity, while the coconut provides a light, tropical airiness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense coconut aroma accompanied by vanilla, caramel and lightly spiced notes.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with creamy coconut, sweet vanilla and a mild spiciness, where the mature rum base adds depth and complexity, complemented by fruity notes of ripe berries, raisins, fresh coconut milk and nuts.

Finish

Long-lasting, smooth and sweet with tropical flavours and a hint of oak.

Specifications

Name: A. Michler Ron Espero Coconut & Rum
Region/Country: Dominican Republic
Type: Rum Liqueur
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 0742832833271
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled, on the rocks or as a base for tropical cocktails

Distillery: Ron Espero

Flavour Profile

Coconut · Sweet · Full-bodied · Spicy · Tropical

Did You Know?

The Ron Espero range includes several fruit and coconut liqueurs, all built on the same seven-year-old Dominican rum base, ensuring a recognisable quality across the flavour variants.

See our full range of Rum

Ambar is the lighter, more accessible side of Zacapa, made to introduce Guatemalan Solera craft without overwhelming.

Expert description

Ron Zacapa Ambar 12 Solera Reserva is a Ron de Guatemala matured in a Sistema Solera and bottled at 40%.

The rum is produced in the Guatemalan highlands at altitudes of up to 2,300 metres, where the cool climate slows evaporation and allows a gentler, slower maturation than in many other rum-producing countries. The Ambar expression is composed as a lighter, fresher and fruitier variant of the house style compared to the darker, heavier Centenario releases, and is sold here in a 100 cl bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and fresh with citrus, honey, vanilla and a touch of oak.

Palate

Soft and balanced with notes of dried fruit, caramel, honey and a discreet spiciness, plus hints of orange peel, almond and cinnamon.

Finish

Medium length, velvety and pleasantly sweet.

Specifications

Distillery: Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala
Region/Country: Guatemala
Type: Ron de Guatemala
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
EAN no.: 7401005010590
Serving suggestion: Over ice or in a light rum cocktail

Flavour profile

Light · Fresh · Fruity · Honeyed · Soft

Did you know?

Zacapa's rum isn't matured at sea level like most other Caribbean rums, but in the Guatemalan highlands, where a phenomenon called "the Angel's Share above the Clouds" means the casks lose less alcohol to evaporation than in the warmer tropical lowlands.

See our full range of Ron Zacapa

Cincuenta means fifty in Spanish, and the name refers directly to the bottle's strength: the most powerful release from Ron Millonario.

Expert description

Ron Millonario 10 Aniversario Cincuenta is a Rum from Peru, based on the same recipe as the house's 10 Aniversario Reserva, but bottled at 50%.

The rum is a more intense and concentrated version of Ron Millonario's 10 Aniversario, built on the same secret blend of rum matured in ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry Jerez casks from Hacienda Agricola in Chiclayo. The higher strength makes it the most powerful expression in Ron Millonario's range and well suited to cocktails that call for a more structured spirit. The bottle carries the same modern, elegant design as 10 Aniversario Reserva, but with a gold rather than black glass stopper.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet fruit, vanilla and chocolate, with deeper notes from the sherry casks.

Palate

Powerful and structured, with dried fruit, vanilla, chocolate and raisin.

Finish

Warm and lingering, with spiced intensity from the high strength.

Distillery: Pomalca
Region/Country: Peru
Type: Rum
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry Jerez casks
EAN no.: 8033749405012
Serving suggestion: Neat or in structured cocktails

Flavour profile

Powerful · Sweet · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The name Cincuenta, Spanish for fifty, refers to the rum's strength of 50%, making it the strongest bottling in the entire Ron Millonario range.

See our full range of Ron Millonario

Veritas is Velier's answer to a question many bars keep asking: can a white rum stay true to style and still be easy to work with?

Expert description

Veritas White Blended Rum is a Blended Rum composed of three distillates and bottled at 47%.

The rum is a blend of coffey still distillate from Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, pot still distillate from the same distillery matured 2 years in ex-bourbon casks, and unaged pot still distillate from Hampden Estate in Jamaica. All three components are distilled, matured, blended and bottled in the Caribbean with no added sugar, flavouring or neutral spirit, making Veritas a white rum with real character rather than a neutral base spirit.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh with ice cream soda sweetness and a clean, grassy undertone, plus buttercream, banana cream, golden apples and dried pineapple.

Palate

Fresh and intensely fruity with whipped cream underneath, freshly sliced pineapple, overripe bananas and pears, combined with a hint of liquorice and spiced wood.

Finish

Clean and dry with a light funky finish from the Hampden component, balanced by Foursquare's softer character.

Specifications

Bottler: Velier
Region/Country: Barbados/Jamaica
Type: Blended Rum
ABV: 47%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 3700597308189
Serving suggestion: In a Daiquiri or other classic cocktail

Flavour profile

Fresh · Fruity · Funky · Clean · Dry

Did you know?

Veritas deliberately combines two entirely different Jamaican and Barbadian rum styles in one bottle, where Foursquare's softness tames Hampden's raw funk without the rum losing its identity, a balancing act Velier underlines with the name Veritas, Latin for "truth".

See our full range of Velier

Hampden is where Jamaican rum pulls no punches – wild fermentation, copper pot stills and a funk that can't be mistaken for anything else.

Expert description

Hampden Estate 8 Year is a Pure Single Jamaican Rum distilled on pot still and bottled at 46%.

The rum comes from Hampden Estate in Trelawny, Jamaica, a distillery with roots dating back to 1753, known for its traditional high-ester production method using wild fermentation and nothing but its own spring water added. The rum is tropically matured for at least 8 years right at the distillery, with no added sugar or other additives, giving it the raw, intense character that has become a Hampden trademark.

Tasting notes

Nose

Flambéed banana and caramelised mango followed by petrol-like and milky notes, underpinned by green bananas, apples and lightly fermented pineapple.

Palate

Dry and full-bodied with old wood, tropical fruit and resin, carried by a funky, ester-driven character from traditional pot still distillation.

Finish

Smoky and lightly salty with spice and dried fruit, where the tannins add extra substance.

Specifications

Distillery: Hampden Estate
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Rum
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Pot still
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 3700597351307
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass or a tiki cocktail

Flavour profile

Funky · Tropical Fruit · Smoky · Dry · Intense

Did you know?

Hampden Estate measures its rums by ester content, a unit for the aromatic compounds that give the signature funk, and the distillery's styles can reach ester levels among the highest in the entire rum world.

See our full range of Hampden Estate

A glass comes included in the box. A small detail, but it means the bottle is ready to be given away the same evening it is opened.

Expert description

Dictador 10 Years is a Rum from Colombia, matured using the solera method in used oak casks and bottled at 40%, here in a gift set with a glass.

The rum is made from a blend of molasses and sugar cane, distilled in steel columns and matured through the solera system, where rum from different casks and vintages is blended in stages. Behind the bottle stands Destilería Colombiana in Cartagena, founded in 1913 with over a hundred years of experience producing rum. The gift set comes with a single glass, so the bottle is ready to be enjoyed or given away right away.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft caramel, honey, dried fruit, roasted coffee and oak.

Palate

Round and creamy, with caramel, cocoa, honey, coffee and oak in a complex whole.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering sweetness.

Region/Country: Colombia
Type: Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used oak casks, solera method

Flavour profile

Round · Creamy · Sweet · Complex

Did you know?

The solera method Dictador uses to mature its rum originally comes from sherry production in Spain and was later carried over to rum and brandy production in Latin America.

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Over a hundred years of history and a rum filtered completely pale despite its long maturation. That is Dictador's signature.

Expert description

Dictador Claro is a Rum from Colombia, matured 100 months using the solera method in used oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is made from pure sugar cane juice and matured for more than 8 years, after which it is filtered so it appears clear and pale despite the long maturation. Behind the rum stands Destilería Colombiana in Cartagena, founded in 1913 by Don Julio Arangoy Parra, with over a hundred years of experience producing rum in a tropical climate with high-grade sugar cane.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and clean, with a hint of sweetness and tropical fruit.

Palate

Soft and round, with a delicate sweetness despite the long maturation.

Finish

Short and refreshing, without heavy oak.

Region/Country: Colombia
Type: Rum
Age: 100 months
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used oak casks, solera method
EAN no.: 7707284029255
Serving suggestion: Neat or in light cocktails

Flavour profile

Light · Clean · Soft · Tropical

Did you know?

Dictador is named in memory of Cartagena's founder and is still produced in the same city, where the Destilería Colombiana distillery was founded in 1913.

See our full range of Dictador

A symphony of tropical spices melts together with the aged rum in this darker edition of the Old J range, where salted caramel and vanilla take the lead roles.

Expert Description

Admiral's Old J Spiced Dark English Rum is a Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink from the United Kingdom, bottled at 40%.

The rum combines a symphony of tropical spices with the smooth, aged rum base, resulting in a well-balanced drink with both sweetness and warmth. This darker edition of the Old J range emphasises salted caramel and a deeper vanilla character, combined with cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of citrus.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A blast of vanilla and lime.

Palate

Well-rounded spice and toffee, cut through with limey freshness, with rich and smooth buttery salted caramel and pronounced vanilla tones.

Finish

Sweet, smooth vanilla that gradually gives way to salted caramel.

Specifications

Name: Admiral's Old J Spiced Dark English Rum
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5031992001756
Serving suggestion: Enjoy over ice with cola, ginger beer and lime

Bottler: Old J

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Caramel · Vanilla · Dark · Full-bodied

Did You Know?

The Dark edition of Old J differs from the other ranges through a more pronounced caramel character, which has made it a popular base for darker, more autumnal cocktails.

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Pot-still-distilled Caribbean rum is matured for 12-24 months in oak casks, before being blended with a special spice mix in this golden edition of the Old J range.

Expert Description

Admiral's Old J Spiced Gold Rum is a Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink from the United Kingdom, bottled at 40%.

The rum is crafted in small batches from pot-still-distilled Caribbean rum, matured for 12-24 months in oak casks before being blended with a selected spice mix. This award-winning, golden edition of the Old J range is sweet with pronounced notes of toffee and lime, making it an accessible yet characterful spiced rum.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Full-bodied aroma with a prominent vanilla character.

Palate

Lime cordial, vanilla, fudge and toffee with cinnamon and nutmeg, where buttery toffee popcorn and cinnamon spice join burnt toffee, black pepper, star anise and a hint of oak.

Finish

Smooth and long.

Specifications

Name: Admiral's Old J Spiced Gold Rum
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks, matured 12-24 months
Distillation method: Pot still
EAN no.: 5033931602154
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat or with cola and ginger beer

Bottler: Old J

Flavour Profile

Spicy · Toffee · Lime · Vanilla · Sweet

Did You Know?

Old J Spiced Gold has won several awards at international spirits competitions and is often highlighted as one of the most well-balanced spiced rums in its category.

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11 different spices and a strength of 75.5% make this overproof edition the most intense member of the Old J range, crafted to bring both fire and depth to tiki cocktails.

Expert Description

Admiral's Old J Overproof Tiki-Fire Spiced Rum is an Overproof Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink from the United Kingdom, bottled at 75.5%.

The rum is built on the same Caribbean base as the rest of the Old J range, but is spiced with 11 different spices and bottled at a significantly higher strength. The name "Tiki-Fire" refers directly to its role as a powerful ingredient in tiki cocktails, where it can be flambéed or used to add extra fire and intensity to the drink.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pleasant and intense, with vanilla and a hint of lime peel as central elements.

Palate

Extremely rich and well-balanced, with plenty of vanilla and lime combined with the 11 spices, together creating a deep, complex profile.

Finish

Rich and smooth with a light spiced warmth that gradually fades.

Specifications

Name: Admiral's Old J Overproof Tiki-Fire Spiced Rum
Region/Country: United Kingdom
Type: Overproof Spiced Rum-based Spirit Drink
ABV: 75.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5031992080003
Serving suggestion: Use in tiki cocktails or for flambéing

Bottler: Old J

Flavour Profile

Cask Strength · Spicy · Vanilla · Lime · Intense

Did You Know?

The name "Tiki-Fire" alludes to the fact that the rum's high strength makes it suitable for being ignited atop a cocktail, a classic tiki bar effect that provides both visual drama and a caramelised aroma.

See our full range of Rum