Rum in the News
AMERICAN CANE
Last year, the rum world heard that Maggie Campbell had left Mount Gay where she worked on their in-house sugarcane project. We all wondered what was next. Then last October, a posting appeared on Instagram from American Cane: “American Cane, a rum company committed to celebrating and producing iconic American rum, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Maggie Campbell as its Chief Executive Officer. With a deep passion for the art of spirits and 18 years of experience in the Beverage Industry, Maggie is poised to lead American Cane in its mission to revitalize and redefine American rum.” Their website explains their mission: Rum’s history in America is a story that’s been whispered rather than shouted, tangled in forgotten fields, hidden in the shadows of prohibition, and nearly silenced by the louder spirits that came after. However, in Louisiana, where the Mississippi Delta meets centuries of cane-growing tradition, a new chapter is being written, one that honors the roots while daring to grow in new directions. This is a tale that begins not just with rum, but with the land itself. The fertile soil of Louisiana has been cultivated by generations of Americans, black, white, and indigenous, their knowledge and labor transforming the cane into an elixir. Yet, as time wore on, their names faded from the records, their contributions swallowed by the weight of history’s silence. Today, American Cane stands as a keeper of this legacy, a place where the true heritage of American rum is being revived.It will be interesting to see where Maggie Campbell and her co-founder Darin Vest take American Cane! https://www.americancane.com/
FRIENDS OF THE CABILDO 2025 RUM RENDEZVOUS
Friends of the Cabildo will host its third annual Rum Rendezvous Tasting, Wednesday, May 14, from 6-8 p.m. at Palace Café in New Orleans. Eight Louisiana based distillers, producers and blenders will take part in the tasting along with Garden & Gun cocktail writer Wayne Curtis and The Rum Wonk, Matt Pietrek. The 3rd annual tasting benefits the Friends of the Cabildo and its mission to support the Louisiana State Museum. Held inside the acclaimed Dickie Brennan’s Palace Café, food, oysters and libations will be flowing. Guests will be able to speak with producers and taste their rums along with an open bar as well. Eight Louisiana Distillers, producers and Louisiana based Rum Brands will be featured: Wildcat Brothers Distilling, Marsh House Rum, Myers’s Rum (Sazerac), Old Alker Distillery, Oxbow Rum Distillery, Atelier Vie Distillery, NOËL Family Distillery and New Orleans Distillery.
https://friendsofthecabildo.org
TORTUGA RUM COMPANY
and the FAIR WEATHER FOUNDATION
Tortuga Rum Company announced a new partnership with the Fair Weather Foundation, a Cayman-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving and celebrating the islands’ rich maritime history. Through this partnership, Tortuga will donate $1 for every bottle sold of its locally distilled rum in a special edition ship bottle, created in tribute to Cayman’s seafaring legacy. The initiative supports the Fair Weather Foundation’s efforts to restore the S.V. Fair Weather, the last known Caymanian-built wooden schooner still afloat, and bring her home to the Cayman Islands where she will be used as a historical/cultural vessel to educate future generations about the islands’ proud shipbuilding and maritime traditions. This announcement comes at a meaningful time, as Tortuga Rum Company’s distilleries at 7 Mile Shops and West Bay have recently reopened and are once again proudly producing local rum after a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public is invited to visit the distilleries for a complimentary tour, sample a selection of freshly crafted Tortuga rums, and purchase a bottle of the special edition ship bottle with each purchase directly supporting the Fair Weather Foundation’s work. “Tortuga has always celebrated the spirit of the Cayman Islands,” Eugene Nolan, CEO, Tortuga Rum Company, who recently visited the shipyard to experience first-hand the restoration project, said. “This partnership is a meaningful way for us to give back to our community and help keep our seafaring heritage alive. We’re honored to support the Fair Weather Foundation’s incredible work, especially at a time when we are proud to be distilling right here in Cayman again.” The special edition ship bottle is now available at Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits and Duty-Free locations across the Cayman Islands. “We’re thrilled to have Tortuga Rum Company onboard,” Paul Deegan, Co-Founder & Director, Fair Weather Foundation, said. “Their support is helping us bring Cayman’s maritime history to life for the next generation.” https://tortuga.ky/https://www.fairweather.ky
US SAILING and GOSLINGS
US Sailing, the national governing body of the sport of sailing, and Goslings Rum have renewed their successful partnership through the 2025 season. Goslings, Bermuda’s oldest company and largest exporter, will continue to serve as the Official Rum and Ginger Beer of US Sailing. The alignment will bring the popular mixed drink to on-water and shoreside events in support of sailors and sailing organizations in the United States. “US Sailing is thrilled to renew Goslings as one of our many trusted partners,” said Charlie Enright, CEO of US Sailing. “As a world-renowned brand, Goslings is synonymous with rich tradition, a storied past, and a high-quality product. We are proud to continue our relationship with them. Their range of premium rums and innovative recipes will impart a celebratory element to our events, our online engagement and it will enhance the beverage experience at all of US Sailing’s Adult Championships.” A family business for over 200 years, Goslings is the only company that blends and bottles rum on Bermuda. First exported to the United States in the 1980s, Goslings offers an award-winning portfolio, including the flagship Goslings Black Seal Rum and Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer. Both are key ingredients in Goslings’ trademarked cocktail, the Dark ‘n Stormy®, which appears like a storm cloud in a glass and, legend has it, was named by a sailor. “Goslings has long been intertwined with the sea and with the sport of sailing, from sponsoring iconic races like the America’s Cup and Newport Bermuda Race, to crafting our ocean-aged Goslings Spirited Seas Rum,” says Malcolm L. Gosling, eighth-generation rum maker and President of Goslings Export Bermuda. “We’re proud to support US Sailing athletes and honored to enhance the camaraderie and celebration at this year’s Adult Championships.”
www.ussailing.orghttps://goslings.com/
BACARDI
Just in time for summer, BACARDÍ®, is shaking up the flavored rum scene with the launch of BACARDÍ Passionfruit. Sweet, tangy, and irresistibly vibrant, this new launch blends the signature BACARDÍ white rum with bold passionfruit flavor. With tropical and citrus dominating flavored rum trends*, BACARDÍ Passionfruit delivers an enticing blend of refreshing fruitiness and bold character, perfectly suited for social occasions. The flavored rum category is on an upward trajectory, expected to grow significantly over the next five years, and BACARDÍ is committed to staying at the forefront of this momentum, introducing exciting, eye-catching innovations, to recruit new consumers and drive the category expansion. Tjalling Simoons, BACARDÍ Brand Director for Europe, comments on the launch: “At BACARDÍ, we’re always looking for new ways to bring bold, exciting flavors to our fans, and Passionfruit is the perfect fit. As the #1 rum brand in Europe, we know that consumers are looking for drinks that elevate their drinking experiences and match their evolving tastes. Passionfruit is already a top performer in cocktails, both at home and in bars, so we’re confident this vibrant new launch will excite rum lovers and invite new drinkers to explore delicious, tropical flavors.” BACARDÍ Passionfruit (70cl, 27% ABV) will launch in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Luxembourg throughout April and May 2025. https://www.bacardilimited.com/
NEW NORFOLK DISTILLERY
Rum in Tasmania? Can you imagine doing your weekly grocery shop and instead of using cash or credit card, you handed over a bottle of rum and went on your merry way? This was previously the case; when Tasmania was first settled, rum was currency and used broadly across the state. It was in 1808 that Governor Bligh (who you may know from the ‘mutiny on the bounty’ incident), outlawed spirits as currency in Australia and caused the infamous Rum Rebellion. Shortly thereafter, spirits production was banned in Tasmania and rum disappeared from the island. Fast forward 180 years, great whisky and gin are aplenty, but Tasmanian rum is still more difficult to find. As a spirited spirits enthusiast, it was over a glass of rum in a small Salamanca tavern that Tarrant Derksen realized there were no rum-dedicated distilleries in the state. Tarrant set about establishing New Norfolk Distillery, a family-owned and run business dedicated to nurturing and re-invigorating the love for rum in Australia. The distilling facility and cellar door is located within Willow Court, a former hospital and asylum complex of deep historical significance to the Derwent Valley region. Recently, three New Norfolk releases took the Top Award and Gold Medals in three separate rum styles at this year’s World Rum Awards. Their Near Horizon Spiced, which won a Gold in the Traditional Spiced Category, uses a combination of foraged native Australian botanicals and blends them with exotic Caribbean spices. The spirit base is created from sustainable Australian molasses that is fermented and double distilled at their distillery in Tasmania. New Norfolk’s Project Furiosa won a Gold Medal in the Contemporary & Botanical Category. It uses a handpicked blend of native botanicals: three different varieties of myrtles, strawberry gum, pepperberry and wattleseed. For the base they use a 100% Australian molasses, naturally fermented at the distillery over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. This is then double distilled in ‘Ripley’, their copper pot still, to create the wild cane spirit foundation of this release. Finally, their Drone Riot won a Gold Medal in the Sugarcane Spirit category. In the style of a Jamaican rum, this wildly fermented sugarcane spirit pushes the boundaries of flavor and funk. The recipe was left to naturally ferment at the distillery for up to 6 weeks, before double-distillation through their copper pot still.
https://www.newnorfolkdistillery.com/
BLACK TOT
Black Tot has unveiled a new recipe and design for its Finest Caribbean Rum. On Facebook, they stated; “Our new Black Tot Finest Caribbean brings layers of flavor, depth and complexity to create a rum which is even more perfect for sipping and of course mixing.” So, what makes it better? They have increased the percentage of Barbados in the blend, enhancing its flavors of tropical fruit and coconut, while the new addition of Trinidad brings flavors of stone fruit and vanilla to deliver bright, fruit-driven flavors with layers of complexity. The structure and body of the rum remains bold and complex with Guyana supporting with deep, rich notes of muscovado sugar, tonka bean and licorice, with Jamaica’s touch of funk. The vibrant blend of Barbados and Trinadad integrates harmoniously. The blend consists of 40% 5-year Barbados rum, 35% lighter column still rum, aged 2 -4 years from Trinidad, 20% pot & column still rum from Guyana, aged up to 5 years and 5% pot still rum from Jamaica, aged 3 years. Oliver Chilton, Elixir Distillers’ master blender, told Spirits Business ‘The new blend is an approachable all-rounder. We’ve layered Trinidad rum into our original blend, a softer, sweeter, and tropical fruit-driven blend, which makes our new Black Tot Finest Caribbean blend so versatile. Its depth of flavor is both for sipping and makes a strong base for building brilliant cocktails: we want to get more people into this incredible category.” https://blacktot.com/
ALAMBIQUE SERRANO
Last month, I wrote about Alambique Serrano’s release of their Vida Nativa series. Their next release will be 3 Años. This offering will be widely available rather than a limited release like the majority of the brand’s previous rums and will start hitting shelves and bars this month. Like all Alambique Serrano rums, 3 Añosstarts with cane juice harvested from the steep hillsides of the region that is naturally-fermented in steel and pine tanks with ambient yeast. It is a blend of 82% rum from their proprietary Krassel Still, aged 38 months in new French Oak and 12% copper alembic pot still rum aged 40 months in new French Oak. Both sets of casks were aged in an underground humid cellar. 3 Años has been gently brought to a bottling proof of 46.1% abv with distilled water sourced from the Río Blanco of Santa María Tlalixtac, Oaxaca. It has been bottled with no added sugar nor coloring.
https://www.alambiqueserrano.com/
RHUM SAINT JAMES
Earlier this year, Saint James won recognition for Single Cask 2003 release. Now, just two months later, their Nectar du Maître de Chai is gathering attention. This is a pure cane aged agricultural rum from the Saint James distillery (3 years of minimum aging) AOC Martinique, which has undergone a controlled maceration of prunes, enhanced with Bourbon vanilla pods. In addition to aging, said maceration and bottling took place on Martinique, in a tropical climate, in their Sainte-Marie cellar, which allows the product to claim the appellation “AOC Martinique aged agricultural rum liqueur”. “We wanted to create a differentiation from the other references in the range, particularly our aged rums,” explains Anthony Charnay, Product Manager of Saint James. “We also wanted to avoid the natural cloudy deposits, inevitable during maceration but neutral in terms of taste, from impacting the appearance, especially since we opted for gentle filtration.”
https://rhum-saintjames.com/
KŌLOA RUM COMPANY
Kōloa has introduced The Hawaiian Heritage Collection, a tribute to the rich cultural legacy of Hawaii. The inaugural release features an exceptional Limited Edition 6-Year Old Aged Rum, created in collaboration with The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace. This partnership represents more than just a premium spirits launch; it embodies a commitment to preserving Hawaii’s royal heritage through sustainable business practices. The release honors the iconic ‘Iolani Palace, a National Historic Landmark and the former royal residence of Hawaii’s last monarchs. Built in 1882 by King Kalakaua, this architectural masterpiece stands as a symbol of resilience, history, and the multicultural spirit of the islands. With every bottle, you’re not just enjoying this exceptional spirit, you are supporting a meaningful cause. Proceeds from this release will benefit The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace, helping to preserve and share its legacy for generations to come. Bob Gunter, President & CEO of Koloa Rum Company, emphasizes the deeper significance of this launch: “This special release transcends traditional product offerings, representing a celebration of our island’s cultural pride while actively contributing to landmark preservation.” Available exclusively in Hawaii, this limited-edition rum invites you to raise a glass in honor of history, culture, and The Spirit of Aloha ™.
https://koloarum.com/https://www.iolanipalace.org/
COLOURS OF RUM
There are more new releases from Colours of Rum. The first is 2015 Hampden, a high-ester powerhouse, aged for 8 years under the intense Caribbean sun in ex-bourbon casks. The tropical heat and humidity had clearly worked their magic on this DOK-mark rum, known for its off-the-charts ester levels. A true Jamaican beast in every sense. Then there is the 2016 T.D.L. from Trinidad, a fresh take on T.D.L’s iconic style. At just 8 years old, it’s packed with bright citrus notes; think lime zest and green apple, balanced by a touch of vanilla and toasted coconut. 2023 Hampden HLCF is a raw, unfiltered take on Jamaican rum. Without barrel influence, it reveals its full aromatic intensity: pineapple, mango, coastal brine, and a whisper of smoke. An experience as close to the still as it gets. Finally, there are the Trinity Sets, exclusive sets of 3 X 100ml bottles of exceptional rums from the critically acclaimed Colours of Rum collection. There are four different Trinity Sets and each one is presented in an elegant gift box and contains carefully selected rums. It is a great opportunity to discover a variety of styles and flavors. The Trinity I set includes bottles of Foursquare 2006 15 Year, T.D.L. 2009 13 Year and Jamaica Blend 2008 14 Year. The Trinity II set includes Foursquare 2002 20 Year, Bellevue 1998 23 Year and Hampden 2012 11 Year. The Trinity III set includes Foursquare 2006 15 Year, Bellevue 1998 23 Year and Hampden 2013 10 Year. Finally, the Trinity IV set includes South Pacific Distillery 2001 21 Year, Uitvlugt 1997 24 Year and Long Pond 2001 21 Year.
https://coloursofrum.com/
