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 close together and cream is the state's pride. Mix the two things with Caribbean Rum, and you are roughly where RumChata was born.
Expert description
RumChata Liqueur is an American Cream Liqueur made with Caribbean Rum and fresh cream from Wisconsin, bottled at 15%.
The idea came from Tom Maas, who had worked for 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 set out to build a liqueur around it. The result began rolling out from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, in 2009.
The rum base is distilled five times and chosen to be light and soft rather than heavy and molasses-like. It is homogenised together with real dairy cream so it does not 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, and it shows: the cream dominates the texture, but the rum sits clearly underneath.
The homogenisation also has a practical effect. The bottle can sit in the cupboard instead of the fridge, and after opening it keeps for around six months. Just keep it away from direct heat.
In the US, RumChata quickly grew to become the second best-selling Cream Liqueur after Baileys, and on the European side of the Atlantic it has only really come to the fore in recent years. This bottling is imported to Europe by Mack & Schühle AG in Germany.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Warm cinnamon first, distinct and almost bakery-like. Behind it lies vanilla, condensed milk and a touch of ripe banana. The rum stays discreetly in the background.
Palate
Soft and full-bodied without becoming heavy. The cinnamon spreads immediately, followed by cream caramel, vanilla and a little light chocolate. The sweetness is pronounced, but the rum cuts through and keeps it from turning sticky.
Finish
Medium-long and creamy. Cinnamon and vanilla linger, and finally a light warmth from the rum emerges.
Specifications
Name: RumChata Liqueur
Distillery: Agave Loco Brands
Region/Country: Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Type: Cream Liqueur With Caribbean Rum
ABV: 15%
Size: 70 CL
Distillation method: Five-times distilled rum base
EAN no.: 4260240370332
Serving suggestion: Over ice, in coffee or hot cocoa, or as a creamy base in cocktails like White Russian and Espresso Martini
Flavour Profile
Creamy · Sweet · Cinnamon · Vanilla · Rum-Based
Did You Know?
The name is a combination of the two things in the bottle: Rum and horchata. The Mexican original is non-alcoholic and typically made from rice, almonds or tiger nuts - it was only in Wisconsin that rum entered the equation.
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