Using Jamaican Rum – a former British colony – is generally a given in these offerings which are usually a blend of Caribbean rums interpreting the original ‘tot’.
Pusser’s however stresses the use of pot still rum from Guyana blended with marks from Trinidad & Barbados to create their ‘Admiralty Rum’.
A very dark nose of rich molasses & treacly funk greeted me.
Smooth & sweet on the palate with dark muscovado sugars dominating.
A prickliness on the finish exhibiting a slight funk & departing with a drying experience.
Ship Inn, Elie c/oTheWhiskeyNut
Pusser’s made a suitable tipple to celebrate completing another section of the Fife Coastal Path in the nautically themed Ship Inn by the Firth Of Forth in Elie.
Update!!! On January 4th 2022 Ireland implemented a Minimum Unit Pricing policy on alcohol. The minimum price for a 37.5% rum in 700ml bottles will now be around €21.
There’s some tasty bargains to be had for under €20 – if you’re prepared to explore.
Contrary to popular myths these supermarket offerings certainly don’t all taste the same – and nor are they short on flavour either!
Today’s comparison are 3 White Rums currently available from 3 large multiples across Ireland.
All are presented at 37.5% ABV with minimal information as regards distillery of origin or processes used.
Old Hopking from Aldi, ‘Bottled In Germany’, failed to excite me.
A floral nose – reminiscent of gin – put me off & the taste was rather bland too.
JG Kinsey from Dunnes, ‘Bottled In The UK’ with ‘Imported Caribbean Rum’ impressed.
A soft funky aroma followed through on the palate with a pleasing peppery finish.
Liberté from Lidl & ‘The Réunion’ proved enticing.
An impressive fruity funk flowed through both the nose & palate finishing of with a joyful prickliness.
For elegantly displaying the essence of rum, Liberté is my winner – with JG Kinsey a close 2nd.
I’d happily buy both again.
You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a tasty rum!
After enjoying the delights of JG Kinsey Whisky – I pleasingly noticed the addition of a rum to the JG Kinsey range of spirits in my local Dunnes Stores.
JG Kinsey Rum c/othewhiskeynut
Offered in an attractive metallic blue – the whisky comes in green – ‘Product Of The Caribbean’ is all you’ll get as to the source of this spirit.
Clear colourless rum with good viscous legs.
A rather soft aroma with subtle hints of sweet fruity funk peeking through.
The palate is very smooth with a silky mouth coating feel. That fruity funk opens up a little developing a light peppery spice to provide the finishing flourish.
Caribbean Rum c/othewhiskeynut
Very easy drinking quietly exhibiting the attractive attributes I enjoy in a white rum.
Bottled in the UK by R Carmichael & Sons – a subsidiary of the giant InterBev group – years of blending experience shine through in this simply stated yet well delivered rum.
The renewed & growing interest in brown spirits doesn’t just stop at whiskey.
Rum is also showing an increase in appreciation.
The enterprising Íon Distillery near Omagh, County Tyrone, is banking on this appreciation by producing a rum aged in whiskey barrels!
I couldn’t resist trying it out.
Irish Rum c/othewhiskeynut
A bottle was promptly sourced via the fast & efficient KWM Wine & Spirits online store in Kilkeel.
Íon – meaning pure – combine the history of the past blended with a sense of people & place finished in a modern innovative twist.
Sugar cane molasses from the Caribbean are distilled in a ‘doubler style’ copper pot still, infused with spices, cut with locally sourced water & laid to rest in ex-bourbon barrels.
Ogham style markings – found on ancient stones around Ireland – are used as an attractive motif on the bottle – along with images of the Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley’s Castle – who possibly downed a few bottles of contraband rum in her time!
My tot of rum. c/othewhiskeynut
I poured a glass.
The lovely golden hued liquid gave off a gorgeously spicy bouquet of cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg over an underlying gentle toffee sweetness.
Light in body, the soft caramel notes gave way to a growing spiciness & warming heat in a smooth delivery.
The spices left an enjoyably prickly sensation at the end as they slowly faded.
Very entertaining.
Íon Rum c/othewhiskeynut
More of a winter warmer to me than a summer sizzler.
Being a bit of a purist myself I couldn’t help wondering what the rum would be like without the additional spices which tended to dominate the more subtle flavours within.
However this is in contradiction to the latest trend which shows spiced rum to be the fastest growing category in this segment.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 