Sixteen years in ex-bourbon casks, cask strength, no chill filtration, no added colour. Rum Nation's Rare Rums series is about showing the rum completely unfiltered.

Expert description

Rum Nation Rare Rums Foursquare 2008/2024 is a Rum from Barbados, distilled at the Foursquare distillery, matured 16 years in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at natural cask strength 56%.

The rum comes from the Foursquare distillery in Barbados, one of Caribbean rum's most respected producers, and is bottled by Italian independent bottler Rum Nation under their Rare Rums series. Without chill filtration or added colour, the bottle shows the distillate's pure character after 16 years of maturation, with the full intensity of the cask strength preserved.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted oak, vanilla custard and dried tropical fruit, with dark chocolate, baking spice and a hint of leather.

Palate

Powerful and complex, with the same oak-driven depth as the nose, supported by the high strength.

Finish

Long and warming, with lingering dark honey, dried fruit, subtle oak tannins and a pleasant spicy afterglow.

Distillery: Foursquare
Bottler: Rum Nation
Region/Country: Barbados
Type: Rum
Age: 16 years
ABV: 56%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2024
EAN no.: 5740030100428
Serving suggestion: Neat, optionally with a few drops of water

Flavour profile

Powerful · Oak-driven · Spiced · Full-bodied

Investment potential

Medium. The Foursquare distillery enjoys great regard among rum enthusiasts, and a cask-strength, non-chill-filtered edition from Rum Nation's Rare Rums series attracts collectors of serious, unpolished Barbados rum.

Did you know?

The Foursquare distillery in Barbados is known for its Exceptional Cask Series and is regarded by many rum connoisseurs as one of the world's most technically skilled rum producers.

See our full range of Rum Nation

From Guyana's famous Demerara river comes this solera blend, where pot still richness and the lightness of column distillation unite in a single bottle.

Expert Description

Rum Nation Solera No 14 Demerara is a Guyana Rum aged via the solera method, bottled at 40%.

The rum is selected and bottled by the Italian bottling house Rum Nation and is a skilled blend of different vintages from both pot still, which gives richness, and column distillation, which contributes a lighter, crisper foundation. The main ageing takes place in ex-bourbon casks for a creamy sweetness, after which the blend is finished for 12 months in fresh sherry butts, both Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso, which reinforces the spiced character. A small proportion of very old Enmore rum is added at the end for further complexity and dark character.

The result is a smooth, aromatic rum, where vanilla and tropical fruit meet caramel and a light peppery finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, tropical fruit, prune and marzipan.

Palate

Intense with caramel, coffee and spice.

Finish

Medium length with a hint of burnt wood.

Specifications

Name: Rum Nation Solera No 14 Demerara
Bottler: Rum Nation
Region/Country: Guyana
Type: Guyana Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 35 CL
EAN No.: 5714772001527
Distillation Method: Pot Still and Column Distillation
Serving Suggestion: Neat or in a classic rum cocktail

Flavour Profile

Smooth · Aromatic · Spiced · Complex · Dark

Did You Know?

A small proportion of the rare Enmore rum, named after one of Guyana's most historic distillation methods, is added to the blend to give it extra depth and dark character.

See our full range of Rum Nation

The fifth and, so far, final numbered batch in this season's Halloween series - a fitting close to Whisky.dk's dark theme for the year.

Expert Description

Rum XO Halloween 15 Year Batch No. 5 is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a seasonal limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk for Halloween, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Batch No. 5 is the fifth and latest batch in the series, returning to the shorter name Halloween after the Trick or Treat variation in Batch No. 4.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Halloween Batch No. 5
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 5
Serving Suggestion: Neat or for Halloween parties

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

With five batches in one season, this is the most extensive Halloween series Whisky.dk has released in the blended rum category to date.

Whisky.dk's Halloween series starts here, with Batch No. 1 - the first in a line of the season's dark, spooky-inspired rum releases.

Expert Description

Rum XO Happy Halloween 15 Year Batch No. 1 is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a seasonal limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk for Halloween, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Batch No. 1 is the first release in a series, where each batch carries its own number and its own dark, Halloween-inspired label.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Happy Halloween Batch No. 1
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 1
Serving Suggestion: Neat or for Halloween parties

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

Rum XO Happy Halloween is the first in a whole series of Halloween-themed releases from Whisky.dk, where each batch is numbered to mark a new phase of the spooky season.

After Batch No. 1 came Batch No. 2 - same dark theme, same long ageing, but from a new cask with its own character.

Expert Description

Rum XO Happy Halloween 15 Year Batch No. 2 is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a seasonal limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk for Halloween, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Batch No. 2 is the second release in the series and originates from a different batch than No. 1, giving it its own nuance within the same base profile.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Happy Halloween Batch No. 2
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 2
Serving Suggestion: Neat or for Halloween parties

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

Although Batch No. 1 and No. 2 share the same base recipe, they come from separate batches, meaning no two of the numbered Halloween batches taste completely alike.

Third time, third cask. Batch No. 3 continues Whisky.dk's Halloween tradition with yet another numbered release from the spooky season.

Expert Description

Rum XO Happy Halloween 15 Year Batch No. 3 is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a seasonal limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk for Halloween, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Batch No. 3 is the third release in the series and originates from its own batch, giving it a slightly different nuance from the two preceding batches.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Happy Halloween Batch No. 3
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 3
Serving Suggestion: Neat or for Halloween parties

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

With three batches released in the same season, the Halloween series has become one of Whisky.dk's most developed recurring in-house releases within blended rum.

With Batch No. 4, Whisky.dk's Halloween series changes its name to Trick or Treat - same base recipe, but a new label that leans even further into the season's spooky theme.

Expert Description

Rum XO Trick or Treat 15 Year Batch No. 4 is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a seasonal limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk for Halloween, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Batch No. 4 is the fourth batch in the ongoing Halloween series and is released under the name Trick or Treat, a variation marking the midpoint transition in the season's releases.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Trick or Treat Batch No. 4
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Batch No. 4
Serving Suggestion: Neat or for Halloween parties

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

Batch No. 4 is the first in the series to carry the name Trick or Treat instead of Happy Halloween, marking a slight variation in theme midway through the release lineup.

Not all of Whisky.dk's numbered rum releases follow a fixed theme. Trumpet stands apart from the Halloween and Valentine's seasons with its own, more open name.

Expert Description

Rum XO Trumpet 15 Year is a Blended Caribbean Rum, aged 15 years and bottled at 40%.

The rum is a limited edition sold exclusively by Whisky.dk, composed of blended rum from the Caribbean aged for 15 years. Unlike the seasonal Halloween and Valentine's releases, Trumpet does not carry a fixed recurring theme, but stands as an independent release within the same XO series of numbered rums.

The result is a full-bodied, mature rum, where 15 years of ageing brings depth and character to the blended base.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Mature, tropical notes and light oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and rounded with caramel and spice.

Finish

Warm and medium-length.

Specifications

Name: Rum XO Trumpet
Bottler: Whisky.dk
Region/Country: Caribbean
Type: Blended Caribbean Rum
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Serving Suggestion: Neat or as a cocktail base

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Mature · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

Rum XO Trumpet is one of the few releases in Whisky.dk's XO series not tied to a specific holiday or occasion, standing instead as an independent part of the range.

The name comes from a 350 year old word for rum, and the bottle looks pulled straight out of Professor Cornelius Ampleforth's own laboratory.

Expert description

Rumbullion XO 15 Year Professor Cornelius Ampleforth Rum is an English spiced Rum, blended from Caribbean rums aged up to 15 years and bottled at 46.2%.

Behind the eccentric name stands Ableforth's, an English spirits house founded in 2011, which blends the aged rums with Madagascan vanilla, orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. The XO expression builds on the original Rumbullion, using older, more complex rums at its core and a higher strength, giving it more weight and spice depth than the standard release.

Tasting notes

Nose

Unusual and inviting with apricot, orange and vanilla, complemented by tropical notes of banana and mango.

Palate

Spicy character with pronounced vanilla and orange peel, where cinnamon, cloves and cardamom create a complex, harmonious whole with a hint of wood.

Finish

Medium length with marmalade-like orange, vanilla and light wood.

Specifications

Bottler: Ableforth's
Region/Country: Caribbean / England
Type: Spiced Rum
Age: 15 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 50 CL
Edition: XO
EAN no.: 5052598054151
Serving suggestion: In a tulip glass or as a Rumbullion Hot Toddy

Flavour profile

Spiced · Vanilla · Orange · Complex · Warming

Did you know?

The word "rumbullion" is an old English slang term for uproar and commotion, already used on Barbados in 1651 as one of the earliest names for rum itself – long before the word "rum" caught on.

See our full range of Rumbullion

Picture a street in Mexico, where horchata is sold ice-cold from big glass jars - rice, cinnamon and sugar stirred together into something creamy and cool. Carry that feeling all the way to Wisconsin, where dairy cattle stand shoulder to shoulder and cream is the state's pride. Mix the two with rum from the Caribbean, and you're roughly where RumChata was born.

Expert description

RumChata Liqueur is an American Cream liqueur based on rum, made with Caribbean rum and fresh Wisconsin cream, bottled at 15%.

The idea came from Tom Maas, who had spent many years in the spirits industry, including at Jim Beam. He came across horchata, the creamy, cinnamon-driven drink found across much of Latin America, and built a liqueur around it. The result began rolling out of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in 2009. The rum base is distilled five times and chosen to be light and smooth rather than heavy and molasses-like. It's homogenised together with real dairy cream so it won't separate, and spiced with vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and the house's own blend. The label states 38% rum and 22% cream in the finished liqueur. The bottling is imported into Europe by Mack & Schühle AG in Germany.

Taste

The nose offers warm cinnamon, almost bakery-like, with vanilla, condensed milk and a hint of ripe banana behind it, while the rum stays discreetly in the background. On the palate, RumChata Liqueur is soft and full without becoming heavy - cinnamon spreads immediately, followed by cream caramel, vanilla and a light sweetness, while the finish is creamy with a warm, spiced close where the rum finally steps forward.

Specifications

Name: RumChata Liqueur
Producer: RumChata (Tom Maas)
Region/Country: Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Type: Cream liqueur based on rum
Main ingredients: Caribbean rum, dairy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar
ABV: 15%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4260240370332
Shelf life after opening: About 6 months according to the producer, store at room temperature
Allergens: Milk and soy, may contain traces of gluten and egg
Serving suggestion: A splash in coffee or hot chocolate - also works as a cream substitute in a White Russian, Espresso Martini or Piña Colada

Flavour profile

Cinnamon-sweet · Creamy · Vanilla-forward · Rum-warm

Did you know?

In the US, RumChata quickly grew to become the second best-selling cream liqueur after Baileys, and the bottle can be stored in the kitchen cupboard instead of the fridge because the cream is homogenised.

See our full range of Liqueur

Morten Sørensen founded Rumish in 2018 with one goal: to recreate rum's rich flavour entirely without alcohol. Caribbean Spiced Spirit is the house's take on a spiced rum for those skipping the alcohol.

Expert Description

Ish Caribbean Spiced Spirit is a Danish Alcohol-Free Rum, bottled at 0%.

The drink comes from Rumish, the Danish company founded by Morten Sørensen in 2018 with the goal of creating alcohol-free alternatives to classic spirits such as rum and gin. Caribbean Spiced Spirit is designed to deliver the rich, complex flavour expected of a traditional spiced rum, but entirely without the alcohol. The product is aimed at anyone wanting rum's flavour experience in cocktails or neat, without the alcohol content.

The result is a warm, spiced drink, where cinnamon and nutmeg meet a lightly toasted, caramel-like finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Warm spices, sweet vanilla and deep caramel notes.

Palate

Cinnamon, nutmeg and a sun-ripened sweetness.

Finish

Lightly toasted with lingering spice.

Specifications

Name: Ish Caribbean Spiced Spirit
Distillery: Rumish
Region/Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Alcohol-Free Rum
ABV: 0%
Size: 50 CL
EAN No.: 5700002152664
Serving Suggestion: Neat over ice or in alcohol-free cocktails

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sweet · Toasted · Alcohol-Free

Did You Know?

Rumish was founded in 2018 and was among the first Danish producers to focus specifically on alcohol-free alternatives to traditional rum, not just a general alcohol-free spirit.

See our full range of Rumish

Twelve years in tropical heat does something entirely different to a cask than twelve years in a Scottish warehouse.

Expert description

Saint James 12 Year Agricole is an AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole, matured for at least 12 years in oak casks and bottled at 43%.

The long ageing in Martinique's tropical climate gives the rum a deep mahogany colour and a pronounced wood character, where notes of undergrowth and toasting gradually give way to softer cinnamon and prune notes. Because evaporation, the so-called "angels' share", happens far faster in the tropics than in temperate climates, a 12 year old Martinique rum achieves a cask influence that would take significantly longer in a colder climate.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dominant woody tones with dried prunes, dried fruit and nutmeg, complemented by vanilla and toasted oak.

Palate

Sweet vanilla and prunes followed by toasted almonds and walnuts, in a juicy, not-too-sweet parade of dried fruit, raisins, grapes, guava and ripe apples.

Finish

Full-bodied with melted, complex tannins and a closing roasted note.

Specifications

Distillery: Saint James
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak
EAN no.: 3322177127029
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Woody · Prune · Nutmeg · Full-bodied · Complex

Did you know?

Because evaporation from the casks happens far faster in Martinique's tropical heat than in a colder climate, 12 years of ageing here corresponds to a far more intense cask influence than the same number of years would give in, say, Scotland.

See our full range of Saint James

Fifteen years in a cask can turn a rum into something close to a meditation object – this is Saint James' answer to exactly that.

Expert description

Saint James 15 Year Agricole is an AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole, matured for at least 15 years in heavily toasted oak casks and bottled at 43%.

Fifteen years is the longest standard maturation in Saint James' age range, and the heavy toasting of the casks gives the rum a depth and complexity that puts it on par with the house's most ambitious releases. Where the 7 and 12 year expressions still carry a certain fruit-driven lightness, the 15 year is darker and more introspective in style.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intense with woody and toasted tones, precious wood, spice, tobacco and cooked fruit, complemented by a hint of menthol.

Palate

Elegant complexity with a mocha-tinged finish, where old cask dominates while fruit and menthol restore the balance.

Finish

Very long and persistent with a high degree of refinement.

Specifications

Distillery: Saint James
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique
Age: 15 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Heavily Toasted Oak
EAN no.: 3322177157026
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass as a digestif

Flavour profile

Toasted · Tobacco · Complex · Mocha · Refined

Did you know?

The 15 year expression is the oldest fixed release in Saint James' core range, and the heavy toasting of the casks is a deliberate technique meant to give the rum extra depth after so many years of ageing in the warm climate.

See our full range of Saint James

Some rums taste of sugarcane. This one tastes more of an old French wine cellar.

Expert description

Saint James 7 Year Agricole is an AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole, matured for at least 7 years in oak casks and bottled at 43%.

The rum is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice at the Saint James distillery in Sainte-Marie and then aged for seven years, giving it an unusual Cognac-like character rather than the greener, grassier expression many younger agricole rums show. The cask ageing adds dried fruit and a light "rancio" note more commonly associated with old grape brandies than rum.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fruity with pineapple, melon and red apple, complemented by peaches in syrup, light anise, yoghurt, coffee grounds, honey and vanilla, with a hint of cinnamon.

Palate

Vanilla, allspice, ginger and lemon alternate, backed by dried fruit notes and cane sugar reminiscent of Martinique's AOC style.

Finish

Balanced and light, with a Cognac-like softness that lingers.

Specifications

Distillery: Saint James
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique
Age: 7 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak
EAN no.: 3322177077027
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Spiced · Dried Fruit · Elegant

Did you know?

Several reviewers have described Saint James 7 Year as behaving more like a Cognac than a traditional Caribbean rum, precisely because of the pronounced dried fruit and rancio character from the cask ageing.

See our full range of Saint James

Straw yellow, light and carrying the freshness found only in rum pressed from pure cane juice – Saint James has made it this way since 1765.

Expert description

Saint James Straw Pale Agricole is an AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole, briefly matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

Straw Pale ("Paille" in French) is named after the straw-yellow colour the rum takes on after around two months in oak casks – short enough to preserve the sugarcane's fresh, grassy character, but long enough to add a hint of vanilla and spice. The Saint James distillery in Sainte-Marie is one of the oldest rhum agricole producers on Martinique and has kept its original name unbroken since its founding.

Tasting notes

Nose

Round, refined and delicate with well-developed notes of dried fruit, honey and liquorice, combined with vanilla and a light touch of wood.

Palate

Well balanced with woody tones and a pleasant, lingering aroma, where apple and honey continue from the nose alongside a fresh, grassy agricole character.

Finish

Light and short with a fresh, grassy impression.

Specifications

Distillery: Saint James
Region/Country: Martinique
Type: Rhum Agricole AOC Martinique
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak
Edition: Straw Pale
EAN no.: 3147699102701
Serving suggestion: Served chilled as an aperitif or in a Ti' Punch

Flavour profile

Fresh · Grassy · Honey · Light · Floral

Did you know?

Saint James was founded in 1765 and is one of the oldest rhum brands on Martinique to have continuously kept its original name since it began.

See our full range of Saint James

See our full range of Rhum Agricole

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.

See our full range of Saint James

On 31 July 1970, British sailors received their very last daily rum ration - the day since known as "the Black Tot Day". This tasting sample comes from precisely that era.

Expert Description

Sample 3 cl B.R.N (British Royal Navy) One Imperial Gallon is a dark Navy Rum from an unknown distillery, likely around 57.15% strength, drawn from an original gallon bottle from around 1970.

The rum comes from one of the original gallon bottles (One Imperial Gallon, equal to 4.54 litres) shipped aboard the British Navy for sailors' daily "Tot of Rum". When the Navy stopped issuing rations in 1970, surplus stocks were recalled and stored - some bottles only resurfaced much later, some sold at auction to a retired naval captain. The bottles were packed in protective wickerwork ("demijohns") and sealed with wax, exactly as they left the factory. It is believed the contents come from Pusser's Navy Strength.

The tradition of rum issue in the British Navy dates back to the capture of Jamaica in 1655. British spirits writer Dave Broom has described how "navy rum" evolved from a raw, powerful spirit into a distinct rum style with its own character, largely thanks to traders like James Man of Deptford, who became the Navy's sole supplier.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Powerful, dark and molasses-heavy with a hint of age.

Palate

Raw and intense, true to the classic navy style.

Finish

Long and warm.

Specifications

Name: Sample B.R.N (British Royal Navy) One Imperial Gallon
Distillery: Unknown, likely Pusser's
Type: Dark Navy Rum
ABV: Approx. 57.15%
Size: 3 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat for tasting

Flavour Profile

Powerful · Molasses · Historic · Raw

Investment Potential

High - full gallon bottles of this type are extremely rare and sought after by collectors, and even a small tasting sample offers access to a rum that is largely unavailable elsewhere.

Did You Know?

On 31 July 1970 - known as "the Black Tot Day" - British sailors received their last ever daily rum ration, bringing an end to a tradition that had stood since 1655.

See our full range of Rum

Sixteen years in Scotland after distillation in Jamaica – a journey that gives the rum an entirely distinctive, funky character.

Expert description

Sample 3 cl Long Pond Distillery 2000/2016 Silver Seal 16 Year is a Jamaica Rum distilled at the Long Pond distillery in 2000, bottled by the Italian bottler Silver Seal in 2016 and released at 51% in a small 3 cl sample format.

Because the rum spent all 16 years maturing in Scotland's temperate climate after being shipped from Jamaica, it develops a different, more restrained cask influence than rum matured entirely in the tropics. Long Pond is known for its "funky", ester-rich style, and the long maturation gives this particular release a complexity that draws on the best of both climates.

Tasting notes

Nose

Banana, papaya and lemon with a tangy ester character and a syrupy sweetness.

Palate

Spiced with cumin, bacon, clove and ester, complemented by a touch of molasses.

Finish

Funky with nutmeg and a metallic undertone.

Specifications

Distillery: Long Pond Distillery
Bottler: Silver Seal
Region/Country: Jamaica
Type: Rum
Age: 16 years
ABV: 51%
Size: 3 CL
Distilled: 2000
Bottled: 2016
Serving suggestion: In a snifter glass at room temperature

Flavour profile

Ester-rich · Funky · Spiced · Fruity · Intense

Did you know?

Long Pond is one of the only distilleries in the world still producing ultra-ester-rich "funky" Jamaican rum using traditional methods, where long fermentation times create aromas many other distilleries gave up trying to replicate long ago.

See our full range of Jamaican Rum

Volbeat XXV Rum Limited Edition Premium Rum 43%

Volbeat XXV Rum Limited Edition marks a 25-year anniversary that is not just celebrated - it is immortalised. This rum was created as a distillate of the band's energy, attitude and history, and the result is a dark, golden and uncompromising release, only found in 2,300 individually numbered bottles. Once they are gone, they are gone, and previous anniversary editions have shown that Volbeat fans do not wait. This bottle is therefore already a sought-after collector's item, packaged in a black and gold gift box with clear Volbeat identity and details that speak directly to those who want to own a piece of the band's universe. It is a rum for collectors, for gift-givers with an edge, and for anyone who knows that the most interesting limited editions disappear while others are still deciding.

The rum is created as a premium blend of four distinctive rums that together provide depth, warmth and power. Three of the components come from Guyana, distilled between 2001 and 2014, delivering the dark base, molasses, spice, body and the characteristic sweetness Guyana is known for. The fourth component is a Jamaican pot still rum from 2015, adding fruity energy, an aromatic edge and a raw tropical kick. The combination gives a rum with massive volume, warmth and intensity - exactly the expression you would expect from an anniversary rum carrying Volbeat's name.

Volbeat XXV is blended at The Main Rum Company Limited in Liverpool by Master Blender Ian Smith, and Michael Poulsen has himself been involved in shaping the rum's expression. This means the rum is not just a product with a Volbeat logo, but part of the band's creative universe. It comes across dark, distinctive and original, with an attitude matching the music and the history behind it.

The flavour profile is deep and intense with notes of overripe tropical fruit, dark molasses, demerara sugar, warm spices, oak and cocoa. On the palate it is full-bodied, warm and lively with a syrupy sweetness, tropical nuances, a spiced edge and a long, warm finish that lingers and develops. It is a rum that can be enjoyed slowly, shared with fellow fans, or kept as a collector's item that only becomes more interesting with time.

Volbeat XXV Rum Limited Edition is created for those who want a rum with darkness, depth and power - and at the same time own a piece of Volbeat's 25-year history.

A rum created for collectors, enthusiasts and Volbeat fans wanting a mature, classic and characterful Guyana rum with a unique touch.

The name means "the most holy trinity", and there is something near reverent about the calm this 15-year-old Cuban rum radiates.

Expert description

Santisima Trinidad de Cuba 15 Year is a Cuban Rum, matured for 15 years and bottled at 40.7%.

The rum comes from the Spanish Destilerias MG, who produce Santisima Trinidad in traditional Cuban style, named after the city of Trinidad on Cuba's southern coast. The 15-year expression is the house's most matured release and builds on the classic Cuban philosophy of softness and round, complex notes rather than dryness and spice, where the long maturation gives a deeper, more complex profile than the younger editions.

Tasting notes

Nose

Delicate aromas of vanilla, caramel, light tobacco and soft spices, with woody, toasted notes and dried fruit.

Palate

Rich and creamy, with sweetness balanced by a light bitterness, almond and walnut.

Finish

Long and warming with balsamic notes, almond, walnut and vanilla.

Bottler: Destilerias MG
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Cuban Rum
Age: 15 years
ABV: 40.7%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8500004250460
Serving suggestion: Neat or with a cigar

Flavour profile

Creamy · Nutty · Spiced · Full-bodied

Did you know?

The city of Trinidad, after which the rum is named, is one of Cuba's best-preserved colonial towns and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting the same respect for tradition found in the bottle's contents.

See our full range of rum from Cuba

Trinidad, the colonial town centre in central Cuba with its cobbled streets and pastel-coloured houses, lends its name to this youthful, approachable Cuban rum.

Expert Description

Santisima Trinidad de Cuba 3 Year is a Cuba Rum from Destilerias MG, aged 3 years in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The rum is part of the Santisima Trinidad range, named after the town of Trinidad in Cuba, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture. The range is produced by Destilerias MG, and the 3-year edition is the house's most approachable and youthful rum, made to be easy to drink without compromising on the classic Cuban rum character.

The result is a soft, rounded rum with pronounced vanilla and almond, showing the cask's influence despite the relatively short ageing time.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Oak, burnt sugar and caramel, with raisin and almond.

Palate

Sugar cane in harmony with woody tones, supported by almond, vanilla and a touch of dried plum.

Finish

Soft and clean, with a lingering light sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Santisima Trinidad de Cuba 3 Year
Distillery: Destilerias MG
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Rum
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Oak casks
Serving Suggestion: Neat, over ice, or in a Cuba Libre

Flavour Profile

Vanilla-forward · Soft · Light · Caramel-forward · Round

Did You Know?

The town of Trinidad in Cuba, after which the rum is named, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cobbled streets and Spanish colonial buildings, largely unchanged since the 16th century.

See our full range of Santisima Trinidad

If the 15-year is the reflective older sibling, the 7-year is the more everyday-friendly edition of Santisima Trinidad, still carrying the same Cuban calm.

Expert description

Santisima Trinidad de Cuba 7 Year is a Cuban Rum, matured for 7 years and bottled at 40.3%.

The rum comes from the Spanish Destilerias MG, who produce Santisima Trinidad in traditional Cuban style, named after the city of Trinidad on Cuba's southern coast. The 7-year is the house's younger, more approachable release, still built on the classic Cuban philosophy of softness and round, complex notes, just with a lighter and more direct profile than the older 15-year edition.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla, caramel and light tobacco, with soft spices and a hint of dried fruit.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet, with mild bitterness balanced by almond and a creamy texture.

Finish

Softly warming, with balsamic notes and a light vanilla sweetness.

Bottler: Destilerias MG
Region/Country: Cuba
Type: Cuban Rum
Age: 7 years
ABV: 40.3%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 8500004250453
Serving suggestion: Neat or on the rocks

Flavour profile

Creamy · Round · Sweet · Light

Did you know?

Although the 7-year is the house's younger expression, it builds on the same philosophy and recipe as the more matured 15-year edition, just with less time to develop the deeper, woody notes.

See our full range of rum from Cuba

Named after a Brazilian aviation pioneer, Santos Dumont Heritage unites molasses rum from several continents with cachaça from the home country in one ambitious bottle.

Expert Description

Santos Dumont Heritage Hors d'Age is a Brazil Rum, a blend assembled by Santos Dumont Spirits and bottled at 43.8%.

The master blender behind the bottle combines molasses-based rum from the West Indies, Brazil and Central America with cachaça from Brazil, distilled from fresh sugar cane juice. The brand is named after Santos Dumont, the Brazilian-born aviation pioneer who became famous in the early 1900s for his early flying machines, and the Heritage edition is the house's most ambitious take on how rum and cachaça can be united in one complex blend.

The result is a sweet, earthy rum with depth from tobacco, leather and tropical fruit.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apricot, tobacco and leather, with vanilla and coconut.

Palate

Citrus fruit and apricot, with sweet undertones of cocoa and Demerara sugar.

Finish

Long and tropical, with coconut, cocoa and a lingering tobacco note.

Specifications

Name: Santos Dumont Heritage Hors d'Age
Distillery: Santos Dumont Spirits
Region/Country: Brazil
Type: Rum
ABV: 43.8%
Size: 70 CL
Serving Suggestion: Neat at room temperature or as a digestif

Flavour Profile

Earthy · Sweet · Tobacco-forward · Tropical · Complex

Did You Know?

Alberto Santos Dumont, the man behind the brand's name, was one of the very first people to publicly fly a motorised aircraft in Europe, and he funded his early experiments with a fortune built on his family's Brazilian coffee plantations.

See our full range of Santos Dumont

On the Cabangu plantation in Minas Gerais the sugar cane stood tall while a boy looked up at the sky and thought about flying.

Alberto Santos Dumont ended up a pioneer in the air. Down on the ground, the sugar cane became something else entirely: a spirit that is allowed to take its time.

Expert description

Santos Dumont XO Brazil Spirit Drink is a Brazilian Rum-Based Spirit Drink aged in Bourbon casks, Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks and Port casks and bottled at 40%.

The base is Brazilian sugar cane, distilled on a copper pot still. The young distillate is then split across three cask types, each pulling the flavour in its own direction. The Bourbon cask gives vanilla and a dry peppery edge. The Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask lays down ripe fruit, honey and old oak. The Port cask rounds it all off with sweetness and a soft, wine-like character.

Finally, the master blender blends the three parts together, and the blend gets a final rest in a single hand-picked cask. It is that step which gives the bottle its own character rather than a uniform factory profile.

Note that it may not be called rum. It is classified as a Spirit Drink, and that is not a mistake or a shortcut, but a matter of regulation. As soon as anything is added, or the distillate does not meet the formal requirements for rum, the product falls into the Spirit Drink category. Many of the softest and most sweet-toned bottles on the shelf belong here.

The brand is owned by Old St. Croix Spirits, formerly A.H. Riise Spirits, based in Dragør. The name is a tribute to Alberto Santos Dumont, whose father ran the coffee and sugar cane plantation Cabangu in Minas Gerais.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Banana and coconut first, then ripe apricot and apricot kernel. Vanilla and a touch of honey hide underneath.

Palate

Soft tannins, distinct honey and a fruit sweetness that leans towards fermented fruit and dried figs. The port cask shows as a wine-like, almost syrupy roundness, while a hint of black pepper keeps the sweetness from running away.

Finish

Long and sweet with toffee and dark chocolate. Right at the end comes a dry oak note that tidies everything up.

Specifications

Name: Santos Dumont XO Brazil Spirit Drink
Distillery: Santos Dumont
Region/Country: Brazil
Type: Brazilian Rum-Based Spirit Drink
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks, Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks and Port casks
Distillation method: Copper Pot Still
Edition: XO
EAN no.: 5712421040002
Serving suggestion: Neat or over a single ice cube at 18-20 degrees

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Fruity · Sherry-matured · Port cask · Soft

Did You Know?

Alberto Santos Dumont asked Louis Cartier for a watch he could wear on his wrist while flying, because he could not fish his pocket watch out mid-air. That was the start of the wristwatch as we know it today.

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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.

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The 2008 vintage from Savanna's tropical cellar is a gourmet fusion of traditional Réunion rum, given ten years to find its full richness.

Expert Description

Savanna 10 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel Grand Millesime 2008 is a Rum from La Réunion, distilled in 2008, matured for 10 years and bottled at 43%.

The rum is a gourmet fusion of traditional rums from the 2008 vintage, matured at the heart of Savanna's tropical cellar on La Réunion. The ten years of maturation give the 2008 vintage a pronounced richness and complexity that sets it apart from the distillery's younger releases in the Traditionnel series.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Very pastry-like with a controlled balance of fruit and spice, rounded off with a vanilla sweetness.

Palate

True indulgence on the palate, with roundness and smoothness at the forefront.

Finish

Rather long, hovering between sweetness and finesse, with a light return of the spices.

Specifications

Name: Savanna 10 Year Rhum Vieux Traditionnel Grand Millesime 2008
Distillery: Savanna
Region/Country: La Réunion
Type: Rum
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 2008
Edition: Grand Millesime
EAN no.: 3760077780447
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat in a snifter glass

Distillery: Savanna

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Vanilla-forward · Spicy · Full-bodied · Elegant

Did You Know?

The term "Grand Millesime" refers to a specific vintage release, where Savanna highlights the character of a single distillation year rather than blending several vintages together, as the distillery does in its standard releases.

See our full range of Savanna Rum