To Respect Rum, Deal with it Like Wine

Even for those who take rum seriously, as you need to, you’re most likely doing it fallacious. The spirit has lengthy been served in shot kind or buried in candy-sweet drinks. Sufficient is sufficient, nearly as good rum deserves higher.

You see, good rum is so much like good wine. It may be complicated, sip-worthy stuff, wildly reflective of the area it was produced in. It’s simple to put in writing rum off as a tropical drink and little extra, nevertheless it’s merely not true. The flavour spectrum of the spirit is huge, because of variations in manufacturing from nation to nation. A rum could also be distilled from a sure sort of sugarcane, utilizing one sort of nonetheless and aged a sure method within the West Indies whereas one from the Dominican Republic is likely to be made a very completely different method.

The principles for making rum are longstanding and range from nation to nation. That’s a giant plus for the taster, as you’ll be able to actually get a sense of terroir bouncing from one rum-production nation to the subsequent in heat areas just like the Caribbean.

Discover regionality

I used to be fortunate sufficient to get my arms on some outstanding one-off rums from Plantation. There have been six in all, a part of the model’s Birds of Paradise launch in 2020 (the bottles are beautiful). Every rum was made in a unique nation and aged at a unique size. The oldest classic within the bunch was 2003.

The extent of character and distinctiveness in every providing was spectacular. I’ve spent years tasting via wines from everywhere in the planet and this tasting was completed in the identical normal spirit. I couldn’t consider the quantity of variation. The Jamaican rum from 2003,  produced from molasses in a double retort Vendome pot nonetheless and aged 16 years in bourbon casks, confirmed marzipan, prunes, inexperienced banana, tropical fruit, and black pepper. The one from Peru, a 2006 and my favourite of the bunch, was made in a mix of column and pot stills and confirmed darkish chocolate, citrus, and a few fruity esters. It was unbelievably clean and sleek. It went on like this, rewriting my already broad and respectful definition of wonderful rum.

Now, you don’t want a particular assortment of rums like this to benefit from the breadth and high quality of the spirit (though some bottles from the gathering do present up on-line every now and then and are price trying to find). Merely peruse a extra eclectic liquor retailer with a stable rum part and incorporate a number of completely different nations and types. Strive a number of completely different ages from outstanding locations like Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba, Guatemala, Martinique, and extra.

Style correctly

Deal with it like wine

Meaning put collectively an precise tasting, evaluating and contrasting a number of manufacturers from numerous international locations. Use a big glass so you’ll be able to actually get your nostril in there and rinse it in between tastes. Conduct a tasting with a pal and evaluate notes on what you’re detecting in every sip. Discover the context so you realize extra about what you’re having fun with, corresponding to what completely different stills are likely to do to rum, how growing old impacts each the colour and taste of the stuff, how local weather can play an element, and the variations between using sugarcane or molasses from the get-go.

Take notes and belief your palate

You could not style all the pieces you see listed within the tasting notes, however the extra you discover the class, the higher ready your palate might be. Rums may be comparable, however when tasted aspect by aspect, can actually flaunt their independence. And keep in mind to remain hydrated and take frequent water breaks. You’ll be able to deal with rum like wine, simply notice that it has a a lot larger ABV so train some warning. Think about including a bit water to the very best proof choices in your tasting and take your time; it’s not a race.

Pair it up

Sure, you’ll be able to pair with rum. Lighter rums do nice with dishes like ceviche, jerk rooster, even mac and cheese. Darker rums do nice with cheeses, grilled meats like steak, and pulled pork. Unsurprisingly, a variety of nice pairings honor the dishes which can be common in that particular rum-producing nation. Combine up a complementary snack unfold that features issues like dried fruit (mango, pineapple, and so on.), salted nuts, pretzels, candied ginger, and even some delicate sweets (assume angel meals cake or snickerdoodles).

There are a number of names to look out for. Renegade Rum from Grenada is a improbable gentle rum choice, exhibiting colossal caramelized plantain notes. Additionally try Diplomatico, Zacapa, Flor de Cana, and Appleton Property, simply to call a number of. Many of those labels characteristic numerous aged rums in addition to tweaks in types that mirror the place it’s made.

Editors’ Suggestions