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The Rumcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Will Hoekenga and John Gulla
Explore the world of rum by hearing from the people who are shaping it.
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- 4 weeks ago1h 49m
158: The Ultimate Blind Rum Tasting: 6 Incredibly Old & Rare Single Casks from Caroni, Hampden, DDL, and Beyond
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.This is an episode that's been months in the making. After our Rumcast Reserve project, Main Rum Company put together a mystery box of old and rare cask samples that they promised would wow us. Thanks to U.S. customs, it took nearly a year for us to actually get our hands on the samples, but once we finally did we can definitively say they did not disappoint. They were some of the finest rums we've ever tasted.For an extra bit of fun, we decided to try our luck at guessing their origins. This episode shows you how we did, all in real time, followed by a ranking of our personal favorites at the end. Here's a look ahead at what we tasted:1992 Pampero aged for 34 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 42.3% ABV1989 (or 1991?) Caroni aged 34-37 years in an ex-rum cask, 45.4% ABV, TMC8 mark1983 blend of various Hampden and Long Pond marks (including DOK, HGML, C<>H, <>H, HLCF, LPS, and STC♥E), full aging details not revealed, 48.6% ABV, listen for more detailsBlend of Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana rums with an average vintage of 1990, though rums from '82, '83, '86, and '89 are also in the blend, 48.9% ABV1989 Guyana (Uitvlugt Port Mourant) aged for 37 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 56.7% ABV1984 Clarendon (MMW mark) aged for 42 years (including 34 at origin) in an ex-rum cask, 59.7% ABVThese were all cask samples from Main Rum Company, so everything is cask strength and single cask. Have a listen, and see how wrong we were!
- Jul 30, 20261h 51m
157: What's After Black Tot + the Real Life of a Rum Brand Ambassador with Mitch Wilson
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 caught up with Mitch Wilson just a week before the end of his 7-year run as the brand ambassador for Black Tot Rum to discuss his exciting next gig, reflect on his Black Tot tenure, and go deep on what it's actually like to live on the road as a brand ambassador.We discuss:The new role he'll be taking on in the rum worldPerception vs. reality of being a brand ambassadorWhat it's like spending 250+ days on the road in a yearThe challenges small spirits brands face in the marketHow big brands buy their way onto cocktail menusThe daiquiri strategy for becoming a brand ambassadorHis first (and worst) masterclass performanceHow to ask for better rum at bars without sounding like an assholeThe prospect of single-flagon Black Tot releasesAnd more!As we mentioned at the beginning, come join us for the live Rumcast show on September 19 at Boston Rum Week!
- Jul 12, 20261h 13m
156: The Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket Round 2: Modern Daiquiris
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: we're back with the second entry in our series to determine the best daiquiri rums available on the market, the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket!This time, we're breaking down the "modern" portion of the bracket. Compared to the "classic daiquiri" rums in round one, these rums are typically more flavor-forward, and often composed of both pot and column still rums from multiple countries. Some of them also feature aged (and unfiltered) components.From heavy favorites like Probitas, to overlooked gems like Worthy Park Silver, to unavoidable bar staples like Planteray 3 Stars, to newcomers like Grander Cane Harvest, we put them all to the test to see what stood out and what disappointed.Here's the full rum list:Probitas / Veritas, the collaboration between Foursquare Distillery and Hampden EstateHolmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum (the people's choice vote winner!)Hamilton Breezeway BlendPlanteray 3 StarsWorthy Park SilverBanter White RumTranscontinental Rum Line High SeasGrander Cane HarvestCheck it out and let us know which rums you prefer from the bunch. Cheers!
- Jun 20, 20261h 25m
155: The Search for the Best American Rums with Mainland Rum's Seth Benhaim
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 founder of the only independent rum bottler exclusively focused on sourcing rums from the United States, Seth Benhaim of Mainland Rum.Since launching a little over a year ago, Mainland Rum has released some of the longest aged American rums to hit the market in recent years, including a 10-year-old Louisiana and a 9-year-old California to go along with releases sourced from Georgia and Florida.With their first unaged release from a Minnesota distillery set to hit the market soon, we figured it was a good time to catch up and learn more about Mainland's vision. We discussed:Arriving at the idea to focus solely on American rumThe challenge of sourcing longer aged rums from craft distilleriesNegative perceptions associated with the categoryThe double-edged sword of releasing rums from closed distilleriesFirst impressions of Mainland's unaged "S. Pombe" release sourced from Black Frost DistillingThe future of the American rum categoryAnd moreHave a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions!Learn more about Mainland Rum on their website.
- Jun 6, 20261h 20m
154: Classic Daiquiris: Which Rum Makes the Best One?
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.This episode is the first entry in our ongoing Daiquiri Bracket series. Join us for a head-to-head showdown between 8 rums to see which one makes the best daiquiri in the classic category — the crisp, clean, refreshing style of daiquiri that made the drink famous worldwide.Can anything top the beloved Cuban Havana Club? Are Bacardi rums as bland as their reputation among rum nerds would imply? Should multicountry blends belong in this category? Do pot stills have a place if we stretch our definition of "classic" a bit?We tackled all these questions and more as we tasted our way through daiquiris made with the following rums:Havana Club 3Don Q CristalBacardi HeritageBacardi SuperiorHamilton White 'StacheDiplomatico PlanasFlor de Caña Extra SecoRon Barceló BlancoHave a listen to find out which rums reigned supreme! And let us know...do you have a favorite among these?
- May 23, 20261h 24m
153: The Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket Part 1: The 32-Rum Selection Show
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've got something totally different for you today — a new series of episodes to determine the ultimate daiquiri rums currently available in the (mostly U.S.) market! We're calling it the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket, AKA The Daiq Braiq™.32 rums will compete across 4 different categories of daiquiri rum styles. This episode is all about determining which 32 rums make the cut, and we need your help! During the episode we select our 28 top picks, leaving 1 open slot remaining in each category. Your job after listening is to vote on each category’s final rum.Here's the link to make your voice heard (it includes spoilers of the rums we selected, so be sure to listen first!): Submit Your People's Choice VotesBe sure to listen and send in your picks by Wednesday, May 27!Excited for all your thoughts and hot takes on this one. Cheers!
- Apr 30, 20261h 20m
152: Behind The Rums of Mexico Series with Jason Cox
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 caught up with Alambique Serrano founder Jason Cox about his latest project, The Rums of Mexico — a wide ranging series of rums sourced from aguardienteros and distilleries across Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Jalisco.We recently shared our thoughts on these rums in a bonus episode, but this interview with Jason gave us a chance to learn much more about the stories behind the rums, including:How the project came aboutThe great (and not-so-great) rums Jason tried along the way to partnering with the 4 producers featured in these releasesWhy he sourced his first molasses-based rum, Melaza con Muck, for this seriesThe wild flavor profile of "Caldo"Each producer's backstoryThe inspiration behind the label artworkAging plansAnd more!Plus, we also caught up on all things Alambique Serrano and discussed what's next for the brand — including the upcoming second wave of Vida Nativa rums.You can learn more about The Rums of Mexico on their website.Have a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions!
- Apr 4, 20262h 2m
151: Blind Tasting & Selecting La Maison & Velier's Next Flag Series Rums
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.This episode is something fun we've never done before: Kate Perry (La Maison & Velier) and Brett Kozinn (PM Spirits) presented us with 7 mystery samples that are all candidates for the next wave of Flag Series releases for the U.S. market. We tasted through them together, debated our favorites, and attempted to guess origins before the exciting reveals, all while discussing all the factors that go into selecting rums like this for release. It was a super fun experience, and a cool sneak peek at what's to come from La Maison & Velier. Give it a listen and let us know how we did! We'd also love to know which of these rums sounded the most intriguing to you. Send us an email or comment on social to let us know.
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