The Rumcast

Will Hoekenga and John Gulla
  • 4.9 (130)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

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

  1. 6D AGO

    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 asshole?" 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

  2. DEC 7

    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

  3. NOV 23

    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

  4. NOV 9

    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

  5. OCT 30

    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

  6. OCT 26

    Adventures in Rum Experimentation at South Africa's Mhoba Distillery

    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 watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode we finally caught up with Robert Greaves, founder of Mhoba Rum, the South African cane juice rum distillery that's pumped out a steady supply of distinctive, high-octane ester bombs over the last several years. Robert's been on our list ever since we heard he not only founded the distillery, but also built most of it himself, from the pot stills to the sugarcane press. He also brought his distiller, Shaldon Engelbrecht, along for the ride, who's behind many of the distillery's current experiments in high ester rum production. Completing the guest triumvirate is Eric Kaye of Holmes Cay, who is bringing a handful of cool Mhoba releases to the U.S. right now, both under the distillery's label and his own. We discussed: What it was like to have Richard Seale try the rum in Mhoba's early days The unique process behind their "Select" unaged rum The influence of Martinique and Jamaican production styles on Mhoba Adventures in extended, high acid fermentations How their unique new high ester blend "The Shaldon" came to be The perils and potential of aging rum in peated whisky casks And much more! Related links: The Mhoba website Rum Revelations' Mhoba travelogue (great pictures and details on the distillery) All the details on Holmes Cay's latest Mhoba bottles

    1h 33m

  7. OCT 12

    Unveiling the 2025 Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft Champion + Results Breakdown

    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 watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. We've tallied the votes and are ready to reveal the champion of the 4th annual Rumcast fantasy rum draft (along with the debut of a new hit rum-themed song from John Gulla — be sure to listen to the very end). Guest participant Arminder Randhawa of The Rum Revival joined us to break down the voting results for each category, which included a number of extremely close finishes and surprises. Was it a repeat victory for Arminder? A return to glory for former champion Will? A first-time breakthrough for John? Tune in to find out! After you've watched, let us know — were there any surprises to you? Injustices? Was a deserving winner crowned? Share your thoughts via email (host@rumcast.com) or social media!

    1h 7m

  8. OCT 5

    Habitation Velier: Tasting Their 2025 Releases + a Brief History of an Iconic Rum Series

    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 watch the video version of this episode on YouTube. In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the iconic series of the rum world: Habitation Velier, Luca Gargano's collection of unique pot still rums from all corners of the globe. We start with a look back at a decade of Habitation releases and what's made the series such an enduring presence in the modern rum world. We then taste through the most recent 2025 releases, including a South African rum from Mhoba Distillery, their second release of Reunion's legendary HERR rum from Distillerie de Savanna, and a bottle from the now closed Renegade Distillery in Grenada. Finally, we throw out some of our own ideas for where the series could go next. What have been some of the standout Habitation Velier releases to you? Have thoughts on any of the releases we tasted? Leave a comment and let us know! Show Links: Velier's Habitation Velier Page The Lone Caner's "Key Rums of the World" article on Habitation Velier

    1h 27m
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4.9
out of 5
130 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
    158
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Rumcast

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