The Rumcast

Will Hoekenga and John Gulla
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The Rumcast

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

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    The Future of the Jamaica Rum GI with Christopher Gentles, GM of the Spirits Pool Association

    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. In this episode we get an inside look at the status and future of the Jamaica Rum GI (Geographic Indicator) with Christopher Gentles, general manager of the organization championing the GI (and doing other interesting things), Jamaica's Spirits Pool Association. If you're a fan of Jamaican rum, this interview is a must-listen. We discuss: National Rums of Jamaica's legal challenge to the GI What rum enthusiasts can expect to happen next Why the GI is important to Jamaican rum The debates over aging at origin and adding sugar Creating a tasting panel for Jamaican rum marks The evolution of the Jamaican rum category in recent years And much more! Note: After the recording of this episode, the Jamaica Gleaner reported that National Rums of Jamaica has accused other producers of Jamaican rum involved in the GI of anti-competitive practices and sought help from the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20250112/update-rum-fight-goes-fair-trading-commission If you want a deeper look at the Jamaica Rum GI, check out these articles: Jamaica Observer: Court battle over ‘Jamaica rum’ unfortunate, says Jimmy Lawrence; NRJ argues litigation necessary as JIPO erred in GI designation - https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/11/27/court-battle-jamaica-rum-unfortunate-says-jimmy-lawrencenrj-argues-litigation-necessary-jipo-erred-gi-designation/ The Gleaner: New GI rum rules bar aging outside of Jamaica - https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20241009/new-gi-rum-rules-bar-ageing-outside-jamaica Rum Wonk: Jamaica's Rum GI Changes - Overview and Analysis - https://www.rumwonk.com/p/jamaicas-rum-gi-changes-overview Rum Revelations: Jamaica GI Rumblings with a French Twist - https://www.rumrevelations.com/post/jamaica-rum-gi-rumblings-with-a-french-twist

    1h 5m

  2. 12/29/2024

    The Rumcast Single Cask Project Part 2: Name Update + Bottle Possibilities

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/6W4DGMdbmn8 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. In the second installment of our Rumcast Single Cask Project series, we decide on a name for the brand and debate bottle designs ahead of our trip to Main Rum Company at the end of January. You can view the bottles in our bottles spreadsheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zR6CwaPLJZ9orhEXR8vuEd-8UEjbtCxCahxNY7pyVvs/edit?usp=sharing Like we mention in the intro, if you or someone you know has label design skills and is interested in collaborating (and knows the rum world), send us an email at host@rumcast.com! As a reminder, this episode is part of an ongoing series in which we take you along with us as we purchase a barrel of rum and do our first single cask release. If you missed Part 1, you can check it out here: https://www.rumcast.com/episodes/rumcast-single-cask-project-part-1

    1h 13m

  3. 12/21/2024

    2024 Favorites: Our Top Rums, Distilleries, and Bottlers of the Year

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/d_xo-TGDuq0 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. Happy holidays and New Year (in advance), everyone! In our fifth (!) annual Year in Review episode we take a look back at our favorite rums of the year in the following categories: Unaged molasses rum Unaged cane juice rum Aged rum (5 years or less) Aged rum (Over 5 years) “New to me” rum Best value rum Most surprising rum Overall rum Plus, we each throw in picks for Distillery of the Year and Bottler of the Year, along with another round of "Am I the a**hole for being lower on this rum?" and another classic rum-themed holiday tune from John Gulla. Have a listen, and let us know your favorites in these categories from the past year! Also, what did we miss? What were we too high or low on? We'd love to hear your takes. The List (Spoilers Ahead!) . . . . . . . . . . . Unaged Rum (Molasses): Will: Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum from Raising Glasses John: Pelée’s Fury Martinique Grand Arôme Rum from Raising Glasses Unaged Rum (Cane Juice): Will: Alambique Serrano — Cartier 30 John: Alambique Serrano — Cartier 30 Aged Rum (5 Years or Less): Will: Hampden Estate Great House 2024 John: Ghana 2020 from Down Island Spirits Aged Rum (Over 5 Years): Will: Fiji 2012 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier John: Cambodia 2016 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier “New to Me” Rum: Will: O Reizinho Limited Edition White Rum John: The category of UK Rum Value Rum: Will: Shakara 12-Year John: Shakara 12-Year Most Surprising Rum: Will: Unaged Rum from Line 44 Distillery John: Ten To One Five Origin Select “Am I the A**hole?" Rum: Will: El Dorado High Ester Blend John: El Dorado High Ester Blend Overall Rum: Will: Alambique Serrano Blend #3: Matadiablo John: Fiji 2012 Flag Series Rum from La Maison & Velier Distillery of the Year: Will: Krassel Family Distillery (Alambique Serrano / Cañada) John: Krassel Family Distillery (Alambique Serrano / Cañada) Bottler of the Year: Will: Raising Glasses John: La Maison & Velier

    1h 44m

  4. 12/16/2024

    Semi-Blind Rum Review #8: Swell de Spirits Réunion Rhum Agricole 2011 (Isautier)

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/SuTLmF_z-uE 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. We're back with another entry in our semi-blind reviews series — but yet again with a twist! In this mystery sample edition, both of us have no idea what the identity of this rum is as we review it. Along the way, we offer our best guesses as to the rum's origin and key characteristics. This time, it's a 13-year-old rhum agricole from Isautier Distillery in Réunion Island bottled by Swell de Spirits. Rum specs: Bottler: Swell de Spirits Origin: Réunion Island Distillery: Isautier Base material: Cane juice Distillation: Column Age: 13 years Cask: Ex-Cognac ABV: 59.4% A special thank you to Rumcast patron Ben for providing the mystery sample.

    24 min

  5. 12/08/2024

    Introducing Rosalie Bay: Dominica's First-of-Its-Kind Rum Distillery

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/pJ3JI8SNXPQ 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. In this episode, we went inside a brand new distillery in a rarely explored rum origin of the Caribbean — Dominica (not the Dominican Republic). Rosalie Bay Distilling is a unique operation that is producing rum from sugarcane juice supplied by 80+ local farmers, and contributing 100% of its profits toward conservation efforts that protect sea turtles, coral reef, whales, and more. We got to sit down with Kernean George (head distiller), Marcella Harris (conservationist and board member of Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organization), and Brett Steigerwaldt (distillery advisor and head distiller at Lyon Rum) to learn about Rosalie Bay from a variety of angles, including: How a chance encounter at a Maryland rum distillery sparked Rosalie Bay Distilling A brief history of rum production in Dominica, and why it differs from neighboring islands Martinique and Guadeloupe Kernean's journey from not drinking rum to becoming a head rum distiller How Rosalie Bay developed its style of cane juice rum What it's like to source cane from 80+ local farmers The unique terroir of Dominica The dangers to sea turtles, coral reef, and sperm whales — and how the distillery funds efforts to protect them And much more! Links to things mentioned during the episode: You can order bottles of Rosalie Bay via Raising Glasses (it's also currently available in Massachusetts retail stores): https://raisingglasses.com/product/rbd1/ Rosalie Bay's website: https://rosaliebaydistillery.com/ Oceans Forward's website: https://www.oceansforward.org/ The Last Turtle documentary (available on YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncI-HSp22g0 National Geographic's Secrets of the Whales docuseries (episode 4 features Dominica's sperm whales): https://www.disneyplus.com/series/secrets-of-the-whales/3aHpgjYaJTM5

    1h 50m

  6. 11/24/2024

    The Rumcast Guide to Madeira Rum

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/pJ3JI8SNXPQ In this return to our Rumcast Guides series, we dive into Portugal's twist on agricole rum — Madeira! Madeira has been producing amazing cane juice rums for a very long time, but has only started becoming more well known in the broader rum world in recent years. So there's no better time than now to explore it! We take you through: A brief history of rum production and sugarcane cultivation in Madeira Their distinctive rules for rum production How their mythical "Chamber of Tasters" tasting panels for approving authentic Rums da Madeira work A look at each of the current Madeira rum distilleries Tastings of several Madeira rums from O Reizinho, Engenhos do Norte, Vinha Alta, and Engenho Novo On-the-ground reporting from a Rumcast correspondent who recently visited Madeira The reveal of a "Madeira Mystery" blind tasting And more! Related links: The official Rum da Madeira website Madeira Rum certification process PDF Madeira Rum organoleptic requirements PDF Our episode 55 interview with Peter Holland Our episode 73 interview with Richard Nicholson Secret Rum Bar's Madeira Rum series Fat Rum Pirate's Calheta rum review P.S. 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.

    1h 58m

  7. 11/10/2024

    A Flag Series Tasting Guide: Trying 3 New Rums from La Maison & Velier

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/9XzPKQV2kQU Check out the Rumcast Patreon community for more bonus content like this: patreon.com/therumcast In this free edition of our monthly bonus Patreon episode, we taste through three highly anticipated new rums in La Maison & Velier's Flag Series: Cambodia 2016: an 8-year-old pot still rum from Samai Distillery (48.7% ABV) Jamaica 2015: a 9-year-old pot still rum from Worthy Park (60.4% ABV) Fiji 2012: a 12-year-old pot still rum from South Pacific Distilleries (64.5% ABV) Tune in for some background on Cambodian rum, our thoughts on each rum, some reflections on the Flag Series as a whole, a digression on Bob Dylan, and more! Note: These samples were provided to us free of charge, and with no promise of a review or episode like this. Have you tried any of these yet? Is there one you're particularly interested in? Shoot us an email or comment and let us know! P.S. 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.

    48 min

  8. 11/03/2024

    Semi-Blind Rum Review #7: Compagnie Des Indes Trinidad 2003 (TDL)

    Want to see video of this episode? Go here to watch on YouTube and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/efPj4pXerVI We're back with our semi-blind reviews series — but with a twist! In this mystery sample edition, both of us have no idea what the identity of this rum is before diving in headfirst for a review. Along the way, we offer our best guesses as to the rum's origin and key characteristics. This time, it's a 20-year-old rum from Trinidad Distillers Limited bottled by Compagnie Des Indes. Tune in to see how close we get! A special thank you to Rumcast patron Ben for providing the mystery sample. Have a listen and let us know what you think of this rum! P.S. 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.

    22 min
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4.9
out of 5
126 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    132
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Rumcast

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