Killik Vanilla Bean

Description

Want a rummy cocktail base that hits all the Christmas fruity notes? With a big slug of vanilla built in? (Seriously – there is a whole vanilla pod in each bottle!) Well thanks to Killik we’ve got just the thing to freshen up your summer cocktail list, or just add a bit of ‘that certain something’ to your mixed-drink lineup for Chrissy – The Killik Vanilla Bean!

The Killik Vanilla Bean starts life as a lower ester version of their ‘Killik Silver’ – pure cane spirit. The low–wines (the product of the first distillation) is steeped with fresh mangos for around 2 weeks before being re-distilled (with the soaked mango included in the still) to ‘vapour infuse’ even more mango goodness into the final spirit. The resulting flavoured spirit is then bottled at a healthy 42% with a whole vanilla pod added to the bottle prior to capping.

It’s amazing how much this spirit reminds me of Weis Bars and Creaming Soda. It tastes like the Christmas Holidays of my long-gone youth, riding from dusk ‘till dawn on my BMX with the grand fortune of $2.50 jingling in my pockets. All those ‘peak-of-summer’ flavours are here, and I can almost guarantee you’ll have at least a fleeting glimpse of a childhood memory if you grew up in Oz.

Our Tasting Notes

Nose: Wow – I expected the big mango and vanilla aromas – but wasn’t expecting the intense creamy notes that frog-march them either side. It smells sweet and sticky with a little funk that blends with the mango infusion perfectly.

Palate: Super thick and satisfying mouthfeel – this has real body! The flavours in this are best described as a cross between Weis Mango Bar and those really good American creaming sodas you sometimes find in convenience stores. There’s a mild spicyness too that warms the palate after the initial fruity-flavour rush and melds into the finish.

Finish: The white-pepper notes gradually increase as the fruity creamy notes fade leaving a not-unpleasant tingle on the palate that just begs for another drop.

Look, I know this is probably meant for cocktails – and I can’t wait to see what Rum Chick 1 makes with it. But I’ve got to say there’s a whole lotta nice here just sipping it on ice. It’s fruity, its creamy, it’s sweet but not too much.

From Killik

Introducing Killik – Mango Vanilla Bean Cane Spirit – different to our normal ‘High Ester’ funky Rum, we have created a product which is incredibly versatile Rum, whether you’re looking for a ‘Spiced’ Rum replacement or something with a real flavour inside, then this is the product for you.

We use a much lower ester stock and soak on Mango’s for approximately 2 weeks (creating the creamy pallet) then just before we bottle, the vanilla bean pod is put into each bottle and then sealed.

This creates a well rounded product and perfect for simple summer drinks for everyone to enjoy.

Tasting Notes:

Distinct aromas and flavours of candy-like caramel popcorn, toffee, white chocolate and vanilla cream all on top of freshly cut mango – with a whole Vanilla Bean pod inside each bottle your Rum will continue to infuse as it gets older.

Don’t mind the floaties, it’s just the real vanilla pod flavour!

Mixing Suggestions:

– Spicy Ginger Beer and fresh lime
– Cloudy or Cold Pressed Apple Juice
– Excellent in a Hot Buttered Rum
– RUM BALLS!!