#Holmes Cay Rum

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Holmes Cay Single Origin Reunion Island Rum Review

Todays review features two Holmes Cay Single Origin #rum expressions that were made on Reunion Island. One is made from sugar cane juice and the other is made from molasses. Click the link to hear all about them!

We have had the good fortune of reviewing three very different Holmes Cay Rum expressions over the past couple years. When most of us think Rum, we think the Caribbean, but as we’ve learned, Rum, much like whisky, can be made anywhere. The two Holmes Cay Rums that we’ll be discussing on today’s video come from Distillerie De Savanna which is located on Reunion Island, a tropical island in the…

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Hampden C<>H 2007 Holmes Cay

Review by: Raygun Another rum from The Auditor. This turned out to be another Hampden, one of the highest ester marques, C<>H. A single cask release from Holmes Cay. Reviewed from a sample, initially tasted blind. Rested about 15 minutes. Distillery: Hampden Bottler: Holmes Cay Region/style: Jamaican molasses rum ABV: 65.9%  Age: 15 years, continental aged. Distilled in 2007, bottled in…

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GSN Review: Holmes Cay Rum

GSN Review: Holmes Cay Rum

With a mission to discover the rarest, hard to find rums since its inaugural release two years ago, Holmes Cay Rum has curated a continuously evolving collection of the best small-batch, limited-edition rums, all distilled naturally and presented without additives. Rum explorer and Holmes Cay founder Eric Kaye has embarked on a new journey. This summer, Holmes Cay debuted its new ‘Fiji Rum’, the…

[bourbon-banter]

The Holmes Cay Single Origin Edition Fiji Rum Review

The Holmes Cay Single Origin Edition Fiji Rum Review

[theelixirspirits]

Pretty limited release of Holmes Cay Fiji & Mhoba(South Africa) single cask rums available now. #GrabWhileAvailable (at Spring Hill, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXjAOUaOeAi/?utm_medium=tumblr

[delightfullychilled]

The 10 Best Rum Brands to Drink Right Now

For the past few years, we’ve been hearing that rum is about to have its breakout moment. We've been told that whiskey drinkers will discover the joys of an alternative brown spirit (when properly aged, that is) as rum brands finally get their Pappy Rum Winkle-some limited-release, impossibly rare rum that'll spawn a thousand dudes posting selfies on Instagram after waiting in line for 24 hours to score a bottle.

Well, it hasn’t quite happened yet, and that might actually be a good thing. While there are some really expensive expressions out there on par with the most coveted bourbon or scotch, you can still get a quality bottle of rum aged for more than 20 years for less than $150, which is something of a steal. Of course, it should be noted that age doesn’t necessarily equal quality, but a carefully matured rum brings layers of flavor and complexity that can rival any whiskey.  Read about Booze Delivery Ottawa, Booze Delivery Toronto, and much more related to the same.

One problem that rum has faced over the years is its reputation as an unregulated, duplicitous spirit. There are good reasons for that: Manufacturers sometimes put meaningless numbers on bottles, leading us drinkers to mistake them for age group statements, and sugar or other additives are sometimes used to adulterate taste without any notification. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the latter point; some rum with added sugar is actually quite good.

And it’s not that rum is totally unregulated. On the contrary, there are specific rules regarding production, but they vary from country to nation, piling on confusion for anyone trying to figure out exactly what’s inside the bottle they spent their hard-earned cash on. Kenneth McCoy of New York’s The Rum House, sums it up: “I think we should have an idea of how [rum is] made, and if it’s made with quality ingredients, not just additives, coloring, and sugar, sugar, sugars.”

The bottom line is that there is a rum for everyone, and likely from a distillery that's transparent about its process. If you are looking for something with zero additives, you are in luck. And if you prefer something sweeter to use for your Dark ‘n Stormy (more on that below), there’s a rum for that, too. Here are 10 of the best rum-and rhum agricole-brands, in all styles, to drink this summer.

Mount Gay Barbados’s Mount Gay has been around in one form or another for about 300 many years, but master blender Trudiann Branker has only held her title at the distillery for a little more than a year. Still, she’s produced a big impact upon some of the core expressions in the portfolio. The ages of the rum in the Black Barrel blend have increased from two-to-seven yrs to three-to-seven years, and the finish time in heavily charred bourbon barrels offers been dramatically expanded from four weeks to six months, really amping up the flavors. For XO, the age range in the blend has shifted as well, and rum aged in cognac barrels is now included. Last year, Branker contributed her first Master Blender Collection expression called Mount Gay Pot Nevertheless Rum, which was just distilled in pot stills, instead of the usual combination of pot and column stills. We ought to see more special releases like this in the coming years.

The Real McCoy Foursquare is another Barbados distillery known for making great rum, some of that is sold under other brand names. THE TRUE McCoy is one of those, and founder Bailey Pryor was drawn to grasp distiller Richard Seale’s no-bullshit approach-no glucose or flavor added. You can find currently three main expressions, aged three years, five many years, and 12 yrs in bourbon barrels. Most recently, a 14-year-old rum joined the family in a release of just six thousand bottles. That commitment to transparency appeals to many dedicated drinkers.

Appleton Estate Appleton Estate expert blender Joy Spence, the first woman to hold that job title, believes there should be two categories of rum: flavored rum (with sugar) and true rum (no sugars added). In Fred Minnick’s book Rum Curious, she is quoted as saying, “You want to add glucose? You can, but the two should be separated.” By law, Jamaican rum is not allowed to have sugar additional, and the quality of Appleton Estate’s earthy rums show why it’s not needed. The 12- and 21-year-aged expressions are excellent (and the latter is relatively affordable, considering its age), and there are even older bottles like the 25-year-old Pleasure Anniversary Blend, which contains rum aged up to about 35 years and was created to commemorate Spence’s 20 years at the distillery. This is high-end rum for both serious sippers and people who want to make a good cocktail.

Plantation Alexandre Gabriel, owner of Maison Ferrand, takes a cue from his native France for his Plantation Rum brand. Sugar is sometimes added to the rum, and Gabriel compares this to the dosage used in champagne manufacturing. The company will be upfront about it (the website contains detailed information), which goes a long way in the spirits industry. Various bottlings are sourced from countries around the Caribbean, most of which are usually aged for a second period of time in French cognac casks. And you can find so numerous bottles to explore from Plantation, including a range of single cask expressions and vintage releases from nations like Fiji, Panama, and Peru. Two new releases coming out this summer are the Isle of Fiji rum, a permanent addition to the portfolio that's aged for two to 3 years in ex-bourbon casks and another year in Ferrand cognac casks, and the Fiji 2005 limited-edition vintage, aged for 14 many years in bourbon barrels and another 12 months in cognac casks.

Holmes Cay Holmes Cay is focused on one point: releasing the best solitary cask rum it can find, with no sugar or even adulterants added. These bottles are pretty high-octane, with ABVs ranging from about 55 percent to a hefty 64 %. But add a little water if that seems a bit intense, and the tastes really start to shine. There are two fresh releases from the brand name. The first is a 2004 vintage from Fiji, which is 100 percent pot still rum aged for 12 yrs in ex-bourbon barrels, and then another four years in American oak casks in the UK. The second release is Guyana Port Mourant Demerara 2005, that is distilled in a double wooden pot nevertheless (the brand says this is the only one currently in use) at Demerara Distillers, before being aged for 15 many years in utilized United states oak barrels in the united kingdom. These are rums that you should take your time with, the way you might with a complex scotch whisky.

Diplomático Diplomático is produced in Venezuela from molasses and sugarcane honey, which the distillery describes as “the syrup left over after the first boiling of sugarcane,” with a higher sugar content than molasses. Reserva Exclusiva is a dependable spirit to have in your home bar, made in a variety of still types and aged for up to 12 yrs in oak casks. The higher-finish Ambassador is also quite good, a rum aged for a minimum of 12 years in white oak before becoming finished for just two many years in PX sherry casks. The latest release, Pot Still Rum, is the third in Diplomático’s Distillery Selection. The trilogy is meant to showcase the different methods of distillation, so this one focuses singularly on copper pot stills. As permitted by Venezuelan law, there is some sugar put into the rum during aging, however the sweetness complements a palate full of banana, oak, and vanilla.

Rhum JM On the island of Martinique, the rum produced is known as rhum agricole, and this indicates an important distinction. Instead of using molasses to make the spirit, sugarcane juice is fermented and distilled into something that is somewhat familiar but decidedly different. Try Rhum JM’s whitened rum to really experience how unique the spirit will be, with grassy and earthy notes that complement this pleasantly dry, unaged rhum. The brand takes its cues from cognac in terms of age group designations, with VO, VSOP (aged three years), and XO expressions. There are also some excellent classic releases to try, which range from 10 to 15 years old and bottled at cask strength.

Don Q Bacardi may be the biggest rum distillery in Puerto Rico, but Destileria Serralles makes what might be the most popular as far as the locals are concerned: Don Q. This inexpensive rum is named after Don Quixote and has been around since the end of Prohibition. The brand name has a slew of various expressions, which includes an añejo consisting of a blend of rum aged from three to ten years, a couple of individual barrel releases, and an interesting Vermouth Cask Finish that spends four to six weeks in Italian oak vermouth barrels after ageing in American oak for five to eight yrs. One of the most recent releases has been the Double Aged Sherry Cask Finished rum, which adds another layer of dried fruit sweetness to the spirit.

Goslings When you think of a Dark ‘n Stormy, Goslings would like you to think of its rum, and its rum alone. In fact, the brand provides trademarked the cocktail’s name, insisting that it must be made out of Goslings Dark Seal rum and Goslings ginger beer. Needless to say, you’ll (probably) be safe making it with whatever rum you fancy at home. But there is a reason Goslings is as popular as it is: It’s cheap and it goes down easy. Goslings doesn't have a distillery; instead, the Bermuda-based company sources barrels from some other countries, age groups and blends in Bermuda, and ships the rum to Kentucky for bottling. The rum in Black Seal is aged in bourbon barrels for several years, but that dark color is amplified by the addition of molasses from one of the distillates in the final blend, according to Malcolm Gosling. If you’re looking for something more complex, check out Papa Seal Single Barrel, a delicious 15-year-older rum that is released in very limited numbers.

Rhum Barbancourt Like Martinique, Haiti produces rhum agricole made from sugarcane juice instead of molasses. Rhum Barbancourt is the largest and best known rum producer on the island, with a range that's affordable and available with different age statements, providing solid options for sipping on its own or putting to use in an interesting cocktail. These include the high-finish Estate Reserve, a 15-year-outdated spirit that is best enjoyed neat or maybe with a large ice cube; 3 Star, which is aged for four years despite the title; and Pango Rhum, an aged rum that's flavored with macerated pineapples and mangos.

[thefatrumpirate]

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Barbados 2005

Holmes Cay Single Cask Rum Barbados 2005

Holmes Cay Barbados 2005 Single Cask Rum. Holmes Cay are a new Independent bottler based in New York City. So for once US rum fans you have one over us Europeans! Add further insult to injury, this their first release is currently only distributed in New York. In part due to the US’s insane liquor laws.

Which is a bit of a shame for anyone outside of New York but I am sure that the 504 bottles of…

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Holmes Cay Mhoba 2017

Review by: Raygun The Auditor dropped a bunch of rum samples on me, and…well, I’ll do my best. Probably doubled or even tripled the number of rums I’ve tried in the last couple of months. Still feeling my way with it, but I’ll give this one a shot. Two firsts here: first South African rum and first from Holmes Cay. Reviewed from a sample, initially tasted blind. Rested about 15…

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Holmes Cay Infinity

Review by: The Auditor Review #1256; Rum #563 This here is the Holmes Cay Infinity cask, a bottling of rum that is a blend of 13 different distilleries with rums from Guyana, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Barbados, Venezuela and Brazil. The rums were put into a cask that aged for 20 years in Europe before being bottled at cask strength with no additives for Holmes Cay. The oldest rum in this…

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Holmes Cay Albion 9 Year 2014 Austin Rum Society Selection

Review by: The Auditor Review #1127; Rum #446 This rum was bottled by Holmes Cay, the American Independent bottler, for the Austin Rum Society in Texas. This molasses based rum from DDL in Guyana was distilled from molasses on the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still. This rum was aged for 8 years in the UK and 1 year in New York in ex-rum casks before being bottled with no…

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Holmes Cay Jamaica ITP 15yr 2007

Review by: The Auditor Review #1112; Rum #437 This is a bottling of rum from Jamaica by Holmes Cay, an American based independent bottler. This molasses based rum was distilled on a pot still at Long Pond, aged for 15 years in ex-bourbon in Jamaica before being bottled at high strength with no additives. The ITP marque from Long Pond is on the lower end of the scale for Jamaican rums, clocking…

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HOLMES CAY SINGLE ORIGIN Savanna Grand Arome

Review #1064; Rum #392 Holmes Cay, that American independent bottler, took a trip last year out to Reunion Island to visit Savanna distillery. They are one of the distilleries growing in popularity and known for the variety of rums they produce. Here we have one of the new single origin series Holmes Cay is bottling, an unaged Grand Arome, a molasses based rum that is fermented for 10 days befor…

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Holmes Cay Single Origin Reunion Island Agricole

Review #1063; Rum #391 Holmes Cay, that American independent bottler, took a trip last year out to Reunion Island to visit Savanna distillery. They are one of the distilleries growing in popularity and known for the variety of rums they produce. Here we have one of the new single origin series Holmes Cay is bottling, an unaged agricole from Savanna with no additives or ageing. Let’s see how it…

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Beenleigh 10 YEAR (2012) HOLMES CAY

Review by: The Auditor This rum comes to us by way of American independent bottler Holmes Cay. This rum was distilled at the Beenleigh Rum Distillers in Queensland, Australia. Distilled from Molasses on a Pot Still, it was aged for 6 years in American Oak in Australia, and then aged for 4 years in the UK before being bottled with no additives at high…

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Holmes Cay Fiji: 17 Year (2004) & Fiji 21 Year (2001)

Review by: The Auditor Holmes Cay, being one of the most prominent American independent bottlers, brought into the US market single casks of rum from South Pacific Distillery which is located in Fiji. Let’s see how these two long aged rums turned out. Holmes Cay Fiji 21 Year (2001) Distillery: South Pacific Distillery Bottler: Holmes Cay Region: Fiji Still: Pot ABV: 53.6%. Cask…

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MONYMUSK 8 YEAR (2014) Holmes Cay EMB

Review by: The Auditor Since I have tried a couple of tropically aged rums from Monymusk that were bottled by Habitation Velier over the past week, why not try a similarly aged rum from the same distillery. Holmes Cay reigns as one of the best independent bottlers in the U.S. so let’s see how this cask they selected fares. Distillery: Monymusk Bottler: Holmes…