The Rumcast

Will Hoekenga and John Gulla
  • 4.9 (132)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Explore the world of rum by hearing from the people who are shaping it.

  1. 2D AGO

    Richard Seale & Ian Burrell Part 2: Jamaica Rum GI Debates, Aging Myths, and History vs. Tradition

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Foursquare's Richard Seale and Ian Burrell, the Global Rum Ambassador. In this episode, we discussed common misconceptions of the Jamaica Rum GI, including a fascinating deep dive into the history of Jamaican rum aging overseas, media coverage of the story, and what might happen next. If you missed Part 1 on Richard and Ian's latest rum project, you can check it out here. You can listen to our previous episode on the Jamaica Rum GI with Christopher Gentles of the Spirits Pool Association here.

    1h 15m

  2. MAR 1

    Richard Seale & Ian Burrell Part 1: Their New Project, the Future of Foursquare's ECS, & More

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we sat down with the dynamic duo of Foursquare's Richard Seale and the Global Rum Ambassador himself, Ian Burrell, for a conversation that covered so much ground we broke it into two parts. In Part 1, we discuss their new project that's been years in the making, other collaborations on the horizon, the future of Foursquare's Exceptional Cask Selection series, and much more. Keep an eye out for Part 2 next week. Cheers!

    1h 19m

  3. JAN 26

    Our Top 8 Predictions & Questions for Rum in 2026

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's time for our annual predictions for the rum world in 2026, but with a slight format twist. Rather than just making predictions, we also include the biggest rum-related questions on our minds as we head into another year. What rum predictions or questions do you have for the next 12 months? Hit us up via email or social and let us know!

    1h 26m

  4. 12/23/2025

    The Rumcast's Favorite Rums of 2025

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. It's time once again for our annual lookback at our favorite rums of the year! This time, we both select favorites from the following categories for 2025: Value rum "New to me" rum Unaged rum Aged rum Blend Single cask "Am I the a*****e?" rum Overall rum Bottler of the year Distillery of the year As mentioned during the show, you can donate to the American Friends of Jamaica's Hurricane Melissa relief fund here: https://theafj.app.neoncrm.com/forms/afj-disaster-relief-fund Tune in and let us know your own favorites from 2025! Thanks, as always, for listening and supporting the show throughout the year. We're looking forward to running it back with you in 2026.

    1h 43m

  5. 12/07/2025

    Carrying on the Mount Gay Legacy with Trudiann Branker, Master Blender

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we sat down with Trudiann Branker to go inside her role as master blender at one of the rum world's iconic distilleries, Mount Gay. After taking over for former master blender Allen Smith, Trudiann has played a huge role in shaping the current era of Mount Gay and Barbados rum, from reformulating traditional blends to charting a new course with the estate rum program. We discussed: The surprise conversation that led to her becoming master blender What it was like to create new blends for XO, Black Barrel, and more The making of a Master Blender Collection rum The balance between tradition and trying new things Her philosophy as a blender Mount Gay's production process The future of the estate rum program Her table tennis skills And much more! This was one of our favorite conversations of the year, so we're excited for you to hear it! You can get more details on the rums discussed in this episode on Mount Gay's website. Catch up on our past episodes with others from the Mount Gay universe: Dr. Frank Ward Talks Barbados Rum, Mount Gay, and More Inside Mount Gay's Estate Rum & Agricultural Program with Jacklyn Broomes and Maggie Campbell

    1h 21m

  6. 11/23/2025

    O Reizinho and the Tradition of Madeira Rum Making

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums. We talked to Pedro about: What sets Madeira rums apart Evolving his father's small distillery from a clandestine "friends and family" operation to a commercial producer The unique challenges of cane cultivation in Madeira What it's like to send your rums through the tasting panel that certifies Madeira rum The pros and cons of operating a distillery from your own garage The direct-fire Portuguese stills that craft O Reizinho's rum Madeira's quirky age statement rules Local rum culture And more! If you're interested in learning more about Madeira rum, be sure to check out our Guide to Madeira Rum episode.

    1h 25m

  7. 11/09/2025

    Building a Beginner's Rum Bar in 2025

    Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we discussed something that we've somehow never dedicated a show to (but with a twist, of course): assembling a rum bar that would offer a beginner a complete view of the rum world. The twist, however, is that we have to do it in as few bottles as possible. Needless to say, it's a tough exercise! We debated how to define a beginner, catering to different spirits-experience levels, how to possibly represent a category as diverse as rum with just a handful or two of bottles, and a whole lot more. This is as much as episode for enthusiasts who often recommend rums to beginners as it is for folks who might consider themselves beginners. Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Cheers!

    1h 26m

  8. 10/30/2025

    Announcement: The Rumcast Reserve Pre-Sale Is Live!

    Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can now pre-order our first-ever Rumcast Reserve single cask releases online! Head to our online retailer to grab your bottles today.

    11 min
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4.9
out of 5
132 Ratings

About

Explore the world of rum by hearing from the people who are shaping it.

Information

  • Creator
    Will Hoekenga and John Gulla
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Rumcast

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