Review: RumChata Limon
RumChata Limon will be released nationally in April. Living in the Midwest in March has finally paid off as a few stores in Illinois and Wisconsin currently have a limited supply on hand. The original RumChata was launched in 2009, and today it is the second best selling cream liqueur in the US only trailing Baileys Irish Cream in sales. While Limon is not RumChata’s first line extension, they currently produce Frappa Chata, 2 RTD blends of Rumchata, real dairy cream, and iced coffee, this is their first flavored RumChata. Throughout the years Baileys has introduced over a dozen flavor variants of their Original blend so it should come as no surprise RumChata has introduced a new flavor of their own. RumChata Limon blends Caribbean rum with real dairy cream, vanilla, natural and artificial flavors, and lemon. Read more 
Review: Captain Morgan Orange Vanilla Twist
Captain Morgan Orange Vanilla Twist was just released. It is a Limited Edison Summer variety. As I watch the snow gently fall outside my window nearly one month before the start of spring, I only wish we were closer to summer. A quick glance of the Captain’s website shows this is one of 12 varieties of Captain Morgan. The rum base is made from a blend of rums distilled in St Croix from Caribbean sugar cane molasses in a continuous still. The rum is oak barrel aged for 1 year. Spice and other natural flavors are blended before bottling at 60 proof. Read more
Review: Railean Coconut Rum
Railean Coconut Rum is one of seven rums crafted at the Railean Distillery. They also produce 3 agave, 2 whiskey, and 1 vodka spirit. Railean Coconut starts with a rum base made from Grade A molasses and unsulfered sugar, grown and refined in Texas. It is distilled twice in a hybrid pot/column re-flux still with 7 metal bubble cap trays. Kelly and Matthew Railean founded the distillery in 2006, becoming the first legal rum distilled in Texas. 100% natural coconut extract and 100% natural cane syrup is blended with the rum base before bottling at 80 proof. Read more
Review: SoCal Silver Rum
SoCal Silver Rum was released in 2019. It has already received critical acclaim picking up several Gold Medals along the way. It all started when Glenn Wilson’s wife purchased a home brew kit for him about five years ago. Glenn soon decided he wanted to create a beverage he had a real passion for, rum. After years of experimentation Glenn created SoCal Silver Rum. Glenn worked with a distillery in San Diego to produce this rum to his specifications. SoCal Silver is made from first pressed cane sugar, water, and two different strains of yeast. One strain is grown in Glenn’s garage, and the other is sourced from a 300 year old Master Distillery in the French West Indies. Read more
Review: Kulu Organic Rum
Kulu Organic Rum is one of three rums crafted at Hawaii Sea Spirits on the island of Maui. The others include Kula Dark Rum, and Kula Toasted Coconut Rum. Until recently they were just available on the island of Hawaii. The distillery also makes Ocean Organic Vodka. Kula is made from organic sugar cane grown on the 80 acres surrounding the distillery. Deep ocean mineral water sourced from 3000 feet below sea level is slow blended with the distilled rum to reduce to 80 proof. Read more
Review: Grander 12 Year Rum
Grander 12 Year Rum was launched October 2017 by CEO and Brand Founder Dan DeHart. It is crafted at Ingenio San Carlos Distillery in Panama. 1000 pound marlins carry a prized name, Grander. Land one and you are among legends. Grander 12 Year Rum is one of four Grander rum varieties made from estate grown sugar cane grown in Herrara Panama and pure Panamanian water. No sugar, color, or flavors are added. In crafting the rum cane sugar is harvested and transformed into grade A molasses. The molasses is fermented with a proprietary locally grown yeast and distilled in a 1922 American Copper and Brass Copper Still. The rum is matured for 12 years in previously used bourbon barrels. Some barrels are sherry seasoned. The rum barrels are blended, and cellulose plate and non chill filtered before bottling at 90 proof. Read more
Review: Kuleana Rum Works HuiHui
Kuleana Rum Works HuiHui was launched by CEO and Co-Founder Steve Jefferson December 2018. HuiHui is a Hawaiian term which translates to something that is mixed, mingled, united or pooled together. HuiHui is one of three rums currently crafted at Kuleana Rum Works in Kohala Hawaii. One of those rums is Nanea, a blend of aged rums from Guatemala, Guadeloupe, and El Salvador. The other, Kuleana Rum Works Hawaiian Rum Agricole is made from fresh pressed sugarcane juice. The juice is sourced from 40 varieties of sugarcane grown on their 45 acre farm and harvested by hand. HuiHui is made from a blend of white rums including a light molasses based Papua New Guinea rum, their Hawaiian Rum Agricole and a rum Agricole distilled in Martinique. Read more
Review: Dove Tale Puerto Rico Rum
Dove Tale Puerto Rico Rum was launched in 2016. It was created by John Drew who also launched the previously reviewed Dove Tale Florida Rum, John Drew Rye, and Briton Mash Destroyer, a blend of 45% rum and 55% Kentucky Bourbon. I picked up this bottle several months ago after reviewing the very tasty Dove Tale Florida Rum and I forgot about it. When you have 1800 bottles of alcohol behind your bar sometimes a bottle becomes MIA. Production details are limited as is the availability of this rum. It appears it is no longer produced. I still see it on store shelves at Binny’s Beverage Depot, Chicago’s largest liquor superstore and it is also available from some online retailers. Dove Tale Puerto Rico Rum as the name would suggest is distilled in Puerto Rico from Florida sugarcane refiner’s grade blackstrap molasses. It is aged for four years in previously used bourbon barrels. Read more
Review: Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Monkey
Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Monkey was released April 2019 in California. Distribution is spreading throughout the US. Since starting as an off shoot of Ballast Point Brewing back in 2007, Cutwater Spirits is now a completely separate company. They have grown into a 50,000 square foot production facility where they produce over a dozen spirits, a growing line of canned cocktails, and soon frozen cocktail pops. Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Monkey is made with rum, cream, natural cocoa rib, banana, cold brew coffee, and caramel color. Read more
Review: Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit
Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit is a seasonal Limited release cream liqueur. Cutwater Spirits produces a complete line of spirits at their distillery in San Diego California. Their spirits include Vodka, Gin, Whiskey, Tequila, Rum, and Liqueur’s. They also make a complete line of canned cocktails and a mild and spicy Bloody Mary cocktail mix. In crafting Tiki Holiday they start with the Bali Hai Tiki Gold Rum base that is made from pure cane sugar. Cream, cinnamon, allspice, and natural pineapple and coconut flavors are blended before bottling at 40 proof. Read more