3 White Rums for Under €20

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!

Sláinte

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Liberté White Rum, 37.5%, Réunion.

I thought Liberté was a yoghurt brand with TV adverts from a few years ago?

Yet here in my local Lidl was a simple & sparsely labelled bottle of white rum bearing the same name.

Liberté Rum c/othewhiskeynut

Liberté is a nod to the French connection that still exists on the tiny island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean.

There are 3 rum distilleries operating on Rèunion; Isautier, Rivière Du Mât & Savanna – take your pick as to the source.

I like it neat myself. c/othewhiskeynut

A clear colourless rum with distinctively fat oily legs.

A very soft mild & mellow nose didn’t give much away – but there was a suggestion of overripe fruits glimpsing through.

Extremely easy on the palate – slightly oily mouthfeel with a gently warming heat.

Letting it linger gradually opens up those funky fruit flavours – not overpowering – just pleasantly attractive – followed by a touch of tingling spice adding some flair to this endearing rum.

The 300 year history of rum distilling on Réunion is quietly imprinted on this charmingly beguiling Liberté White Rum.

Ship ahoy! c/othewhiskeynut

It floats my boat!

Slàinte

 

The World Of Rums, 4 x 40ml Miniature Pack

Miniatures.

Love ’em.

The opportunity to taste and sample a variety of styles & flavours before committing to a large bottle.

Lidl are currently showcasing The World Of Rums – including offerings from;

4 Rums, 4 styles, 4 flavours c/othewhiskeynut

Panama – La Réunion – Cuba and Jamaica.

Rums are often categorised into styles based on their former colonial occupiers. It’s not particularly scientific or pretty – but neither is the use of Scottish Regions to define the flavour of whisky.

Which one suits your palate? c/othewhiskeynut

Being Lidl –  it’s likely to be sourced private label brands too. As confirmed by ‘Imported & bottled by: ‘Pabst & Richarz Vertiebs GmbH‘ on the outer packaging.

But what interested me were the differences of flavours showcased by the individual rums themselves.

Sir Francis Drake 6yo c/othewhiskeynut

Panama. Sir Francis Drake. 6 Years Old. 40%

Spanish style. Light, buttery & sweet.

Pale straw. Vanilla sweetness followed by darker molasses & treacle notes. Soft & sweet palate – a bit too sweet for my liking – but develops a pleasant oaky spice from the cask ageing.

Easy & enjoyable.

Coeur Du Soleil c/othewhiskeynut

La Réunion. Coeur Du Soleil. White Rum. 37.5%

French style. Rich , fruity & complex.

Clear spirit. Pungent vegetal nose – reminds me of Mezcal. Palate was smooth & characterful. The earthy herbaceous notes give a slightly savoury yet sweet appeal that slowly fades.

Very alluring.

Ron Santero 3yo c/othewhiskeynut

Cuba. Ron Santero. 3 Year Old. 38%

Spanish style. Lean & clean.

Clear spirit. Soft subtle & sweet. After the other 2 rums, Santero’s delicateness just merged into a bland neutrality for me. Cries out for mixing.

Characterless.

Caribica c/othewhiskeynut

Jamaica. Caribica. Brown Rum. 40%

British style. Funky, heavy & bold.

Light brown. Noticeable funkiness on the nose – reminds me of burnt rubber. Syrupy palate. The funk is lost a little to a treacly dark sweetness, but re-emerges on the finish.

Is Jamaican funk the Islay peat of the rum world?  Finding it challenging.

Thoughts

An interesting & entertaining taste experience.

I’d have thought there’d be a rum here to please every palate.

La Réunion’s Coeur Du Soleil was the one for me. The powerful mix of sweet, sour & savoury notes demonstrated the full bodied style of ‘Rhum Agricole’ using freshly pressed sugarcane juice bottled straight off the stills.

C’est très bonne.

What is your style?

Santé

A brief guide to styles of rum can be found at the handy Tenzing blog here.

Riviére Saint-Jean, Rhum Vieux, 6 Ans,40%

Ooh la la!

I gotta hand it to Lidl for expanding my spirit drinking range.

This bottle of rum from Réunion – hence the French connection – emanates  from the Indian Ocean via a Parisienne suburb.

Fantastique! c/othewhiskeynut

There is no Riviére Saint-Jean distillery on the island – but a Riviére du Mat distillery founded in 1886 – appears to be the source of this offering.

There’s also a ‘Saga du Rhum‘ museum on Réunion to further explore the rich history of distillation – including the sorry tale of sugar, slavery and colonial exploitation. Hopefully those days are long gone. Meanwhile – the rum is still here to enjoy.

A deep ruby brown colour greets you – followed by an attractive oaky tannic nose on a dark molassey underbelly.

The palate was quite delicious.

The smooth warming sweetness morphed into a gorgeously drying spicy explosion. Very reminiscent of some rye whiskeys I enjoy.

Not had a rum like this before!

I’m feeling Riviére Saint-Jean accentuates the cask influence with it’s 6 years in wood.

C’est bon – c’est trés bon.

Santé