The first time I came across this rum blend was during a visit to the Kaona Room in Miami when proprietor Daniele Dalla Polla introduced me to it. After we tried it neat, he proceeded to serve cocktails made with it, demonstrating firsthand the versatility of the rum blend. To say it left an impression would be an understatement. To create this rum, Eric Kaye brought together a blend of three rums that represent the three most influential rum-making traditions in the world. The rum blend is comprised of rums from Barbados (column/pot still molasses-based blend), Venezuela (column still molasses-based rum), and Martinique (cane juice-based rhum). The rum is bottled in a 750 ml bottle at 43% ABV. No sugar, color, or other additives are used in the creation of the rum blend.
Holmes Caye Heritage Blend
Appearance
This Heritage Blend has two different bottlings; the first has a label designed by Daniele Dalla Polla for his former bar Esotico that has a vintage travel poster feel to it that comes in a clear bottle with a red foil security wrap. The second bottle is brown tinted, and the image and information are screen printed onto the bottle with clear security wrap. Both bottles are secured with wood-capped synthetic corks and have security.
The golden amber liquid is the same in both bottles. Swirling the liquid creates a medium band that slowly thickens and reluctantly releases a single wave of legs before evaporating, leaving a ring of beads in its wake.
Nose
The aroma is a swirl of banana, vanilla, spices, tart citrus, rock fruit, and toasted almonds with alcohol nipping around the edges.
Palate
This rum leads with the orange and lemon zest notes riding a base of ethanol. Additional sips reveal notes of floral vanilla, earthy mineral notes, nutmeg, dried apricots, and honeyed banana chips. Smoky oak notes and allspice notes drift in, leading to a long, smoky, spice-filled finish.
Review
As I mentioned in the opening, my first encounter with this rum was a demonstration of how it could be used in a variety of cocktails. The initial flavor pop of citrus and alcohol is a very different entry than I expected and immediately notified me that I should dismiss any preconceived notions. The subsequent flavors build an interesting profile that I enjoyed sipping and led to my understanding of why it is a solid “Swiss army knife” product for both bars and enthusiasts to create tropical cocktails. It is my understanding that this is Eric Kayes’s first rum blend, and in my opinion, he did an outstanding job with it. When I pondered the other rums, I stock in my bar that are designed for cocktails like Probitas, Beachbum Berry’s Zombie and Navy Grog blends, and Denizen, this rum falls right in line with them and will be a staple as long as I can keep it in stock. The Heritage blend is available anywhere Holmes Cay rum is sold or it can also be purchased online.
