In the world of rum, diversity and nuances of flavour are not just part of the experience – they are the very essence. Whether you are a true rum enthusiast or just beginning your journey into this fascinating world, you will quickly discover that rum is not just rum. It is a world of choices, from the subtle differences from the cask type to the complex profile that terroir provides through the sugarcane.
As Paw mentions in our launch video, rum tasting is a personal and subjective thing. Some like a round, soft, and pleasant rum with plenty of sweetness, while others prefer to taste the character of a specific type of rum from Jamaica, known for its high ester level.
Because there is such a rich diversity in rum flavours, we have set out to present you with a wealth of options when you are creating your own rum. We have selected five aged rums, five unaged rums, and two different cask types to ensure that you can tailor the perfect rum experience. All in all, we offer 20 different rum possibilities.
Although we cannot offer taste samples of the final rum that will come from your choices – as it has not yet been bottled – we have made sure to provide you with an in-depth description of all the options that affect the final taste result.
Before we dive into the detailed descriptions, we would like to present you with an overview. In this blog post, you will find descriptions of the two cask types, the aged and unaged rum options, and other choices that affect the taste of your rum: How long the rum is aged, sweetness, and alcohol content.
Whether you are looking for information or inspiration, you have come to the right place. Read on and start your journey towards making your very own rum.
Cask Types
Sherry:
When rum is aged in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks, it acquires deep notes from this sweet sherry. PX adds intense sweetness to the rum, nuances of dried fruits like raisin and prune, as well as hints of caramel and dark chocolate. The dark brown colour from the PX sherry can also deepen the rum's hue. The result is a rich, complex rum with a velvety mouthfeel and dessert-like undertones.
Virgin Oak:
When rum is aged in fresh oak casks, known as Virgin Oak casks, it creates a significant impact on its flavour profile and colour. Such casks accentuate an intense woody character in the rum, enriched with notes of oak and cedar. At the same time, flavour nuances of vanilla and caramel emerge, a result of the oak's natural compounds. The rum can also take on spicy undertones, like black pepper and cinnamon. Additionally, the cask contributes tannins, which give a drier mouthfeel and balance the rum's sweetness. This aging method also gives the rum a deeper colour.
Unaged Rum
Dominican AFD 0 years
Dominican rum is known for its smoothness, quality, and traditional production methods, which give it a unique place in the rum world. One of the most prominent features of Dominican rum is its soft, well-balanced profile. It is often sweeter than other rum variants and has a clean and clear taste. This rum comes from Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos, a large distillery that produces rum for a wide range of independent producers.
Jamaica WPL 0 years
Worthy Park Light (WPL) rum from Jamaica is known for its distinct character, reflecting the island's rich rum traditions. This rum highlights a fruity and floral essence, while also bearing the unique "funky" quality of a mild ester level, which gives an almost banana-like aroma. Grassy and vegetal nuances reflect the rum's close ties to the local sugarcane. Accompanied by light smoky notes and warm spices, WPL offers a soft taste experience with a deep, long-lasting finish, characteristic of Worthy Park's dedication to quality.
Jamaica STC♥E 0 years
Jamaican STC♥E rum comes from the Long Pond distillery in the Trelawny parish in northwest Jamaica. The rum is known for its ester profile, which combines the characteristic "funky" taste with a more balanced and accessible approach than high-ester rums. It has an ester level of 550-700 gr/hL AA, which is a medium level. Flavour nuances include a rich palette of tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, and banana, nuanced with citrus and dried fruit. This is complemented by grassy and earthy undertones, reflecting the raw sugarcane character. A hint of tobacco and a slightly spicy undertone complete the profile, resulting in a full-bodied rum with a warm finish that delights without overpowering.
Barbados WIRD Pot Still 0 years
Barbados' West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) produces both column-distilled rum and, as in this case, pot still rum, which offers a deep and rich taste experience. 100% pot still distillation results in a fuller, more oily mouthfeel. The rum exhibits nuances of ripe fruit, including tropical fruits and citrus, which are typical of pot still products. At the same time, one can also detect a slight minerality, characteristic of many Barbados rums. Ultimately, WIRD Pot Still rum ensures a soft and persistent aftertaste that elegantly binds the flavours together, making it a unique representation of Barbados' rum tradition.
Guadeloupe Montebello 0 years
Rum from Guadeloupe reflects a fusion of French and Caribbean distillation traditions. Made primarily from freshly pressed sugarcane juice, it offers a distinct grassy and vegetal undertone. Fruity nuances of melon, citrus, and peach dance with delicate floral aromas like jasmine. A hint of spice and a light smoky note add depth and complexity. The overall experience is a medium to full-bodied rum with a soft, velvety texture that leaves a lingering aftertaste.
Aged Rum
Dominican AFD 5 years
Dominican rum is known for its smoothness, quality, and traditional production methods, which give it a unique place in the rum world. One of the most prominent features of Dominican rum is its soft, well-balanced profile. It is often sweeter than other rum variants and has a clean and clear taste. This rum comes from Alcoholes Finos Dominicanos, a large distillery that produces rum for a wide range of independent producers.
Venezuela 5 years
Venezuelan rum is known for its rich and balanced taste, drawing on the country's climate and traditions. Its flavour profile offers a sweet undertone of caramel and honey, accompanied by tropical fruit nuances and warm spices like cinnamon. Here, you can build upon a smooth rum with a harmonious and warm aftertaste, reflecting Venezuela's dedication to quality.
Jamaica WPL 3 years
Worthy Park Light (WPL) rum from Jamaica is known for its distinct character, reflecting the island's rich rum traditions. This rum highlights a fruity and floral essence, while also bearing the unique "funky" quality of a mild ester level, which gives an almost banana-like aroma. Grassy and vegetal nuances reflect the rum's close ties to the local sugarcane. Accompanied by light smoky notes and warm spices, WPL offers a soft taste experience with a deep, long-lasting finish, characteristic of Worthy Park's dedication to quality.
Jamaica NYE-WM 2 years
New Yarmouth Distillery in Jamaica is known for its deeply aromatic and ester-rich rum, which evokes intense "funky" nuances of overripe bananas, pineapple, and other tropical fruit. Along with these characteristic ester notes comes a spectrum of other fruit aromas, ranging from crisp citrus notes to deeper nuances of dried fruit. Underlying is a slight grassy or earthy undertone, honouring the rum's raw sugarcane character. NYE-WM stands for New Yarmouth Estate - William McConnell, and is the rum's marque. This means the rum is a high-ester rum with an ester level of 1300-1400 gr/hL AA.
Jamaica DOK 3 years
Jamaican DOK comes from the Hampden Estate distillery. DOK stands for Dermot Owen Kelly-Lawson, and means it is a high-ester rum with an ester level of 1500-1600 gr/hL AA. This gives it an intense "funky" quality and produces notes of overripe bananas, ripe fruit, and other tropical nuances such as pineapple. At the same time, it offers a rich palette of fruit aromas, from bright citrus impressions to deeper tones of dried fruit and berries. This rum also has a pronounced grassy and earthy undertone, reflecting its raw sugarcane character. The mouthfeel is robust, and DOK rum can often feel overwhelming, making it a unique experience.
Other Choices
Length of Aging
If you choose to have your own rum made, the cask aging will take place in small 40-50 litre casks. The advantage of this is that the aging in these casks is significantly faster than in the usual 200-litre casks, as the alcohol interacts much more with the wood.
Regarding how long your rum should age, you can work from these general guidelines:
- Already aged rum: Expect 6-12 months of aging time
- Unaged (light) rum: Expect 1-3 years of aging time
How long the rum should age is your choice, but the longer you let the rum age, the more the rum will interact with the wood. This means that the rum will take on more flavour nuances from the cask, and thus the cask type will have a greater presence in the final flavour profile. Secondly, the rum – depending on temperature and humidity – will evaporate slightly from the cask throughout the aging period. The best estimate is approximately 3% per year.
Sweetness
Historically, rum was sweetened by adding sugar after distillation, both to make it smoother and possibly to hide some flaws. The rum we offer for you to make your own is of very good quality, so it is not necessary to hide any flaws. But the option is, of course, there for those who prefer a sweeter rum.
Here are some considerations to make before deciding to add sugar to your rum:
- Sugar can make the rum sweeter and milder. This can be desirable for those who prefer a sweeter drink, or if the rum is too sharp in taste.
- Sugar can change the rum's consistency, making it more syrupy. This may be desirable for some, but not for others.
It is also important to remember that the rum will already absorb a range of flavours and characteristics from the wood, which can provide a sweeter and rounder flavour profile – for example, flavour nuances of vanilla and caramel from a Virgin Oak cask or sugar residues from a sherry cask.
If one decides to add sugar to their rum, it is important to do so carefully and in small amounts to achieve the desired taste. But as with everything related to personal taste, it is up to the individual to decide what they prefer.
Alcohol Content
The alcohol content can significantly influence the taste and experience of a rum. Here are some considerations on how alcohol content can affect the taste:
- Higher alcohol percentages can enhance and intensify the flavour. This is because alcohol is a good solvent and can release more aromatic compounds.
- Rum with a high alcohol content can cause a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth and throat when consumed. Some people may find this sensation pleasant, while others may find it too sharp.
- Higher alcohol percentages can sometimes lead to a more complex flavour profile, although this also depends on other factors such as distillation technique, aging time, and the wood type of the cask.
- Rum with higher alcohol content can have a longer and more persistent finish.
In general, the preference for alcohol content in rum will vary from person to person. Some prefer the rich and intense taste of a rum bottled at cask strength, while others may seek a softer and more subdued experience. The most important thing is to choose the alcohol content that best suits one's taste and intended use.
Additionally, one should, of course, be aware that if one chooses to dilute the product down to the "normal 40%", there will be more bottles compared to bottling at, for example, 60% cask strength.
Free shipping from DKK 500
Click 'n Collect
