Rum in the News
PM SPIRITS
Eagerly anticipated by rum aficionados every year, Hampden Great House is the crown jewel of this storied distillery’s range. The 2025 edition has just arrived and will be landing in stores, bars, and restaurants throughout the US in the coming weeks. Hampden Great House 2025 is a blend of four single vintage marks: 40% LFCH 2020, 20% HLCF 2020, 20% HGML 2020 and 20% C<>H 2021. These marks run the gamut from medium-low to high ester content and include all five raw materials used in Hampden’s production process: molasses, cane vinegar, dunder, muck, and water. This release is Hampden in a nutshell, embodying their commitment to flavorful, traditional Jamaican rum bottled free of added colors, flavors, or sugar. Each year’s release in this series is unique, never to be repeated, making it a prime candidate for side-by-side tastings with previous releases. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels in the tropical climate of Jamaica’s Trelawny Parish and bottled at 57% ABV, this rum is dense and rich with aromas of fermenting pineapple along with vanilla and ginger candies. The palate is intense while remaining balanced – there are ripe bananas, roasted coffee, charred wood, and toasted chili flakes. The finish, as often is the case with rums from Hampden, is long, complex, and elegant. Wood and spice notes linger and a hint of camphor comes through.
PM Spirits just announced that they are now the US importer of The Real McCoy Rum. Passionate advocates for transparency and unadulterated spirits for over a decade, The Real McCoy’s ethos and values align with PM Spirits in a way that few other brands do. Distilled and aged at the legendary Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados and bottled free of added sugar, flavors, or stabilizers, these rums stand among the finest spirits in the world.
https://www.pmspirits.com/
RICH RUM
Former West Indies cricketer and superstar sportsman Chris Gayle used his private 46th birthday party to launch his new Rich Rum collection. With PM Andrew Holness and other celebrities in attendance at the secret location in St Ann on September 20th, Gayle had Rich Rum flowing for all his guests. He served three offerings, a Dark Rum, a Premium Rum and an Overproof Rum. Chris Gayle says, “Rich Rum is manufactured in beautiful Lluidas Vale (also known as Worthy Park) by our award-winning distillery partner. Rich Rum will compete globally in the premium rum segment. What distinguishes Rich Rum from other brands besides its premium quality and great taste is that Rich Rum is an authentic Jamaican copper pot still rum manufactured by a 100% Jamaican owned facility that is completely vertically integrated and does everything on site. A lot of Jamaicans don’t realize that many of the competing brands here on the market are foreign owned. It is important to me to support my country and the people in it by partnering with a 100% Jamaican owned company. Rich Rum will be competitively priced to compete with the market leaders in the premium rum category. My goal when creating Rich Rum was to create a premium quality, great tasting rum that was affordable to all. I am confident I have delivered on that. I love Rum and I love my country. Globally Jamaican rum is considered the finest rum in the world and I wanted to showcase the country. I am so proud of this being one of the best tasting rums we have to offer.”
RUM 101 for DUMMIES LIKE ME
Newfoundland-born author Jeff Peddle is raising a glass to celebrate the release of his debut book, Rum 101 for Dummies Like Me: From George Street to the Caribbean, 600 Bottles Later. Part memoir, part travelogue, and part guide, the book blends humor, history, and personal storytelling. Peddle takes readers on a ‘spirited’ journey from lively rum-soaked nights on George Street in St. John’s to the distilleries of the Caribbean, with more than a few laughs along the way. “It’s not a textbook, it’s a storybook with rum at the center of it,” Peddle explained. “I wanted this book to feel like you were sitting down with a buddy, swapping stories over a good drink. This book isn’t meant to overwhelm you with snobby tasting notes or chemical equations about fermentation. Instead, it’s a map through the wild, funny, tragic, and surprising journey of rum. We’ll talk about how it started, how it spread across the globe, the people who made it (and smuggled it), and why one bottle can taste like smooth vanilla and another like a burnt shoe.” Peddle, who has called Fort McMurray home for over 20 years, says his book is as much about people and culture as it is about the drink itself. “Newfoundland has such a strong tradition around rum, from Screech-ins to kitchen parties, and I wanted to capture that spirit in these pages. When I started out, I knew almost nothing about rum except that I liked it. This book is for people like me, curious, eager to learn, and maybe those who like to have a laugh or two along the way.” Peddle adds that writing the book taught him just how connected rum is to history, particularly the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. “Rum has a way of carrying history in every glass. It’s tied to trade, to culture, to celebration. That’s what fascinated me most as I dug deeper.”
Kō HANA DISTILLERS
Last month I wrote about the Kunia farming community having devastating wildfires that damaged over 800 acres of crops and farmland, threatening both livelihoods and the food supply that nourishes their ʻāina (land). Families who have poured generations of love and labor into their farms are now beginning the long road to recovery. Kō Hana Distillers, together with Kunia Village Development Corporation, Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation, and Nalo Farms, has launched Kōkua Kunia, a month-long effort to raise $100,000. Funds will provide direct aid for crop recovery, farmland restoration, and fire prevention efforts to protect Kunia Village for the future. Sip for a Cause Events were conducted at local bars on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.
Special cocktails made with Kō Hana Kea rum were served, with 100% of proceeds going to relief efforts. Kō Hana is releasing limited-edition* Kōkua Reserve Rums as a special fundraiser to provide immediate relief for the Kunia Village Farms. A significant portion of the proceeds from this limited-edition rum will be donated to the Kunia Village Development Corporation (KVDC) to assist farmers with the costly and lengthy process of rebuilding. The funds will help replace destroyed crops, equipment, and irrigation systems, as well as support fire mitigation efforts in the area. The three Kōkua Reserve rums are:Kea - “Kea” (Hawaiian for “white”) reflects its clarity and pristine nature. This unaged rum, rested for 1.5 years, is the purest expression of the Kea sugarcane’s character. Koho - “Koho” (Hawaiian for “choice”), this rum represents the deliberate choice to age a portion of the salvaged cane. Aged for just under two years in American Oak barrels, Koho has developed a rich complexity and depth.Kila - “Kila” (Hawaiian for “strong”) is a bold and powerful rum, presented at cask strength with a robust 59% ABV. Kila is a rum for the connoisseur, a fiery and unforgettable tribute to the strength and resilience of Kunia.If you would like to make a donation by check, please write a check to the Kunia Village Development Corporation. Be sure to include “Kōkua Kunia” in the memo line. Your contribution will go directly toward the Kunia fire relief and prevention initiatives. A donation letter can also be provided for your records for tax purposes. Donation checks can be mailed to: Kunia Village Development Corporation, C/O Kōkua Kunia, P.O. Box 100, Kunia, Hawai’i 96759
https://www.kohanarum.com/
FLOR de CAŇA
Luxury Spirits International (LSI) announced the U.S. release of Flor de Caña 17 Year Rum, a rare and exquisite addition to the brand’s award-winning portfolio. It arrived in key markets in September, just in time for the holiday season. This limited-time, high-proof (43.5% ABV) expression will be available at select retailers, including more than 100 Total Wine & More locations, as well as online at FlordeCana.com. With only 1,500 9L cases available nationwide, this ultra-premium rum promises a memorable tasting experience for rum enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. Flor de Caña 17 Year Rum was aged naturally in American white oak barrels, without added sugar or artificial ingredients, at the base of an active volcano, developing its bold character and a smooth finish unique to its terroir. Certified Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade, this spirit reflects the brand’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical production. With over 200 international quality awards, including being named “Global Rum Producer of the Year” by the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London, Flor de Caña is recognized worldwide for its excellence in craftsmanship.“We’re excited to bring this unique and exclusive release to Flor de Caña fans and rum enthusiasts across the country,” said Beth Runnels, SVP of LSI. “This launch reflects our commitment to leading the ultra-premium category across all brown spirits, not just rum and to delivering exceptional quality for those who appreciate the craft behind every bottle.”
https://www.flordecana.com/ https://www.luxuryspirits.com/
MAI KAI RUM No. 1
When the Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge opened in 1956, it quickly set a new standard in tiki cocktails, earning fame for its original tropical libations with perfectly balanced rum blends. To honor the legacy of the Mai-Kai cocktail, they sought to create a rum blend to bring authenticity to the iconic drinks their founders created. They collaborated with Master Distiller Don Benn and his team of experts at West Indies Rum Distillery of Brighton Beach, Barbados, as well as the exceptional team at legendary Long Pond Distillery of Trelawny, Jamaica. With restored copper pot stills that once made rums of the golden era of tiki cocktails, the distillery teams employed legacy rum-making methods. They balanced revered marques from both Barbados and Jamaican distilleries to arrive at a faithful reflection of the traditional style of rum in iconic Mai-Kai cocktails. Established in 1893, the West Indies Rum Distillery has a long history of producing rums of exceptionally high quality. Don Benn and his team are masters of complex fermentation techniques. To help achieve an authentic blend, the team reawakened the classic 19th century Old Gregg Farm Pot Still to create key marques including the “JAWS” High-Ester component. Founded in 1753, Long Pond Distillery is widely respected for producing high-quality Jamaican-style rums and has won numerous awards and accolades. The team’s commitment to traditional rum-making techniques made them the ideal choice for partnership. As part of the collaboration with Long Pond Distillery, the team offered legacy pot stills and revered Jamaican high-ester rums for richness and depth of flavor. The one-liter bottle of Mai-Kai Rum Number 1 is bottled at 50% ABV.
https://maikairum.com/
HOLMES CAY
Holmes Cay is celebrating the sixth year since their first Holmes Cay Single Cask release by collaborating with Mhoba Rum Distillery on four exciting new cane juice expressions which are beginning to make their way around the country. Depending on your location, they will be available in October and November. The two distinct Single Cask releases, SAW and SAWP, were produced from fresh-pressed cane juice, long-fermented with wild yeast and distilled on Mhoba’s signature pot stills. Once distilled, their paths split, and two entirely different expressions were created.South Africa Mhoba SAW (South African Whisky Edition) was distilled in 2018, matured for six years in two South African whisky casks and bottled at 59% ABV. South Africa Mhoba SAWP (South African Peated Whisky Edition) was distilled in 2018, matured for six years in two South African peated whisky casks and bottled at 59% ABV. The SAW and SAWP editions were both fully aged and bottled at the Mhoba Rum Distillery. These expressions are some of the oldest available Mhoba distillate available, each with a different and lovely balance of flavors between rum and cask.Shaldon High Ester Overproof Rum is the first Mhoba-branded rum available for sale in the United States. It is a bold pot still rum blended from two high ester marks, one single and one double distilled, from two distinct Nzikomi cane varietals grown on the farm surrounding the distillery. Hand-harvested cane is milled on Mhoba founder Robert Greaves’ custom cane crusher, long-fermented with wild airborne yeasts, and distilled in Greaves’ self-designed pot stills before blending. The Shaldon is named after Mhoba distiller and the blend’s creator, Shaldon Englebrecht. It is bottled at 63% ABV. Sihhenge - Together with Mhoba, Holmes Cay created this new pineapple-infused rum. “Sihhenge” means “pineapple” in siSwati, a language in Mhoba’s region. The base is a high-ester unaged rum, infused for two weeks with freshly harvested Natal queen pineapple and bottled. That’s all. The purity of this expression’s pineapple juice and the rich flavors of the unaged rum base create an artisanal alternative to sugared and artificially flavored rum liqueurs. Think of a high-proof tepache and start building wild and lovely cocktails. Bottled at 43% ABV.
https://www.holmescay.com/
MAJOR PHILIPPE
Omnicane Ltd, Mauritius’ leading energy and agro-industrial company, has announced its strategic expansion into the premium spirits market with the launch of Major Philippe Rum. This new venture marks a significant milestone in the company’s diversification strategy, building upon nearly a century of sustainable sugarcane expertise to create a distinctively Mauritian luxury spirit. Major Philippe Rum is distilled from locally grown sugarcane using Omnicane’s proven circular economy approach, which has earned the company international recognition including the PwC Sustainability Award 2023 and 2024. The rum is inspired by a lineage of adventurers and entrepreneurs who helped establish Mauritius as a global leader in sugar production. “Major Philippe represents the perfect intersection of our agricultural heritage, commitment to innovation, and vision for the future,” said Jacques M. d’Unienville, CEO of Omnicane Ltd. “By vertically integrating our production with premium rum distillation, we’re creating a product that embodies the adventurous spirit of our island and opens new economic opportunities for our community.” Major Philippe Rum showcases Omnicane’s award-winning environmental practices throughout production. The company uses a closed-loop system where sugarcane residue powers the distillation process, captures and repurposes 25 tons of CO2 daily, and converts distillation by-products into natural fertilizers that return to the fields. As a Bonsucro-certified producer, Omnicane meets the highest global standards for sustainable sugarcane. “Our analysis shows that premium, sustainably-produced spirits from distinctive regions can command price premiums of 40-60% over standard offerings,” said Bertrand Thevenau CEO – Properties, Retail & Brands of Omnicane. “With Mauritius already recognized for producing some of the world’s finest sugarcane, yielding up to 12 tons of sugar per hectare compared to the global average of 9.5 tons, we’re perfectly positioned to compete in the highest tiers of the global spirits market.” The Major Philippe collection features three distinctive expressions, each named after significant Mauritian landmarks in the South of the Island where Major Philippe’s influence is still seen today: Britannia (a pure cane juice white rum), Mon Trésor (an oak-aged gold rum of exceptional purity), and Ilot Brocus (in two variants - a spiced rum and an indulgent sweet dark rum liquor which only launches in 2026). Each expression captures the distinctive flavors shaped by Mauritius’ volcanic terroir and tropical microclimate. “In every sip of Major Philippe, you can taste the culmination of a century of Mauritian expertise,” remarks Thevenau. “These expressions represent not just our island’s exceptional terroir, but our commitment to innovation while respecting the traditions that made Mauritius renowned in the rum world.” https://www.majorhphilippe.com
