Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard – April 2023

Dead Reckoning is BACK! It’s time to ‘Hoist the Colours’ and ‘Pipe the Side’ to welcome none other than Lord Horatio Nelson himself to our monthly rum shenanigans.  With rum originally from the legendary Antigua Distillery and then lovingly finished in Australia for another 2 years in a first-fill Apera cask and then bottled at a superb 50% – So arm the cannons and make way for the Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard!

Dead Reckoning rum releases ALWAYS SELL OUT and this will be no different with only 355 BOTTLES of this collectors rum produced.

The Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard started its life in the Antigua Distillery located in English Harbour (home of the ‘English Harbour Rum’ brand), distilled from a fermented molasses wash. The column stills at Antigua Distillery are made from 100% copper (even the nuts and bolts!). The spirit these stills produce is ultra-pure – at 95%.

It was then aged for 2 years in Antigua in an ex-bourbon barrel before being sent to S.A. where it was lovingly transferred into a first fill South Australian Apera cask and then left for two more years to age in the dry Adelaide climate. During that time, whilst the volume in the cask shrank – the ABV actually increased by 11%!

Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard

Lord Horatio Nelson spent 1784-1787 as Captain of the HMS Boreas, assigned as Senior Captain (second in charge overall) at English Harbour, Antigua. His main mission was to enforce the ‘Navigation Act’ – preventing British Islands trading with the USA – which had won it’s independence only a year before in 1783.  He also oversaw the completion of the dockyard that was to bear his name.

I don’t think we really need to introduce the Dead Reckoning  brand to any but our newest members. But for those who don’t know – head honcho Justin is an ex- superyacht skipper who spent a significant portion of his life swanning about Caribbean rum bars of all sizes (and reputes!).  When he ‘grew up’ he did the only sensible thing for a man in his position and became a rum importer. But more importantly he started the ‘Dead Reckoning’ brand of independently bottled rums from around the world.  In a nutshell, Justin’s Dead Reckoning brings rums from around the world, and finishes them in a variety of casks sourced from [mainly] South Australian wineries, in the outskirts of Adelaide. This extremely dry climate has been proven to actually increase the ABV of Justin’s casks as the S.A. angels seem to prefer water when they take their share!

Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard

Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard Tasting Notes:

Nose: A sweet cocophany of chewy dried figs, juicy lunchbox sultanas, toffee apples, dried banana chips and  desiccated coconut.

Palate: Crisp, clean and dry on the pallet with granny smith apples and vanilla custard chased around by stewed fruits and ginger-y spices.  

Finish: Not a lot of length to the finish, but it’s a fun ride whilst its there!  – espresso coffee, dark chocolate and more sultanas with a mild white pepper salute right on the tail.

The Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard is quite a textbook mix of bourbon and sherry (ok, ok… Apera) cask characteristics – floral apple and vanilla notes from the bourbon and the dark stewed fruit and pepper from the Apera cask. The characteristic column still ‘crispness’ is also there to complete the lesson.

Get ready for the Best Pot Still Rum at the 2022 Australian Rum Awards. Let that sink in for a second. Best. Pot Still. Rum.

  • PRICE : $159

  • ABV : 50%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Antigua/Australia

  • NO Added Sugar / NO Added Colour

Dead Reckoning Nelson’s Dockyard

FROM DEAD RECKONING

Toffee, caramel, roasted coffee, chestnut & a hint of black pepper 

Whilst working in the mega yacht industry, I was fortunate to spend several months a year living in English harbour in Antigua. 

Nelson’s dockyard was the location of many a party with fellow crew members.  It is also place where Lord Horatio Nelson spent time.

This is where my love for this Rum developed as it was a daily staple for all yachting crew. 

In the past English Harbour rums did have slight adulteration, but I believe they have now changed their formula so no longer will you see sugar added to any of their rums. 

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

Justin, has immersed himself in rum for the past 20 years; a journey starting as a deck scrubbing lad with a thirst for Rum and adventure culminated in him becoming a Chief Officer; driving billionaire’s mega yachts around the world. This life of salty seadog adventure took him to Rum’s heartland, the Caribbean islands for 6 months a year, every year.

When he wasn’t at the helm of a mega-yacht he could be found hanging off a bar or at a distillery sampling the best the Caribbean rum scene had to offer. Upon ending his days at sea there was only one thing he knew better that navigating around the world’s oceans- that was Rum. For 10 years Justin has scoured the globe discovering & importing the world’s best rums into Australia.

Dead Reckoning is Australia’s first independent rum bottler, and each release from his bond-store is an anticipated event that never fails to please!  The Rum Tribe is incredibly proud of our close association with Justin and the Dead Reckoning brand.

ABOUT ENGISH HARBOUR RUM

The company Antigua Distillery Limited (ADL) was formed in 1932 by 8 local businessmen and in 1933 they established their own distillery on Rat Island (named like that because of its shape) – the authorities didn’t want a distillery on the mainland due to potential smell and noise. Originally equipped with a multi-column Savalle still, it was replaced in 1991 with a 3-column still from John Dore & Co. made entirely out of copper – bolts included. The 3-column has been modified into a 5-column still making it shorter, apparently due to the danger of tropical storms in the area. 

While the ADL website does talk about their yeast and fermentation process that “adds a level of flavour to the liquid in the tank, and it also produces a number of compounds that contribute directly to the complex flavours and aromas of the final product” the wash is distilled to 95% ABV making it pretty much neutral in taste. Most of the flavours come from the maturation process. ADL ages their rum in charred 200 litres ex-Bourbon casks. 

Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask – March 2023

After a COMPLETE SELL OUT Last Year, Lord Bryon is back! A SINGLE CASK bottling of Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask specifically chosen by the Rum Tribe, pure single origin rum from one of the legends of Australian Rum.

Now, last years Lord Byron ‘Members Extra’ release was super limited and completely SOLD OUT and that rum went on to win DOUBLE GOLD at the Melbourne Rum Awards and a SILVER at the Australian Rum Awards.

This month, after months of planning, waiting and travelling to sample casks – we are proud to release another ‘Super Cask’ of Lord Byron Pure Single Rum – and this time an outturn big enough for the whole Tribe to get some.

The Lord Byron Rum Distillery operates close to the heart of Byron Bay and Brian and this crew operates with the ‘Byron’ mindset when it comes to their products. Pure, single rum … just as nature intended it.  And as Lord Byron Distillery’s mantra goes – ‘You Will Taste the Difference’. In fact, Lord Byron Distillery was the first Australian Rum distillery to release Pure Single Rum under the internationally recognised Gargano classification system. 

Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask

Lord Byron’s pure, single cask rums are produced using local molasses (from the same local farmer cooperative-owned sugar mill that Winding Road Distillery buys its cane juice from) and spring water from the family dairy farm just outside Byron. The fermented ‘beer’ is then double copper-pot distilled and put away in oak to mature. Nothing is added – apart from some spring water to achieve the desired abv.  In this case – the rum has been matured in a ‘Super Cask’ from Andrew Young’s YN Oak Cooperage. The ‘Super Cask’ is a patented cask refurbishing process involving ex-shiraz casks from Seppeltsfield Winery in SA.

Not only are Lord Byron’s rums 100% natural but they also pride themselves on running the distillery as a sustainable enterprise. 100% renewable power, spring water, and the ‘waste’ products of the distillation are fed to the Restall family’s dairy cows as well as made into liquid fertiliser.  The distillery also boasts ‘zero-discharge’ in all its operations.  It’s like, totally eco-friendly, man!

Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask

Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask Tasting Notes:

Nose: massive dried fruit vibes strait away at the pour. After it’s left sit for a few minutes, a dusty, clove-ey funk becomes apparent. Very inviting – do I have a sip… or another sniff?

Palate: Thick and rich and oily in the mouth. Warming – but definitely not spicy. Big spiced stewed fruit – currents, figs, dates and prunes in overdrive… cloves, nutmeg and liquorice bullets.

Finish: The finish really lives up to the promise made y the initial nose. It’s just divine – big and chewy, waves of the sweet fruits and spices with sharp, dry coffee notes in between. Warm, lovely caramel and clove-ey notes still lingering minutes after.

THe Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask is a sensational rum that really lives up to the promise made by it’s rich colour and thick leggy-in-the-glass viscosity. Big, fruity, round and rich across the nose, palate and finish – it really just keeps on giving and giving. I doubt you’re going to want to mix this one – but if you do, some good ginger beer and loads of ice makes it a killer Dark and Stormy on a bright and balmy summer arvo.

An EASTER RUMMY TREAT?

  • PRICE : $135

  • ABV : 55.5%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Australia (NSW)

  • NO Added Sugar / NO Added Colour

Lord Byron Red Wine Super Cask

FROM LORD BYRON

Lord Byron Distillery is one of a small, passionate group of artisan distillers from around the world dedicated to making real Rum. We help discerning customers enjoy spirits that are naturally hand crafted in our family owned 100% renewable, zero waste distillery in Byron Bay. We are the only distillery in Australia to have ingredients listed on our labels and confirm that all our drinks are free from artificial flavours or colours. We do things we love, with people we love in a place we feel is paradise.

We were the first Australian Rum distillery to release Pure Single Rum under the internationally recognised Gargano classification system. Our artisan distillers hand make our own ferment from local molasses and filtered spring water, prior to it being double batch distilled in pot stills. We mature our premium Rums in quality oak casks, not vats, in the same region where the cane is grown. All this takes time and costs more, but we believe this is the only way Rum should be made.

This Rum that was chosen by the Rum Tribe, has been matured in a refired red wine cask for three years. We bottled it at 52.5%, very close to cask strength. This is an exceptional sipping Rum that delivers beautiful caramel, chocolate, liquorice and raisin flavours perfectly complimenting the cleanliness of the double distilled spirit.
You will taste the difference. This is the Spirit of Byron

ABOUT LORD BYRON

The earliest record of the Restall family in Byron Shire dates back to 1897 when Jack Restall was the local butcher in Billinudgel. Although this fact wasn’t discovered by Brian and Helen Restall until recently, it explains why they have always had a deep sense of affinity with the area and to traditional trade and craftsmanship.

For several years, Brian was the CEO of Cape Byron Power, a local Northern Rivers’ 100% renewable electricity generator located adjacent to the local farmer owned sugar mills at Condong and Broadwater. It was within this role, Brian came to realise that almost all of the food-grade molasses, created by the local sugar mills, was used for cattle feed. Given the sub-tropical environment of the Northern Rivers region, Brian and Helen felt that there was clearly a higher and better use for a small part of this local molasses.  

Brian and Helen have travelled extensively and worked around the world. Brian loves dark spirits and Helen is passionate about light spirits. Together they strive to create a small-batch, handcrafted range of spirits that aims to deliver a superior tasting experience. They are members of the Australian Distilling Association and have been trained and mentored by Bill Lark’s team in Tasmania – Bill, being the first person in 153 years to get a micro-distilling license, and is affectionately known as the “Godfather” of the craft distilling market in Australia.

Cane Island Nicaragua 12 Year Old – February 2023

Following on from the HUGE hit that was the Cane Island Trinidad…we up the rum ante with a GOLD MEDAL winning, 12 year old single estate rum from Central America and the Tribe are the FIRST in Australia to get their hands on this tropical aged rum perfection – The Cane Island Nicaragua 12 Year Old!

This is a column still-produced, Singe Estate Rum that is 100% tropical aged – but with a twist…Although the distillery is listed as ‘Secret’ on the bottle, you can take it from us that the spirit is from Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua (CLN), located in the Nicaraguan capitol of Managua. If you’ve heard of that distillery before, it’s no wonder. They produce a little brand called ‘Flor de Cana‘ there as well – bet you have heard of that one! This rum won a Gold from Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition in June 2022.

Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old

The molasses for the Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old rum was sourced from sugar cane grown on CLN’s own plantations in the Chichigalpa. After a relatively short fermentation of 24-36 hours, the wash is distilled using a five-column still, where heavy rum is taken from the first column at 75% abv and light rum is taken from the fifth column at 95% abv. The CLN marques are normally blended together and proofed down to 70% abv before aging. It was then matured for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

Although 100% tropically aged – it was not actually aged in Nicaragua. I’ll let the Cane Island peeps talk more about this in their own words below.

Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old

Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old Tasting Notes:

Nose: Lightly funky tropical fruit salad, unburnt tobacco, vanilla and biscuit spices plus a nice orange zest as well with vanilla paste there too.

Palate: More of those tropical fruits – banana, pawpaw and even some lychee there, the tobacco notes continue on the palate as well, plus a nice vanilla note to round it all off.

Finish: A lovely, sweet and satisfying finish with chocolate and coffee note alongside more of that delicious fruitiness and a jaffa choc-orange makes itself known as it fades.

The Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old is a very easy (almost dangerously so) drinking rum that will disappear quickly on a table with friends. Big and rich with masses of fruit and chocolate notes, as well as a pleasant unburnt tobacco backbone. The touch of orange really lifts this one to something special. Complex and with lots to chat about in the flavour profile, sip this one neat – or at most a cube or two of ice.

NOT A MEMBER? JOIN FOR FREE TODAY
Once again it is a complete pleasure to be introducing a rum to the Tribe that was produced by one of you… our members…and our first Tassie rum!

  • PRICE : $135

  • ABV : 43%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Nicaragua

  • Added Sugar/ Added Colour

Cane Island Nicaragua 12 year old

FROM CANE ISLAND

In 2006 the Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua sold a big batch of freshly distilled bulk rum to a company in the Philippines, along with enough staves of ex-bourbon barrels to start the aging of the rum.


12 years later we bought the whole batch from the company in the Philippines through a rum broker. Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua has long since stopped selling bulk rum, as their own brands have grown, and it is now very difficult to find Nicaragua rum from independent bottlers. The rum’s 12-year-old history has spanned the globe, and just like all our Single Estates, the age statement refers entirely to tropical aging, albeit the tropical climate of the Philippines, not Nicaragua. Since release in 2018, our Nicaragua rum has received many awards, most recently a Gold from Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition in June 2022. 

Tasting Notes:

Dark amber in colour.  This rum has a very rich mouthfeel, which contains flavours of oak, tobacco and natural vanilla. It has a long and smooth aftertaste. This Nicaraguan rum delivers what you expect from a real and honest 12YO rum.

ABOUT CANE ISLAND

Cane Island Rum offers an authentic range of rums from selected Caribbean and Central American countries, all rums truly represent the style and tradition of the origins and distilleries. 

The rum selection of Cane Island Rum consists of Single Island Blends and Single Estate Rums. The Single Island Blends are blends of rum coming from different distilleries from one island. The Single Estate Rums are sourced from one single distillery.  

Cane Island Rum currently offers rum from a few of the most iconic rum countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Panama, Thailand, Trinidad, Australia, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Each one of these countries has a long history in rum production, with their own styles and traditions. All rums reflect the true rum characteristics and identity of the island. 

Rum is one the most diverse and historic spirits in the world. There is no other distillate which is produced and aged in so many different countries around the globe. Each rum-producing country has its own history, uniqueness and special traditions when it comes to rum making. 

All rums in our portfolio have been tropically aged for several years in wooden casks. Tropical ageing is three times more intense than ageing in colder climates, because the heat of the Caribbean intensifies the interaction between the rum and the wood. 

This authentic ageing process results in beautiful, aged rums.

ABOUT Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua

Built in 1890, Compañía Licorera de Nicaragua is located in Managua, at the base of the San Cristóbal volcano (the tallest and most active volcano in Nicaragua).

The fertility of its surrounding lands, the enriched water, and the hot volcanic climate proved to be instrumental in forging the rum’s unique and smooth flavour. Owned by the same family for 5 generations, the estate has taken huge steps towards sustainability and fair practice in the last decades.


Locally produced sugar cane is used for the production of sugar, with the by-product of molasses used for rum, and bagasse used for heating the stills.

Cane Island Rum Trinidad 8 Year Old – January 2023

Let’s kick of 2023 by going back to the traditional home of exceptional rums…the Caribbean! An 8 year old, ex-bourbon barrel matured, column distilled rum, 100% matured in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – The Cane Island Rum Trinidad 8 year old.

Cane Island has been buying, blending and bottling rums from around the world for around 10 years now and the Trinidad 8 year old is part of their ‘Single Estate Series’.  As it says on the label – this is 8yo minimum aged rum from a single estate in Trinidad, namely Trinidad Distillers Limited (TDL). If you haven’t heard of TDL – that’s ok, it’s much, much more commonly known as Angostura Distillery, which I bet you have heard of!

Cane Island Rum

Interestingly, the molasses used in the production of this rum is sourced from outside the country as the last sugar refinery in Trinidad and Tobago closed down in 2007. The Molasses now comes from Guyana, the Dominican Republic, and Fiji.  Fermented for between 48-56 hours using their own proprietary yeast strain.

The Cane Island Rum Trinidad 8yo is column-distilled in TDL’s five-column still with heavy spirit being tapped at around 80% ABV from the first column and a much lighter  spirit tapped from the fifth. Several medium-body spirits are taken from other points on the stills and used for blending. All of these spirits from differing points in the still are aged separately for 8 years in ex-bourbon (Jack Daniels & Four Roses) casks before blending and bottling. Cane Island are quite open about sugar and colour – they add around 10g/l of sugar and may use E150 (caramel) to colour their rums for consistency. We applaud their transparency!

Cane Island Rum

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: Mashed banana, stone fruit , stewed apple and pastry – like bakery apple slice.

Palate: Lovely visocus mouthfeel – coats the whole palate instantly. Sweet tinned prunes with chocolate notes, salted caramel, liquorice, coffee and vanilla custard

Finish: Sweet and easy with a nice mild pepper to offset. The fruit and spice notes really last and that slight pepper walks with them the whole way.

The Cane Island Rum Trinidad 8yo is a truly easy going and most sippable rum.  Whilst sweetened – it’s not overly sweet, and the pepper really offsets that nicely.  A very approachable rum that won’t scare  a ‘newbie’ with new and unfamiliar notes, but with enough complexity and great balance to satisfy a season rum drinker.

To continue our theme of ‘Australian Rum Awards Winners’, we have one of only two rums to be awarded a Double Gold medal at the Australian Rum Awards. We’re really quite stoked to be able to offer the very last bottles of this Double Gold Award winning Brix Select Cask Series Tawny Finish to the Tribe.

  • PRICE : $125

  • ABV : 43%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Trinidad

  • Added Sugar/ Added Colour (See notes)

Cane Island Rum

FROM CANE ISLAND

With this range, we are trying to showcase rums from one single distillery in one country/island. The single-origin rums are meant to highlight the unique flavour profiles of these distilleries and show what the difference in techniques can do to the final product.

The Cane Island Single Estate series offers authentic, aged rums coming from one single distillery. This rum was distilled at Trinidad Distillers Limited in Trinidad. Every single drop of this fine Trinidadian Rum has spent at least eight years in the barrel at the distillery. A true age statement of tropical ageing in Trinidad.

The Trinidad 8yo Rum is fresh and fruity, rich and creamy in character notes of mango banana licorice cinnamon and allspice carried from nose to finish enjoy it straight on the rocks or in your favorite cocktail.

ABOUT CANE ISLAND

Cane Island Rum offers an authentic range of rums from selected Caribbean and Central American countries, all rums truly represent the style and tradition of the origins and distilleries. 

The rum selection of Cane Island Rum consists of Single Island Blends and Single Estate Rums. The Single Island Blends are blends of rum coming from different distilleries from one island. The Single Estate Rums are sourced from one single distillery.  

Cane Island Rum currently offers rum from a few of the most iconic rum countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Panama, Thailand, Trinidad, Australia, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Each one of these countries has a long history in rum production, with their own styles and traditions. All rums reflect the true rum characteristics and identity of the island. 

Rum is one the most diverse and historic spirits in the world. There is no other distillate which is produced and aged in so many different countries around the globe. Each rum-producing country has its own history, uniqueness and special traditions when it comes to rum making. 

All rums in our portfolio have been tropically aged for several years in wooden casks. Tropical ageing is three times more intense than ageing in colder climates, because the heat of the Caribbean intensifies the interaction between the rum and the wood. 

This authentic ageing process results in beautiful, aged rums.

ABOUT ANGOSTURA RUM

ANGOSTURA® is one of the leading manufacturing companies in the Caribbean that produces a superb collection of rum brands such as Angostura® 1824, Angostura® 1919, Angostura® 1787, Angostura® 7-year- old rum, Angostura® 5-year-old rum, Angostura® Reserva, Angostura Single Barrel®, Angostura Tamboo, Angostura® White Oak and its innovative array of flavours – Sorrel, Coconut, Watermelon, Pink Grapefruit and Pineapple, Forres Park Puncheon, Black Label, and Royal Oak.  The Company also produces the leading bitters products in the world – ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange Bitters, ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters, Amaro di Angostura® and signature beverages – Angostura® Chill Lemon Lime and Bitters, Angostura® Chill Blood Orange and Bitters and Angostura® Chill Sorrel and Bitters.

Along with being a Royal Warrant holder to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for our ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, we have successfully marketed our iconic bitters globally and have a geographic reach into 170 markets. The recipe for Angostura® aromatic bitters has not been changed since the first bottle was introduced to the world in 1824.

Many of our brands have been bringing joy for generations in Trinidad and Tobago, our core rum market. Meanwhile, our premium rums have been causing a stir at countless international competitions over the past decade. In the last year alone, our rum range has been rewarded with over 25 prestigious accolades internationally. 

Dead Reckoning Mhoba – South Africa – December 2022

Our December Rum of the Month is Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa. CASK STRENGTH, LIMITED EDITION and EXCLUSIVE to the Tribe in Australia! This is the first Dead Reckoning release of a cane-juice based rum.

Wow, we can’t quite believe it’s December already! What a rummy year it’s been…Another year of sensational rums from all around the world, and from our own backyard. Tropical aged, European Aged, Dry aged, un-aged, and even demijohn aged! Port cask, sherry cask, wine cask, no cask! Historic brands, cult brands, new brands and even ‘one-offs’ from non-rum brands!’ Easy-listening, classical, hard rock, rap and some punk rums to boot! PHEW!

So… how do you finish a year like that? Well, with another exceptional rum, really! MORE DEAD RECKONING!! was a pretty clear sentiment from the feedback this year and so, who are we to argue?

Dead Reckoning indy bottlings need no introduction to the Rum Tribe. They have dazzled us with release after release from distilleries all over the world and the man behind it, Justin Boseley, has a knack for finding sensational spirit in far flung places, bringing it to Adelaide and matching it to the perfect cask where it’s aged further in a unique dry heat environment that actually increases the ABV of the spirit in the barrel over the years. Weird but true!

Now at 2 years, 5 months this is a fairly young rum by Dead Reckoning standards. It was initially expected to be around 18 months – 2 years in the finishing cask but Justin was surprised at just how ‘active’ the ex-bourbon cask has been with the rum. So active, in fact, that he elected to bottle it after just 5 months in the finishing cask. Its job was done!

Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa

The Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa spent it’s first two years in a South African red wine cask (from the Vrede em Lust estate in the Franschhoek wine valley) in the sub-tropical South African climate at the Mhoba distillery. 

Justin describes finding this cask in Mhoba’s bond-store as an explorer describes finding an undiscovered ice cavern or the like. An ‘A-HA!’ moment where he knew he’d found what he was looking for.  The culmination of a long journey.  All he needed now, was some time in Adelaide to add ‘his touch’ to it, which came in the form of an especially active ex-bourbon barrel. After only 5 months, it was exactly where Justin wanted it. A perfect amount of vanilla, custard and caramel from the high-char American oak added to the rich fruity decadence of the red wine aged Mhoba.

Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa

Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa Tasting Notes:

Nose: Tart fruit salad and raspberry jus at first with a rich sweet caramel sauce on the side.

Palate: Wonderfully mouth coating. More of those sensational fruit notes – but more stewed now, nice and sweet,  and the vanilla comes through in a crème brulee creaminess.

Finish: Delicious mixture of fruit, vanilla, citrus peel and salted caramel lead you onto the next pour… in just a sec, I’m still enjoying this one!!

The Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa a delicious rum that is perfectly weighted with the abv to give it real ‘oomph’ on the palate – but the alcohol is very well integrated at 56% ABV. A little pepper there – but the massive creamy fruitiness dominates and continues to do so as you chew that utterly satisfying finish!

Karu Outcask Rum

  • PRICE : $149

  • ABV : 56%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: South Africa / Australia (South Australia)

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa

FROM DEAD RECKONING

Upon tasting Mhoba rum for the first time this was a revelation and also a rewriting of the Rum flavour profile rule book, it reminded me of the first time I tried a Jamaican Hampden. After tasting the Vellier Mhoba release I knew I had to get my hands on something of similar quality. 

I hand selected this individual single barrel release, chosen for its deep rich and unique flavour profile which was aged for 2 years in Africa in a ex Sth African red wine cask. To put my own signature on the Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa release, it underwent Australian dry ageing in Adelaide South Australia. 

Dead Reckoning Mhoba South Africa Tasting notes: It’s time in the red wine cask has given this rum layers of flavour profile, not only do you get crisp red apples and cranberry juice, A heavy level char bourbon cask introduced hints of vanilla caramel and custard tart. 

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

Justin, has immersed himself in rum for the past 20 years; a journey starting as a deck scrubbing lad with a thirst for Rum and adventure culminated in him becoming a Chief Officer; driving billionaire’s mega yachts around the world. This life of salty seadog adventure took him to Rum’s heartland, the Caribbean islands for 6 months a year, every year.

When he wasn’t at the helm of a mega-yacht he could be found hanging off a bar or at a distillery sampling the best the Caribbean rum scene had to offer. Upon ending his days at sea there was only one thing he knew better that navigating around the world’s oceans- that was Rum. For 10 years Justin has scoured the globe discovering & importing the world’s best rums into Australia.

Dead Reckoning is Australia’s first independent rum bottler. We know there’s more in the works from Dead Reckoning and we can’t wait to try more and more of these fabulous independent bottling from a true rum legend.

ABOUT MHOBA

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Onderberg district of Mpumalanga and amidst our own sugarcane fields, you can find The MHOBA Rum Distillery: An artisan distillery where we make 10 different types of Pure Single Estate Sugarcane Rhum or Pure Single Sugarcane Rhum.

Unlike most traditional rum, which is made from molasses which is the by-product of refined sugar production, MHOBA rum is made from pure sugarcane juice. Our rum is 100% pot distilled from fermented sugarcane juice and contains no additives, colourings or flavour modifiers and is therefore termed Pure Single Rum; The rum equivalent of Single Malt Whiskey.

What makes MHOBA rhum even more unique is that the whole rum making process occurs on our sugar estate. From planting our own organic sugarcane right through to hand filling and labelling our bottles after distilling in our self-designed and self-built stills, MHOBA Rhum is 100% rum that is made by us.

MHOBA RUM. FROM FARM TO BOTTLE AND PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!

The Grove Christmas Rum Cask – November 2022

This is LIQUID CHRISTMAS CAKE! Welcome to the Australian launch of The Grove Christmas RUM Cask with Christmas spices and flavours by the bucket load. But wait up! This is NOT A SPICED RUM…this is a PURE SINGLE RUM and every single flavour comes from the amazing combination of WOOD interacting with finely crafted spirit and absolutely no additives! THIS BLEW OUR MIND!

The Christmas Rum Cask is a 5-year-old, pure single rum from Western Australia’s beautiful Margaret River region. Distilled in 2017 from a fermented molasses/brown sugar mash in a copper pot/column hybrid still. Primarily aged for 4 whole years in a single ex-Cabernet cask, then split into two 100 litre ex-Tokay (a sweet, white wine – originally from the Tokaj region of Hungary) barrels for a years’ worth of finishing.

The result is easily the most classically ‘Christmassy’ rum I have ever tasted.  As a ‘concept’ rum – it hits the nail right on the head. This is an elegant and sumptuous ode to plum pud, Christmas cake and fruit mince pies that will have you salivating at the first smell. What’s even more amazing is that this is a pure, single rum. There are no infused spices or fruits, no added sugar and no caramel. This is all the work of the spirit plus choice of wood to age and finish it. This rum absolutely showcases the talent in distilling, and maturing rum that The Grove Distillery team possesses, it seems, in spades!

Grove Christmas Rum Cask

We hate to be the first to say it – but ‘it’ is just around the corner now so we are doing everything we can to make sure you’ll be stocked up right with everything rum-wise you need to see out the silly season, and even keep a smile on your dial the whole time.

The Grove is the regions first craft distillery. We featured another seasonal rum of theirs back in April for Easter (Hot Cross Rum – a spiced rum) which was an instant sell-out and prompted a wave of extremely glowing correspondence with many of those who opted into that Members Extra Rum. For November, we are stoked to offer one of their pure rums– The Grove Christmas Rum Cask – as our ‘Rum of the Month’.

Grove Christmas Rum Cask

The Grove Christmas Rum Cask Tasting Notes:

Nose: Wow – the nose is exactly like sticking my face into the towel that wrapped my  mums rum-soaked Christmas cake whilst it matured (as a kid – I swear I don’t stick my face into mum’s cakes anymore!). It’s uncanny!

Palate: A succulent and viscous mouthfeel gives way to a huge fruit mince and Christmas cake hit. It’s all there – the nutmeg, the all spice, the cloves and, of course, those sweet and sticky stewed fruits and mixed peel. There’s even a distinct (and utterly delicious) egg-nog note to round off the rich fruit!

Finish: No surprises here – waves of Christmas num nums roll around the mouth in a blissful yuletide spin cycle.

Man this is a rum that really hits the mark in what it was aiming to be – this is Christmas in a glass.  I must admit to being slightly sceptical of the 40%ABV– but I admit my scepticism was unfounded. This is defiantly not lacking in the big flavour stakes.  The Grove Christmas Rum Cask is a rich, round and sumptuous rum that delivers exactly what it’s label promises. Ho Ho Ho!

  • PRICE : $135

  • ABV : 40%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Australia (Western Australia)

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Grove Christmas Rum Cask

FROM THE GROVE

The Grove’s Premiere Rum Christmas Cask is a 5 year-aged double cask special release.

In 2017 we made our rum mashes from heavy grade A molasses, dark brown sugar, rainwater and yeast and fermented 7 to 10 days in 500 and 1000 litre fermentation tanks to 9% ABV.

The mash was distilled through 5 runs in our 350 litre copper, Arnold Holstein, pot/column combination still to 68% ABV then cut back to 58% ABV with distilled water.

We sourced a fresh 225 litre, French oak ex Cabernet wine cask from a neighbouring vineyard and filled it with the rum, leaving it to age in our barrel stores for over four years. 

We then dumped the barrel in September 2021 and filled two of The Groves own 100L ex-Bourbon, ex-Tokay barrels and let this age for a further 11 months in the top of our barrel store, allowing it to soak up the rich sweetness of the 10-year-old Tokay. 

The Team dumped the barrels in late September 2022 and James slowly cut the rum back to 40% ABV with distilled water after which it was non-chill filtered and bottled ready for a very special Christmas release.

The char of the ex-bourbon barrel imparts some smokiness on the rum and the sweetness of the tokay gives it its distinct Christmas flavours.

Nose:  Christmas cake, slight oak with sweet molasses shining through

Palate: Sultanas, caramel, vanilla and light spice

Finish: warming with a soft and sweet lingering finish

ABOUT THE GROVE

Established as a boutique winery in 1995 and evolving in to liqueur and spirit production in the mid-2000’s, The Grove Distillery was the first craft-distillery in Wilyabrup, Margaret River. From the beginning, Founder Steve Hughes and Head Distiller James Reed had a focus on dark spirits, and after nearly a decade of distilling and barrel-ageing rums, whisky’s and bourbons, this distillery is creating some one-of-a-kind pieces of Australian craft-spirit history. 

Head Distiller James lived in the Caribbean in his sprightly youth and it’s here that he saw the locals in Saint John on the Virgin Islands making their rum in ex Jack Daniels barrels sourced from the US. He knew that to make a delicious dark rum he would need to do the same.

Luckily, James also makes some of the best Kentucky-style corn mash whiskey (bourbon) you can get. It’s the barrels that have aged our bourbon that we then use to age our Rum – giving it it’s distinct flavour.

We hand-bottle everything before it’s sent out, winning awards both locally and nationally for what we do here. This is the spirit of the Grove, its bravery, it’s not being satisfied with normal, it’s making bloody good spirits while having a good time

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum – October 2022

Well this is HUGE R(h)um news! Following on from the hugely popular Members Extra release in August and the HUGE cult following in Europe, we are very excited to release a true in-house paddock to bottle rhum from the fields of South Africa – Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum! Plus its very exclusive in Australia to your favourite Tribe!

Mhoba Rhum is a South African ‘paddock to bottle’ producer that is making some mighty big waves around the world with their fantastic cane-juice based funky rhums! Completely hand-crafted, and using some interesting and unique maturation techniques, Mhoba is truly an artisanal producer by any standard!

Mhoba grow, cut and de-trash their own ‘Nkomazi’ sugarcane on-site. They then crush it in their own unique hand-built, manually batch-fed crusher.  Yes, I did say hand-built. In fact, the founder/owner Robert Greaves (an ex-mechanical engineer) has had a hand in manufacturing much of the equipment on the property.

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum

We premiered the Mhoba brand in Australia a few months ago (our August ‘Members Extra’) with their ‘Strand 101’, a blend of aged, and un-aged agricole-style spirit. And the feedback from members was, frankly, amazing!

So good, in fact, that we knew we had to get this out to the whole of the tribe, ASAP! Getting the numbers we need to make a ‘Rum of the Month’ has been stopping us, but now the boat has landed!

They make use of dunder in their ferments and are not scared to utilise wild yeasts and looong fermentation times (their ‘High Ester’ expression ferments for an incredible three weeks!). They use traditional copper pot-stills – hand made by the founder Robert Greaves (of course).

By far though, the most unusual aspect of the Mhoba Rhums is their preferred aging technique. Instead of aging in oak barrels – instead they primarily age in 30L glass Demijohns (like a large bottle).  They add charred white American Ok staves to the Demijohns and then fill them with spirit to age.  I’m not sure why they do this – but I assume it may have something to do with preventing (eliminating?) angels share.

The Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum is aged in the Demijohns for just over a year – and then is switched to an American Oak ex- South African whisky cask for further ‘traditional’ maturation for around another year.  It is then reduced to 43%abv, hand-bottled and labelled, then packed for distribution – all done, in-house, by hand, by the crew at Mhoba!

This rhum has absolutely no colour, sugar or additives of any kind. As they say on the label – just passion, time, love and attention, fermented and distilled sugarcane juice, crystalline water and congeners from American oak. Nothing Else!

Now, in our championing of transparency in the Rum industry – we must point out that this isn’t – in Australia – technically considered a rum.  Hence the Australian-only branding as Mhoba Rhum.  It is branded ‘Mhoba Rum’ everywhere but in Australia. Unfortunately, the Demijohn aging technique used by Mhoba does not qualify – not being aged IN an oak barrel.  It’s kind of the opposite, really – the oak is IN the rum.

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum Tasting Notes:

Nose: Funky esters ( lipstick, nailpolish remover and paint thinner) swirl over last nights  campfire fire charcoal.  There’s also mashed over-ripe banana and over-ripe fruit

Palate: Nice oily mouthfeel (pot still!). Lush tropical fruits in spades – paw-paw, banana, pineapple and a tangy passionfruit kick. The funk is subdued but definitely still there – adding an over-ripe sweetness to the mix. A very approachable, sweet palate on this one.

Finish: Nice long and chewy finish. More of those funky esters play out as the fruit slowly fades. Very minimal pepper throughout and just a touch of wood-smoke re-appears as it’s done.

  • PRICE : $149

  • ABV : 43%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: South Africa

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum

FROM MHOBA

This rhum is made purely from the fresh juice of our own Nkomazi sugarv\cane grown on the Mhoba Esate, near the small village of Malalane in South Africa.

Our American Oak Aged Rhum is made by aging the distillates from our unique, self-built, artisanal pot stills. Yhis ruhum is initially aged in large glass demijohns with American White Oak staves which we cut and char on woof-fire coals at the distillery. Our ‘’Glass Cask Rhum’  is then transferred to ex- South African whisky casks for secondary maturation.

Ingredients: Passion, time, love, and attention, fermented and distilled pure sugarcane juice, crystalline water and gongeners from American oak. Nothing Else!

ABOUT MHOBA

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Onderberg district of Mpumalanga and amidst our own sugarcane fields, you can find The MHOBA Rum Distillery: An artisan distillery where we make 10 different types of Pure Single Estate Sugarcane Rhum or Pure Single Sugarcane Rhum.

Unlike most traditional rum, which is made from molasses which is the by-product of refined sugar production, MHOBA rum is made from pure sugarcane juice. Our rum is 100% pot distilled from fermented sugarcane juice and contains no additives, colourings or flavour modifiers and is therefore termed Pure Single Rum; The rum equivalent of Single Malt Whiskey.

What makes MHOBA rhum even more unique is that the whole rum making process occurs on our sugar estate. From planting our own organic sugarcane right through to hand filling and labelling our bottles after distilling in our self-designed and self-built stills, MHOBA Rhum is 100% rum that is made by us.

MHOBA RUM. FROM FARM TO BOTTLE AND PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN!

Mhoba American Oak Aged Rhum
Mhoba Disitilling

Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18 Year Old Unconfirmed Still – September 2022

Boutique-y is BACK! But this absolutely fantastic 18-year-old, limited release, pure rum all the way from Guyana does have a certain air of mystery about it! There are only 970 bottles of the Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18yo rum worldwide and the Rum Tribe have the entire Australian allocation…yep, exclusive to the Tribe!

Our Rum of the Month is this sensational rare, pure, aged, single rum from Guyana.  Yes folks, a pure, unadulterated Demerara rum from Guyana’s legendary Diamond Distillery.  Not just any old Diamond Distillery rum, no less than an 18-year-old, pure rum, with no added sugar, colouring or flavouring, presented at a close to cask strength bottling.

Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18 year old

What about the mystery you say? What we DO know about it is that it was distilled in the Diamond Distillery in Guyana in 2001.  It was then aged in 2 ex-bourbon casks for 10 tropical years in Guyana then shipped to Europe for 8 years of Continental ageing. Both the casks were then disgorged and married together, then bottled at a healthy 51.3% ABV.

What we DON’T know about the Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery is exactly what still it was distilled in. You see, Diamond distillery has 4 ‘Heritage Stills’.  In 1993, there were only three distilleries still operating in Guyana (Diamond Distillery, Uitvlugt Distillery and Enmore Distillery). By 2000 only Diamond Distillery remained.  Luckily (for the rum world), the stills and expertise from the Uitvlugt and Enmore Distilleries were transported and housed at the Diamond Distillery.  These 4 ‘Heritage Stills’ (three of them wooden!) are still in use today at Diamond Distillery. And this rum came from one of those stills – we just don’t know which one!

More info on the four Heritage Stills can be found here.  

That Boutique-y Rum Company is a UK indy bottler who have a no nonsense approach to rum.  They search the globe for fantastic barrels of rum, then ship them to the UK for further aging. Once they are happy with the rums maturation, they then bottle the rum, the whole rum and nothing BUT the rum.  You see, like us, TBRC are all about pure rum – be it single cask, single distillery or blended – we want the rum, and just the rum! No colouring, no sugar and nothing else added.

Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18 year old

Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery Tasting Notes:

Nose: Deliciously rich and sweet on the nose – a real tropical fruit salad with bananas, pawpaw and passionfruit immediately apparent which becomes a more candied fruit aroma as it opens up. Some earthy notes with vanilla and cinnamon also adding to the fray. 

Palate: Initially drier on the palate than the nose would suggest.  A brief burst of pepper follows but then sweeter fruit notes emerge and more vanilla shines though.  The oak comes through (as it would at 18yo) as a pleasant, earthy, ‘old’ smell.

Finish: That oaky, mustiness flows through and lingers alongside flashes of stewed fruit, pineapple (or is it passionfruit?) bursts and memories of fruit tingle lollies on the tongue.

The Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18yo ‘Undisclosed Still’ is delicious, and rare, pure, aged rum. It’s immediately apparent on the first sip that you’re experiencing something truly amazing. I’d like to say ‘wait till you give your friends a taste’ – but I’m not sure you’re going to be that generous with this one!

  • PRICE : $149

  • ABV : 51.3%

  • BOTTLE: 500ml

  • REGION: Guyana

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Boutique-y Rum Diamond Distillery 18 year old

FROM TBRC

Come join the fun as we invite you to play ‘Which Still Is It Anyway?’

Join Boutique-y Pete in his shiny game-show-host-suit as we challenge you to guess which of the Heritage Stills this delicious bottling was produced on.

Was it?

  1. the Versailles
  2. the Enmore Column
  3. the Port Mourant
  4. the Savalle

Will the truth be revealed? Boutique-y Pete has his suspicions.

Tasting Notes: 

Nose: A zing of green apple skin in the background, with ginger and cinnamon spice alongside barbecued, caramelised banana, with just a hint of machine oil peeking through.

Palate: Initially rather woody, with damp oak leading into toffee penny, just a touch of smoke and underripe tangy pineapple.

Finish: Old leather alongside fruit and nut milk chocolate, with sweet, plump raisin lingering.

ABOUT TBRC

Following in the footsteps of sibling brands That Boutique-y Whisky Company and That Boutique-y Gin Company, That Boutique-y Rum Company (TBRC) is here to bring delicious rums to confirmed geeks, adventurous rookies and the rum-curious.
TBRC is all about delicious, unusual and honest rums, which means they adopt a no BS approach to classification. They aim to provide a total understanding of the liquid in the bottle so you can navigate and explore the category with confidence. No confusing mumble, just exceptional rum.

You won’t hear TBRC talking about dark and light rums, but you will hear them getting excited over everything from pot still rums from single distilleries to multi-column rums from multiple distilleries. They aim to provide a total understanding of the liquid in the bottle so you can navigate and explore the category with confidence. No confusing rumbo-mumbo-jumbo, just exceptional rum.

Winding Road Distilling Co. Coastal Cane – August 2022

After a GOLD MEDAL at the 2021 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, Batch 1 of this rum SOLD OUT! But not to worry Tribe, we have all of Batch 2 (outside of the Byron region) of this single cask, pure, single rum for you… Our Rum of the Month is the Winding Road Distilling Co. Coastal Cane Pure Single Rum.

In 2021, husband-and-wife team Mark and Camille from Winding Road Distillery, took out Gold at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards with the first release of their Coastal Cane Pure Single Rum Cask AR01 (now very sold out).  We have managed to grab all but a handful of the entire second release of this fantastic rum – Cask AR02, distilled from fresh cane juice from the September 2019 cane crush.

Just as the first release was, this second release was matured in a virgin American oak barrel with a #3 char for just under 3 years.  After careful selection from the tasting panel it was emptied from the cask in May 2022 and bottled at 46% ABV.

Winding Road Distilling Co

The Winding Road Distilling Co. Coastal Cane Pure Single Rum is an aged agricole style rum, made from fermented, fresh cut sugar cane juice. To make agricole style rum, the cane juice must be very fresh. Too long between crushing and controlled inoculating with yeast means that wild and detrimental microbes can become established, thus spoiling the batch.  To this end, it’s obvious that winding road uses local produce – nothing else will do. They also use pure rainwater collected at their hinterland distillery.

This month we bring the Tribe a couple of Byron Bay Bangers! Two different styles of rum from 2 craft rum makers from the same region.

Both of them pure, single cask rums…both using local sugar cane products…both double distilled in copper pot stills in batches…both matured in single casks…but that’s where the similarities end.

One is molasses based, one cane juice based…One aged in a new oak barrel, one in the patented ‘Super Cask’ from Andrew Young’s YN Oak Cooperage.  Two approaches, one aim.

This provides a fantastic opportunity to appreciate the differences between a molasses based, and a cane juice based, pot-stilled rum. A side-by-side opportunity to compare the differences in these two styles – both made by passionate craft distillers who happen to be good mates, and both using sugar products from the same 2019 harvest from the same sugar mill and absolutely nothing more.

No colouring or sweetening, no chill filtering. Pure, Single Rums, the both of them.

Winding Road Distilling Co

Winding Road Distilling Co. Coastal Cane Tasting Notes:

Nose: A gentle and pleasant funk backbone with mashed bananas, plumbs and custard with a pinch of aniseed.

Palate: Lovely rich and oily mouthfeel. Gently warming (though not peppery at all) with fresh cut cane billets pinched out of a cane train (chewing these is one of life’s simple pleasures!), BBQ Pineapple, vanilla and fruit-pastry (apple-pie?) notes as well

Finish: The sweetness on the palate dries out in the finish with crystalised ginger and citrus peel notes as well as a touch of bush honey all swirling around each other in perfect harmony!

The Winding Road Distilling Co. Coastal Cane is absolutely delightful sipping rum. Just so mellow and easy to sit and enjoy on. Full of those fresh, bright and ‘green’ flavours this agricole style rum is known for. If you’ve ever lived in cane country during a crush, you’ll recognise a lot of flavours in this rum. It’s just delightful on its own – but we’ll be sending some cocktail recipe cards from winding road for the mixologists amongst us!

  • PRICE : $125

  • ABV : 46%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Australia (NSW)

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Winding Road Distilling Co

FROM WINDING ROAD

Our hand-crafted Coastal Cane Pure Single Rum is a true reflection of the Northern Rivers region, with a unique profile that showcases the influence of our local coastal climate and soil.  It all begins with fresh first-press juice from sugar cane grown in the rich soil of the Wollumbin Caldera.  It is fermented, rested, and then twice distilled in our traditional 1,250 litre copper pot still.

The new-make cane spirit is then aged in a curated selection of oak barrels; influenced during maturation by the warm summers and temperate winters of our coastal sub-tropical region.   The result is an unmistakeable and truly Australian Agricole-style rum that is smooth in character, full of body, and rich in flavour.

This batch, our second release, was matured in a 200-litre new American oak barrel for 35 months and bottled at 46% ABV.

Tasting Notes: 

Nose: Complex with vanilla/crème brulee and the characteristic ‘hogo’ funk of an Agricole combining in a manner that makes you want to take that first sip…

Palate: A full texture and mouthfeel that coats and melts in the mouth with an ongoing complexity of flavour.  Notes of fresh cane betray its origins amongst hints of vanilla and honeysuckle.  Natural sweetness is balanced beautifully against the subtle influence of salt and sea from the distillery’s location near the coast. Each sip endures and transforms with a lingering finish, calling you back for more.

ABOUT WINDING ROAD

Camille and Mark Award set up Winding Road distillery in 2015. Initially operating out of their home, they have now moved the business to a separate (and beautiful) property.

Mark (an American) and Camille (an Aussie) have had a varied path since meeting and settling in the hinterlands of Tintenbar (outside Lenox Head) in 2009. Initially drawn to the region by its incomparable natural beauty and mild climate, the friends they and sense of community they experienced confirmed this is where they were meant to be.

Fast forward to 2015 and a long-held dream to build their own craft spirits distillery grew into something more than a casual conversation on a warm summer’s evening. With a love for unique whiskies, rums, and gins the idea quickly took hold. They found inspiration all around them in the lush cane fields as well as the burgeoning Australian and global craft spirits industry which was just beginning to show its potential.

Not being ones to shy away from a challenge or something a little out of left field, the Awad’s began their journey down this Winding Road. Over the next few years they studied, trained, planned, schemed and built: striving towards the goal of opening their distillery while simultaneously working to maintain their home and family life, careers, and their sanity! At present, the distillery is a fairly modest affair set on a fantastic piece of land in the hills just outside Tintenbar. Plans for an expansion of the distillery plus a new cellar door and tasting facility are just about to start being turned into reality. Watch this space!

Winding Road Distilling Co

Foursquare Indelible – July 2022

It’s the Tribe’s 2nd Birthday! What better way to celebrate than to release one of the most awesome, collected and coveted rums in the world. The one that kicked the Tribe off for our members – A Foursquare Rum! For July, we have nothing less than Number 18 in the Foursquare ‘Exceptional Cask Series’ – the Foursquare Indelible!

What a stunning rum it is, the Foursquare Indelible is a blend of pot and column distillate that is aged for 11 years in Barbados in ex-bourbon and ex-Zinfandel casks.

Foursquare Indelible Rum

The Foursquare Indelible is a molasses-based rum – a blend of pot and column distilled spirit. Some of which has been aged for 11 years in ex-bourbon casks and the other portion is the same stock as their famous (and it’s demise much lamented) 4th Edition of the Exceptional Cask Series – the ‘Zinfandel’. The ‘Zinfandel’ portion is a ‘double matured’ spirit.

Aged for 5 years in ex-bourbon cask and a further 6 years in ex-Zinfandel (a red wine known for it’s jam, blueberry, black pepper, cherry, plum, boysenberry, cranberry, and licorice notes).  As per the Foursquare creed – no added sugar, no added colouring, nonchill filtered.

This is an absolute stunner of a rum. But don’t just take our word for it – the Fat Rum Pirate gives it a fat 5 stars and raves about it:

“For me it drinks way beyond its ABV and has a remarkable depth and complexity. It’s dangerously drinkable and all in all a pretty stunning rum. I’ve really enjoyed this and I hope I can find another…sadly unlike its name its been rather easily removed from most Retailers…” – The Fat Rum Pirate!

The Rum Barrel also has an excellent review!

Why do we love Foursquare Indelible so much? Firstly, the rum is so very, very good. But another reason we love the Foursquare brand is that they (with Richard Seale at the helm) are leading the charge for control of additives in rum.   And as you know we love our pure rums at the Tribe. If it’s got sugar, caramel, colouring or … whatever added, fine… BUT LET US KNOW! And at what point of adding ‘stuff’ to it should it still be called rum?? Richard – we salute your efforts!

The Rum Tribe launched back in July 2020 with an epic first rum – the Foursquare Sagacity. It seems only fitting to mark our second birthday by having a quick reflection on where we’ve come from to where we are now. Oh, and of course rum. Lots of rum.  

Foursquare Indelible Rum

Our Foursquare Indelible Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark Chocolate, Cherry, Vanilla Bean, Figs, Cola, toasted coconut, toasted brown sugar, 

Palate: Medium mouthfeel, Dark Chocolate Cherries, Vanilla, Fig, Raisins, toasted coconut, toasted brown sugar, slight banana, plums 

Finish: Medium length finish, Raisins, Dark Chocolate covered cherries, toasted coconut, black pepper 

  • PRICE : $159

  • ABV : 48%

  • BOTTLE: 700ml

  • REGION: Barbados

  • NO Added Sugar/ NO Added Colour / Non-Chill Filtered

Foursquare Indelible Rum

FROM FOURSQUARE

The Foursquare Indelible Rum is a blend of two distinct single blended rums, both 11 years of age. One aged 11 years, entirely in Ex-Bourbon Barrels, and a second, double-maturation, aged 5 years in Ex-Zinfandel then 6 additional years in Ex-Bourbon Barrels. Bottled at 48% ABV – 96 Proof. No sugar, no flavour additives, no filtration.

ABOUT FOURSQUARE DISTILLERY

Foursquare Rum Distillery is located on a former sugar plantation that dates back to approximately 1720, within the tiny Caribbean island of Barbados. The distillery was re-opened by the Seale family in 1996, distilling operations and blending are currently directed by Richard Seale, 4th Generation Trader/Distiller of R.L. Seale & Co.

Despite being sat in the middle of a sugarcane plantation, foursquare are forced to import most of their molasses from Guyana. Surprisingly, given the number of different brands of rum produced at foursquare, they utilise a singular fermentation practice. Using distillers yeast imported from South Africa, the two-step process is computer temperature controlled, progressing very slowly molasses is added during the latter stage over a period lasting 24 hours. Rums produced at foursquare are all a blend of pot and column stills. Blends are undertaken both before and after ageing, with all casks filled with various blends of the pot and column stills. Master distiller Richard utilises American oak, ex whiskey casks for the majority of Foursquare’s rums, often also experimenting with Sherry, Madeira port & Zinfandel , Andean, Boudreaux casks which offer nuanced variation in flavour.

The Foursquare distillery is owned by R.L.Seale & Co which is a 4th generation family-owned rum trading company dating back to the 1920’s. Now run by David Seale and his son Richard – they oversaw the expansion of the family business to include distilling in 1995 with the purchase of an abandoned sugar refinery. After restoring, refurbishing and installation of fermentation tubs and custom-made distillation equipment, the distillery opened in 1996.

Richard aims to bring authentic Barbadian rums to market and prides himself on the purity of the rum he produces with no sweeteners added throughout any of his bottlings. Pushing boundaries and lifting the global perception of quality of rum, Richard often releases products that would surprise and delight any single malt connoisseur out there.

All Foursquare rums are made form a combination of pot-still distilled spirit and continuous column distilled new make. Their continuous column still is a technological marvel that operates under vacuum to allow distillation temperatures to be decreased.

A two-step fermentation process is used in all Foursquare rums, using a specific yeast imported from South Africa. This 2-step process is computer controlled with the temperature increased slowly and the molasses gradually added over 20 hours.

The majority of maturation at Foursquare is done in ex-bourbon casks. However, Richard loves to experiment with casks so Sherry, Port, Madeira and (in the case of the Indelable) Zinfandel. They fill their casks at 65-68% alcohol to allow greater interaction between the spirit and the wood. The majority of producers not filling at less than 70% and many cask their spirit at levels approaching 80% abv. Foursquare age all their rum for a minimum of 2 years and pride themselves on never using flavouring additives in their rum.