It’s not uncommon to find rums that were distilled in Belize, but how much do you know about the distillery that many of them come from? In this episode, we chat with Amanda Perdomo and Myito Perdomo of Travellers Liquors to get the deeper details on one of the biggest sources of Belizean rum. You’ll get a window into the Perdomo family’s history in the rum business (which dates all the way back to the 1950s), the production process at Travellers, the distillery’s approach to bulk sales, their upcoming releases, and much more.

Relevant links:

The Travellers Liquors website

Rum Revelations’ article/review on Belizean rum

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we share thoughts on some recent rum experiences (including the Appleton Hearts collection) before jumping into a roundtable discussion Will hosted with three rum producers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico that are growing sugarcane for the purpose of making rum (Erik Vonk of Richland Rum in Georgia, Pepe Alvarez of San Juan Distillers in Puerto Rico, and Steve Jefferson of Kuleana Rum Works in Hawaii). Erik, Pepe, and Steve give insight into the unique challenges that come with operating sugarcane farms while running distilleries in regions not historically known for producing the style of rum they’re making (or for producing rum at all, in some cases).

As mentioned on the show, this roundtable discussion was originally broadcast via livestream with Zavvy.co and American Rum Report.

Relevant links:

San Juan Distillers website

Richland Rum website

Kuleana Rum Works website

The original livestream broadcast of the roundtable discussion

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we answer a listener question everyone has as they get deeper into rum: now that you’ve experienced most of the initial wave of recommended rums for those getting into the hobby, where do you go next? We came up with our top three picks for what to look for (while staying under $100) and revealed them to one another live. If you’ve already dipped a couple toes in the water and are looking to expand your rum horizons, this episode is for you!

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we kick things off with a quick discussion of some rums from KōHana Distillers in Hawaii before jumping into our interview (18:44) with Kevin Crossman, the creator of UltimateMaiTai.com. Kevin has spent the last couple of decades drinking his way toward the ultimate mai tai, both in bars and at home, and documenting the process on his website. We pick Kevin’s brain on a little bit of mai tai history, the cocktail’s evolution over the years, an ingredient-by-ingredient breakdown (with recommendations for each component), finding the right combination of rums, the bars that’ll make you a great one, and much more.

Links to learn more:

Kevin’s website, Ultimate Mai Tai

Kevin’s history of the Mai Tai

Follow Ultimate Mai Tai on Instagram

KōHana Distillers (mentioned during the intro)

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we kick things off with a listener question on additives in rum, along with a quick rerum, before jumping into our interview with Francisco Terrazas of Paranubes. Paranubes is a fresh sugarcane juice rum distilled in Oaxaca, Mexico, by José Luís Carrera, a third generation sugarcane grower and distiller of aguardiente de caña. Not only does Francisco share the backstory behind the brand and all the details of the unique production process that gives Paranubes its distinctive character, he also gives an overview of the broader category of Mexican rum—which is much bigger than you might realize.

We came away from this interview with even more excitement for a region that is often overlooked by rum enthusiasts, and think you will, too.

Topics covered include:

Paranubes’ history as a brand and how their partnership with José Luís came together

Rum vs. aguardiente de caña (and why you see both on the label)

How the relationship with Paranubes has impacted production for José Luís

The full details on the rum’s production process (including the four months-long rolling fermentations)

Growing awareness of Mexican rum as a category

Regional differences in rum production across the country

And lots more!

Links to learn more:

The Paranubes Website

Follow Francisco on Instagram

The Imbibe article on Paranubes mentioned in the episode

The Punch article mentioned in the episode

In this episode, we talk to Jay West (whom the Internet may know better as t8ke), prolific spirits reviewer and founder of the Aficionados Group, the collective behind the XXX Series of rum releases and a recent string of high ester bottlings, including that DOK release you probably saw everyone talking about. Jay takes us through the stories behind those releases, what he’s learned from reviewing nearly 2,000 spirits, his approach to analytical drinking, techniques for improving your ability as a taster, spirits recommendations for rum fans, what’s next rum-wise for the Aficionados Group, and more.

Links to learn more:

The Aficionados Group Website

Whiskey Raiders, where Jay is Managing Editor

Fine Drams, where you can find many Aficionados releases for sale

Reddit’s r/rum community

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we start with some more chatter on Hampden’s latest Great House release and revisit a defunct rum produced in Trinidad (though probably not the one you’re thinking). From there, we jump into our conversation with Ian Burrell, the Global Rum Ambassador and co-founder of Equiano Rum (the world’s first African and Caribbean rum) among other ventures.

In signature fashion, Ian takes us on an entertaining ride through discovering the rums of Mauritius, his relationship with Richard Seale, how the first Equiano rum blend (Mauritius rum and Barbados rum) came to be, what to expect next from Equiano, developing the International Sugarcane Spirits Awards, adventures in awards categories, overlooked or underrated rum distilleries, his basketball and music careers, and more!

Links to learn more:

Ian Burrell’s website

Equiano Rum

The International Sugarcane Spirits Awards

International Sugarcane Spirits Awards results from Year One

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we start with John’s impressions of the new Great House release from Hampden Estate before jumping into our interview with Christelle Harris, marketing director at Hampden. Christelle’s family purchased the legendary Jamaican distillery at auction from the government in 2009, and she has been instrumental in developing the brands now associated with the distillery itself.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Christelle shares how she decided to take on a role with the distillery in the first place, Rum Fire’s evolution (and the lessons learned from it), the process of discovering how truly special Hampden is, introducing the world to the first rums aged at Hampden, becoming friends with Richard Seale, the infamous Luca Gargano story, the Great House releases, Hampden’s endemic bird series, some exciting news for Hampden fans in the U.S., and more. Plus, cameo appearances from her grandma.

To learn more about Hampden Estate, check out:

The Hampden website

Hampden Instagram

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we start with a quick edition of Rerums (revisiting rums we haven't had in awhile) before moving into our St. Lucia Distillers interview. In the interview, we talk with CEO Margaret Monplaisir and Master Blender Deny Duplessis about the wide variety of rums produced at St. Lucia Distillers. Known for brands such as Chairman’s Reserve, Admiral Rodney, and Bounty (and Denros Strong Rum if you’re local), the distillery uses its unique combination of stills, base ingredients (both molasses and fresh sugarcane juice), casks, and aging environment to create a style of rum unlike any you’ll find elsewhere.

Margaret and Deny discuss their personal rum journeys, the qualities that define St. Lucia rum, the complexity of the distillery’s approach to rum making, the advantages and challenges that come with producing such a wide variety of distillates, the distillery’s many stills, the Chairman’s Reserve Master’s Selections, the development process of a rum blend, the legacy of Laurie Barnard and his enduring influence on the distillery, and more.

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.

In this episode, we each do a top 3 list of essential mixing ingredients that we think every rum lover should have in their home bar to better explore their rum collection —and to take their rum cocktail game up a few notches. Also, don’t miss our intro topic discussion debuting a brand new resource for the rum community we are excited to put on our website: a current list of geographically-based rum groups, clubs, or societies. We hope everyone will either find and join a local group in their area, or be inspired to create one if it doesn’t exist! Head over to rumcast.com/rum-societies to check it out.

Thanks to Holmes Cay for sponsoring this episode. Explore their current releases at HolmesCay.com and keep an eye for new ones coming this year.