Tag Archive for: 2026

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Calibre Spirit Australian Rum – May 2026

There is nothing more special than watching passion and commitment manifest into a sensational product from people you know. In this case, a Single Cask, Single Origin rum made to the ‘Rhum Batterie’ tradition – The Calibre Spirit Australian Rum! It was award winning at 4 years old, and EXCLUSIVE to the Tribe we have an additional 2 years of mainland (Canberra) maturation!

The modestly named Calibre Spirit Australian Rum is based the ‘Rhum Batterie’ style of French Caribbean rum where the wash is made of sugarcane juice that has been ‘candied’ or ‘caramelised’ with heat prior to having water and yeast added. This caramelisation of the sugars gives added depth to the resulting rum. In this case, the fermented wash was then distilled in a hybrid pot/column still (a batch still with a pot base and an attached rectifying column, allowing the distiller to make precise heads, hearts, and tails cuts while achieving higher purity in a single distillation run.)

The resulting new make was then matured in a single 500l medium-toast French oak cask. A portion (around 100 bottles) of this cask was decanted and bottled in 2024 – that release winning Silver at the Royal Melbourne Awards in the same year. Now, two years down the track he had bottled what remained in the cask – fully 6 years old now. 

Calibre Spirit Australian Rum

I met Andy Moore back in 2019 when we were both working the same table at a Whisky Live event in Melbourne. We fast became friends that weekend, and that friendship solidified over subsequent festivals etc that year and since then. Andy was (and still is) working a full time gig in the defence force whilst also being a silent early investor in some Australian whisky distilleries. He’s been quietly ‘working into’ the industry since then on his own terms with his brand Calibre Spirit – presently as an indy-bottler, but he’s also recently acquired a still and is currently ‘gearing up’ to produce his own spirit in his own still. 

On a personal note, I’m certainly looking forward to sampling all facets if his upcoming distilling journey, and I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see one of Andy’s Calibre Spirit Rums on our playlist!

Calibre Spirit Australian Rum
Want to try your first Panamanian Rum? Tribe got you covered!

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: A creamy herbaceousness with fruit mince, flambéed figs (there’s definitely just the smallest pinch of ‘burnt edges’ – from that caramelisation perhaps?), some petrichor, well-worn leather and just a hint of underlying campfire smoke

Palate: The alcohol is incredibly well integrated here with little to no pepper on the palate (large format, quality cask for the win!) lots of succulent stewed fruits and fruit mince with some anise, mint and Dutch liquorice notes too.

Finish: Turns rather dry in this deliciously explorable finish – the sweet fruitiness of the palate becomes more spice-driven as more of those anise-type flavours come through, mild clovey-ness the leather notes form the nose return with espresso coffee and super-high-cocao chocolate and a slight oaky mustiness.

Whilst I did taste the (Silver Medal Winning) 4yo version of this rum it was a good 2 years ago now (that’s a LOT of rum under the bridge since then, after all) so I can’t really compare it to this 1/3 older again reiteration. I can say I was bloody impressed 2 years ago – and am certainly no less intrigued and captivated by this 6yo version. The caramelization of the sugar syrup is definitely (to this guy, anyway) noticeable – not ‘in your face, blow your mind’ noticeable, but it’s certainly there.

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Calibre Spirit Australian Rum

FROM CALIBRE SPIRIT

It is a pleasure to introduce this special release from Calibre Spirit—a journey six years in the making. I acquired this Agricole-style rum in 2023 and continued its maturation in Canberra, allowing our unique climate to further refine its character. Even at four years old, this spirit earned a Silver Medal at the (Melbourne Royal) Australian Distilled Spirits Awards, praised for its “rewarding collision” of chocolate and herbal notes.

While much of that spirit was released then, I held back 200 litres to rest for two additional years. This patience has deepened the award-winning notes of cocoa, black cardamom, and treacle, perfectly integrating them with the vibrant Thai mint and anise expected of a fine Agricole. The result is a creamy, crème brûlée complexity with a refined mineral finish. Calibre Spirit has produced just the remainder of this 6yo Canberra-aged evolution, and I am thrilled to finally share it with the Rum Tribe.

Andrew Moore

FROM THE DISTILLER

In the French Caribbean, rum production is traditionally recognised under three distinct designations, each with its own classification.

The first is Rhum Agricole, made directly from fresh sugarcane juice.
The second is Rhum Batterie, produced from a candied syrup derived from sugarcane juice.
The third is Rhum Industriel, made from molasses.

The rum I make sits firmly in the second category—Rhum Batterie.

In this process, fresh sugarcane juice is gently heated and reduced, concentrating the natural sugars into a rich, syrup‑like base. This reduction allows for the full extraction of usable sugars while preserving the deep flavour and ester potential inherent in the juice. That syrup then becomes the foundation for fermentation, carried out using a proprietary yeast selected specifically to enhance aromatic complexity.

The rum presented here is a direct expression of that process. Bold toffee and caramel notes lead the palate, shaped and enhanced by time in oak, allowing the spirit’s natural richness to unfold across a spectrum of warm, rounded sweetness. This style of rum is not commonly encountered—the process is demanding and time‑intensive—but the results speak clearly in the glass.

I’m proud to share this release with the Rum Tribe and hope you enjoy experiencing it as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to life.

David Goethe-Hooper

ABOUT CALIBRE SPIRIT

My journey into the spirits industry really began in Adelaide in August 2017, at the very first Australian hosted Asia Pacific Whiskies and Spirits Conference. Back then, when I introduced myself, it was as an investor—someone deeply interested in the craft and quietly supporting several Australian distilleries as the industry evolved.

Over time, that involvement became something more personal. After years of learning, observing, and investing, I reached the point where I wanted to step out from the sidelines and build something of my own. That decision led to the establishment of my distillery and brand in 2022: Calibre Spirit. I’m coming to market carefully, but with genuine excitement and a great deal of respect for this category.

Calibre Spirit sits at the intersection of three things that define me. The first is my military background, where loyalty, service, and integrity aren’t just ideals—they’re non‑negotiables. The second is an unwavering commitment to quality: producing high‑end spirits and delivering them with the level of care they deserve. And the third is an industrial distillery aesthetic—functional, purposeful, and honest. That combination is Calibre Spirit. But it isn’t just about me, my focus is on bringing people and experiences together, hence my tagline, Calibre Spirit for Calibre People.

So, after nearly ten years of being around the edges of the industry, I’m proud to finally present my first release to the Rum Tribe. This rum represents what I stand for as a distillery owner and what I want Calibre Spirit to be known for. Whilst I have curated, cared for, and independently bottled this spirit, I want to acknowledge and thank the distiller of this rum– David Goethe-Hooper.   I sincerely hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Andrew Moore

Calibre Spirit Australian Rum

Killik Gewurztraminer – April 2026

From the Heroes of Hogo, the funsters of funk, the absolute dudes of Dunder! This is Killik’s oldest release to date, and we’re proud and excited to have it EXCLUSIVELY for the Tribe – The Killik Gewurztraminer!

The Killik Gewurztraminer is a high ester new make that was first matured for 4 years in ex-bourbon before finishing for 9 months in a Gewurztraminer Cask. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine known for its intensely perfumed notes of lychee, rose petals, spice, and tropical fruit, and this really comes through in the finished rum. Disgorged at 62% then cut with reverse-osmosis purified water to 50%abv for bottling. And obviously – nothing at all added other than love. Just handcrafted, pure single rum.

The Rum Tribe is no stranger to Melbourne’s Killik Handcrafted. We’ve tried a range of their products over the years and our heart is always with their matured pure single rums – and this months Gewurztraminer is an absolute doozy!

Killik don’t make rum the way most Australian distillers do. Right from the start they lean into a flavour profile that’s still largely unexplored in Australia but absolutely iconic in the Caribbean: hogo, also known as funk. Jamaica is widely regarded as the spiritual home of hogo, but a handful of Aussies – Killik and Nil Desperandum among them – are proudly chasing that same wild, fruity intensity through the use of dunder and muck in fermentation.

And Killik aren’t just dabbling. Their raw spirit is genuinely world‑class. Their unaged rum, Killik Silver, has been racking up medals everywhere, including a Gold Medal and Best in Class at the World Spirits Awards. Their rum is being hailed worldwide thanks to some indy-bottlers (like Dead Reckoning) taking their product around the globe. They’ve proven themselves as Australia’s leading producers of high‑ester rum, and we’re absolutely bloody thrilled to be part of another Killik first: a Gewürztraminer cask maturation.

Killik Gewurztraminer

Hogo began as a Jamaican hallmark – an unmistakable, hard‑to‑describe aroma and flavour created in part by wild yeast fermentation. It’s bold, funky, fruity, and often downright outrageous. In Killik’s case, hogo tends to show up as tropical fruit, overripe banana, strawberry, bubble-gum, and a creamy, almost milky note.

The secret behind that funk lies in the wild yeasts that drive fermentation. And the secret behind those yeasts? Dunder and muck.

Dunder is the leftover material in the still after a distillation run – dead yeast, water, caramelised residue, and whatever other gunk can be scraped out. Traditionally, Jamaican distillers would toss this into a literal pit in the ground. Today, most use large containers like IBCs. Killik’s dunder pit? An old dairy vat – perfectly on‑brand.

The dunder is then “fed” with whatever carbohydrate‑rich fruit or scraps are lying around the distillery or nearby farms. This sugar kickstarts a secondary fermentation driven by whatever wild yeasts happen to land in the pit. The result is a bubbling, foul‑smelling, cow‑pat‑coloured vat of microbial chaos. This gloriously disgusting brew – rich with wild yeasts and the flavour compounds they produce – is called muck, and a portion of it is added to the next fermentation to seed the rum with the local wild yeasts.

The use of dunder and muck dates back to Jamaica’s earliest rum‑making traditions, when enslaved workers discovered that reusing these by‑products provided a reliable, renewable source of yeast. As rum production industrialised, distillers shifted to commercial yeast strains for consistency and efficiency. Wild fermentation – and the funk it created – nearly disappeared, surviving only in a few traditional distilleries.

Thankfully, the modern rum renaissance has brought dunder and muck back into the spotlight. And here in Australia, Killik have been the pioneers, reviving this old‑school Jamaican technique and proving that high‑ester, wild‑fermented rum can thrive on Aussie soil.

Killik Gewurztraminer
Win

EVERY PURCHASE OF THE RUM OF THE MONTH GOES IN THE DRAW TO WIN!

Members Extra
from the heaviest, richest cuts of a 45‑plate Coffey still, aged long and hot in ex‑bourbon casks until it roars with tropical intensity

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is massive and immediately apparent on popping the cork. An explosion of tropical fruits with pineapple leading the charge followed by a burst of Allen’s Strawberries and Cream and Milk Bottle lollies. There’s also some vanilla and candied peel there, a whiff of jasmine, a sprinkle of vanilla, as well as just a pinch of musty oakiness.

Palate: Big oily mouthfeel with a minimum of spiciness (esp for 50%abv), huge creamy fruit, reminiscent of spicy fruit roll bikkies – but sweeter. Lots of lollies from my youth come and go on the palate – more milk bottles, but also jubes, hubba bubba gum and a hint of musk-sticks as well.

Finish: As the sweet fruits of the palate fade – there is a burst of mild-menthol, some mild ginger spice, more vanilla and floral notes as it fades.

Once again Killik have really pulled out something special for us! This is a medium funk Killik with huge amounts of sweet lolly goodness. It really is a sweet-tooths rum with little to no dryness or tartness or astringency. This really is something different – sweet and oily enough to be mistaken for a liqueur at first – but this is all rum baby! Would make a sensational desert rum with a big cheese board with dried fruits. I won’t be mixing this – ever!  

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Killik Gewurztraminer Bottle
Killik Gewurztraminer Stats

FROM KILLIK

Hi Rum Tribe!

I am very excited about this rum! This time we have for you a high-ester, pot distilled release built on long, wild fermentation. It was intense, oily and full of tropical funk off the still. It spent four years in a single ex–white wine American oak cask to build character, structure, and depth.

On the nose, our signature ester profile leads with pineapple, papaya and lychee, layered with strawberries and cream, vanilla, and seasoned oak. 

A nine-month finish in a Gewürztraminer cask lifts the aromatics further, bringing floral intensity, sweetness and spice without losing that core estery punch. Gewürztraminer is a highly aromatic, floral and musky variety with distinctive lychee notes. It’s often used in fortified styles and is a natural fit for our ester-driven profile.

After tasting across a range of proofs, we chose to release this at 50% ABV, where the balance of fruit, funk, and oak showed at its best.

In my opinion, this is a fantastic release and I hope that the Rum Tribers are going to love it! 

Thanks so much and best wishes, 

Benjamin Pratt

ABOUT KILLIK

Born in Belgrave, Victoria, Killik Handcrafted Rum is a family run distillery that aims to fill the void of great Australian rum. Their aim is to create products that were not only top tier in quality, but are also the most unique Australian rum you can find.

“HIGH ESTER IS THE DIRECTION THE RUM WORLD IS MOVING “
Callan Pratt – Partner, Killik Handcrafted Rum

Our rum utilizes a wild fermentation which leads to a high ester content referred to as “hogo” in the rum scene. Killik Handcrafted Rum is the first Australian dedicated rum distillery committed to this traditional Jamaican style of rum production.

The Killik lineup is perfect for creating classic cocktails or enjoyed neat.

Killik Gewurztraminer

La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise XO – March 2026

A bold, pot‑still‑leaning tribute to the great British‑heritage rum style. Rich, muscular, and unapologetically old‑school – EXCLUSIVE to the Tribe, we’re back into the wonderfully eccentric world of La Maison du Rhum with the second stop on our exploration – La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise XO!

The La Maison du Rhum is a blend of XO rums (matured for a minimum of 6 years) from un-named distilleries in Trinidad (probably Angostura), Jamaica (likely Hampden or Worthy Park) and St. Lucia (better than even odds it’s St Lucia Distillers).  It has been aged in a mix of first-fill and older ex-bourbon casks. Bottled at 45% abv with absolutely no added colour or sugar.

The Tradition Collection is La Maison du Rhum’s most accessible and stylistically focused range – a trio that distils the essence of the world’s major rum “families.” Tradition Française (which we featured in January) celebrates Agricole heritage with grassy, cane‑juice brightness; Tradition Espagnole leans into the lighter, column‑still Latin style; and Tradition Anglaise champions the richer, pot‑still‑driven British tradition. Instead of single‑distillery bottlings, these are carefully composed blends that highlight the style rather than a specific terroir, making them perfect for drinkers who want to understand the differences between the world’s rum cultures.

La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise

La Maison du Rhum has built its brand around a simple but powerful idea: every rum‑producing nation has a story worth telling. Rather than creating a single house style, the brand travels the world selecting standout distilleries, unique vintages, and expressive casks that capture the character of each region. Their bottlings are deliberately educational as much as they are delicious – labels packed with origin details, still types, maturation notes, and production quirks. It’s a brand designed for explorers, collectors, and anyone who loves the diversity of rum.

Within that trio, Tradition Anglaise stands out as the boldest and most muscular expression – an ode to the molasses heavy, pot still influenced rums of Jamaica, Trinidad, and St Lucia. It’s crafted to showcase depth, spice, and dark fruit without tipping into extreme funk, making it both a gateway for newcomers and a satisfying sipper for seasoned rum tragics. As a whole, the Tradition Collection acts as a guided tour through the rum world, offering clarity, contrast, and character in a way few brands manage.

La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise

EVERY PURCHASE OF THE RUM OF THE MONTH GOES IN THE DRAW TO WIN!

Members Extra
Nothing less than a single cask 14 year old Foursquare bottled at 61%

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: A beautiful balance of funky fruit salad, fragrant vanilla and summer evening jasmine with a pinch of musk LifeSavers in the mix. It’s big, round and delicious on the nose.

Palate: Lovely and viscous with an initial peppery curtain that parts (literally moving to the sides of my tongue) to reveal a chorus of fruit mince, short pastry and crème caramel in droves!

Finish: Medium length, not a real chameleon in the finish –  more of the flavours of the palate swirl as they fade-out. There’s a flash of raspberry jubes somewhere in there alongside espresso coffee and marmalade flashes.

Despite the bi-line in the label declaring this as a “High Esters” rum (and it is compared to the Tradition Francaise we tried in January) – it’s by no means a ‘funk monster’. There is enough ‘ester-oomph’ though, to really round out the caramel/coffee/dark chocolate notes that abound alongside those syrupy sweet overripe fruit notes. The result is a rum that really punches (flavour wise) well above it’s 45% abv. SO easy to sit on neat or with ice – but also stands up to a splash of coke (and a squeeze of lime) to make a stand-out Cuba Libre!

Purchase this Rum
La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise Bottle
La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise Stats

FROM LA MAISON DU RHUM

La Maison du Rhum is proud to present its new range of aged XO rums, a celebration of French, Spanish, and English rum traditions. This exclusive collection is a testament to our expertise in selecting exceptional rums from around the world.

Each rum in this range has been carefully selected for its distinctive character and unique aromatic profile, resulting from meticulous aging and unparalleled craftsmanship. The richness and complexity ofthese rums will offer an unforgettable tasting experience.

Discover the quintessence of aged rum with La Maison du Rhum, where each sip reveals a story of passion and tradition: the spicy and woody finesse of the French tradition, the sweet and car caramelized aromas of the Spanish tradition, and the fruity intensity of the English tradition.

A true homage to the British style, this XO rum selected by La Maison du Rhum, is a blend of old rums from Jamaica, Trinidad, and Saint Lucia.

A few esters and intense fruits notes await in tasting this exceptional rum.

Each bottling of La Maison du Rhum is meticulously chosen to preserve the original character of the selected blend.

Nose: open, sweet, cooked fruit, banana

Palate: cooked fruit, ripe banana

Finish: long, persistent

ABOUT LA MAISON DU RHUM

La Maison du Rhum is all about celebrating the wild, wonderful diversity of the rum world – the kind of diversity that keeps us rum tragics endlessly curious. Instead of running their own distillery, they roam the globe hunting down standout casks from the Caribbean, Latin America, the Indian Ocean and beyond. Think of them as globe‑trotting rum scouts, sniffing out the good stuff so the rest of us can sit back and enjoy the spoils.

Each release is a snapshot of a place, a distillery, and a moment in time. La Maison du Rhum works directly with producers big and small, selecting barrels that show off the quirks of local cane, fermentation styles, still types, and ageing conditions. They bottle these discoveries in limited batches – often with vintages, distillation details, and cask notes that make collectors grin and newcomers feel like they’ve just unlocked a secret level of the rum world.

Over the years, the brand has earned a reputation for delivering rums with real character – not cookie‑cutter blends, but expressive, region‑driven spirits that tell a story in every sip. Whether it’s a grassy agricole from the Indian Ocean or a rich molasses bomb from Central America, La Maison du Rhum gives drinkers a guided tour of rum’s global landscape. For the Rum Tribe, that makes them exactly the kind of bottler we love: passionate, curious, and always ready to surprise us with something worth pouring.

La Maison du Rhum Tradition Anglaise

Dead Reckoning Barbados ‘The Bosun’s Persuader’ – February 2026

HOLD OUR RUM GLASS! A SINGLE CASK, 14 YEAR OLD FOURSQUARE!

  • 8 years in Barbados and another 6 dry aging by Dead Reckoning (and we know what that means!)
  • An exceptional Foursquare Cask selection – Others have won so many awards we needed to list them below
  • Bottled at a BRAWLING 61%
  • EXCLUSIVE to the Tribe
  • Surely the cheapest 14 year old Foursquare you will find

Yep, you read right. Our Rum of the Month for February is nothing less than a single cask 14 year old Foursquare bottled at 61% – The Dead Reckoning Barbados ‘The Bosun’s Persuader’

A Bosun’s Persuader, was a weighted, flexible club used by Royal Navy boatswains (Bosuns) to discipline lazy sailors or enforce press-gangs to recruit men by hitting them, often on the head, to ensure they worked or joined the ship. These antique naval tools featured lead weights at the ends, connected by a shaft of flexible material like baleen or whalebone, covered in intricately knotted twine or cord, serving as a harsh disciplinary instrument.

Like the name suggests, the The Dead Reckoning Barbados ‘The Bosun’s Persuader’ is an unassuming weapon of a rum that packs more than a punch at a brawling 61% abv. Tropically aged in Barbados for 8 years in an unnamed ex-bourbon cask, it was then transferred to Justin’s care in Adelaide, poured into a 200 litre first-fill Makers Mark ex-bourbon barrel and further ‘dry aged’ in Adelaide for another 6 hot, dry South Australian years.

During this dry aging time in Adelaide (one of the driest places on earth based on average humidity) the abv climbed in the barrel by an astonishing 14% – yep you read that right, fourteen percent – reaching 68% abv before being disgorged.  But that has come at a price – no less than 22% of the barrel was taken by the Angels in that time, around 44 litres. Greedy Angels!

Dead Reckoning Barbados

Interestingly, three Foursquare ECS (Exceptional Cask Series – foursquare’s ‘flagship’ series) bottlings matured 14 years (same as this months Bosun’s Persuader) have taken out the top awards in both those shows over the last 4 years. The ECS Equipoise, Equidem and Redoubtable all showing that 14yo Foursquare is not only some of the worlds best rum – but worlds best spirit.

Not only is the Dead Reckoning also a 14yo rum from Foursquare (a little different to the ECS series as the Bosun’s persuader a single cask, unlike any of the ECS series) – but is is presented at the same 61% abv that all three of the 14yo Foursquare ECS releases that took out these awards were released at. So it seems 14yo and 61% is a winning formula for Foursquare – and Justin has listened to the master.

Dead Reckoning Bosun’s Persuader

Trying to summarize the astounding success that Richard Seale and Foursquare have achieved since Richard took the reigns of the company is difficult in a paragraph. So lets break it down into some dot points from just TWO of the worlds most respected spirits comps.

International Wine and Spirits Competition Awards

IWSC Rum Trophy Wins – Foursquare Distillery

  • 2025 Rum Trophy – Foursquare EQUIDEM 14-Year-Old named the IWSC’s Rum Trophy winner (the highest rum honour) — marking four total Rum Trophy wins (2016, 2020, 2024, 2025).
  • 2024 Rum Trophy – Foursquare 14 YO Equipoise Rum won the IWSC Rum Trophy as the world’s best rum.
  • IWSC Rum Producer Trophy 2024 – Foursquare Rum Distillery named Rum Producer of the Year.
  • IWSC Rum Producer of the Year (Multiple Years) – Foursquare has won this title multiple times, including 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024.
  • IWSC Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year 2021 – Foursquare Distillery earned this top accolade across all spirits categories.
  • Richard Seale – Personal IWSC Recognition
  • IWSC Industry Champion (2023) Richard Seale was named IWSC Industry Champion — a prestigious honour recognizing his influence, advocacy, and contributions to elevating rum (and particularly Barbados rum) on the global spirits stage. This was the first time the title was awarded to a sole rum producer and someone from the Anglophone Caribbean.

International Spirits Challenge Awards

  • 2018 Supreme Champion Spirit Foursquare 2005 First rum ever to take the top title at ISC.
  • 2021 Supreme Champion Spirit Foursquare Redoubtable 14 Year Old (2021) Overall winner across spirits categories.
  • 2021 ISC Rum Producer of the Year Recognises excellence across Foursquare’s portfolio.
  • 2021 Master Distiller of the Year Richard Seale. Awarded in tandem with Foursquare’s 2021 success.

The Dead Reckoning Bosun’s Persuader 14yo Barbados is our highest priced Rum of the Month to date. But – if you compare it with the price of any 14yo Foursquare it’s more than a bargain! The 14yo Foursquare ECS bottles mentioned above range from $275 to over $500 in Aussie dollars in OS liquor shops – and they aren’t paying the taxes on spirits we do ’over there’!

At $169 a bottle we believe we are offering the best priced 14yo 61% Foursquare you’re EVER going to see. AND… this one is a single cask unlike ANY of the distillery ECS bottlings. You’re gonna want two bottles!

Dead Reckoning Barbados
WIN

EVERY PURCHASE OF THE RUM OF THE MONTH GOES IN THE DRAW TO WIN!

Win the Dead Reckoning ‘Corporal Ashley Birt’ – A blend of 5 Caribbean rums & 1 Australian rum honouring Corporal Ashley Birt as part of the Dead Reckoning Commemorative Series of rums.

Members Extra
What happens when one of the world’s great Agricole distilleries decides to dial up the fruit, soften the edges, and unleash a rum that practically bursts out of the glass?

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: A rich bowl of Titanically deep slightly over-ripe tropical fruit notes, sweet, hot, dripping caramel and Christmas cake spices by the absolute bucketload, fragrant vanilla pods just-cut and scraped, and freshly opened Allen’s jube lollies complete this olfactory symphony. I could spend hours with my nose in this glass – sumptuous, inviting, warm and just so, so good you’ll find yourself with your glass under your nose for 99% of the time you have this rum in your hand.

Palate: A warm heat with some peppery prickles that build and then quickly melt away as sweet waves of fruit mince crash onto a luscious base of vanilla custard, mixed-peel citrus, Jasmine flowers and

Finish: Gives away the column still component as it fades with an interesting sweet yet dry-ness. More citrus peel notes sit alongside hi-cocoa dark chocolate, subdued but discernible [Barbadian] funk . Lip smackin’, cheek suckin’, long chewin’ goodness!

Once again a Dead Reckoning release to pour, sniff, swirl, sniff, taste and chew whilst revelling in the whole experience. If you’re a cigar smoker – crack out a good one.  Huge fruity depth of flavour with lovely first fill American oak notes – some pepper and that slight dryness keeps it all in check and balanced. Masses of layers to unpack, and [ideally] chat about with your drinking pal. Seriously – don’t muck about with this one, get two bottles at least! Thank me later.   

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Dead Reckoning Barbados Bottle
Dead Reckoning Barbados Stats

FROM DEAD RECKONING

Barbados, arguably the birthplace of rum with Mount Gay kicking it off. Nowadays, with a more modern take on rum, Foursquare have been been a market leader for decades. 

Looking back to 2019 the first bulk rum I purchased for a long term ageing project had to be a Foursquare. It had a lot going for it , worlds best distillery & distiller awards , & countless ECS series releases that just kept getting better . 

After this particular release spent 8 years Tropical ageing in Barbados it then spent a further six years in a ex Bourbon Barrel Australian dry ageing in Adelaide. Not so coincidentally South Australia with the lowest recorded humidity in the world combined with at times ,brutally hot summers with the Barrel aging Warehouse reaching over 50°C in summer and prolonged months cold of winter.

The six years the rum has been in Adelaide. I had an ABV increase of 15% and an angels share of 22%.

Released at 61% which was water down from its cask strength of 69%. 

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING

Justin Boseley, 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 Dead Reckoning brand has also recently branched into the US market with huge success. The Rum Tribe is incredibly proud of our close association with Justin and Dead Reckoning.

ABOUT FOURSQUARE

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 Indelible) 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.

Dead Reckoning Bosun’s Persuader

La Maison du Rhum Tradition Francaise XO – January 2026

Let’s kick off 2026 with an EXCLUSIVE Agricole style rum from La Maison du Rhum, and their ‘Tradition Francaise XO’ – a Mauritian rum aged between 6 & 10 years – Welcome to the La Maison du Rhum Tradition Francaise XO!

This rum is EXCLUSIVE to the Rum Tribe in Australia! It is distilled in an un-named distillery in Mauritius (Ile Maurice) in the Agricole style – using fresh squeezed sugar cane juice as the base for the wash. Aged in ex-sauternes casks in Mauritius for at least 6 years as per its XO statement and with NO sugar or colouring added and bottled at 42% abv.

La Maison du Rhum (LMdR) is an indy bottling brand by French distributor Dugas established in 2017. Dugas is responsible for distributing around half of Martinique’s rum brands in France as well as representing other huge brands like Don Papa and Diplomatico. Dugas know rum. AND they have relationships with many distilleries all over the globe. So, curating and bottling their own range of ‘World Rums’ was a logical step for them.

La Maison du Rhum

The La Maison du Rhum collection, which brings together some of the most renowned distilleries from their respective countries, comprises exceptional bottlings from around the world. These rare rums are reserved for French connoisseurs. The La Maison du Rhum collection is also an invitation to a journey of taste across the planet of rum. Rhum, rum, or ron: whether made from pure sugarcane juice, molasses, or even sugarcane honey, the bottlings from La Maison du Rhum are true ambassadors of the diversity of the rum world.

The collection consists of highly rare spirits, selected with meticulous attention to detail in the choice of distilleries, still types, aging methods, vintages, and age statements. The ambition of La Maison du Rhum is to promote each origin and each style, each tradition and each know-how, to take enthusiasts on a journey closer to rum-producing countries, prestigious distilleries whose reputation is well established, but also to the most talented master distillers and cellar masters.

EVERY PURCHASE OF THE RUM OF THE MONTH GOES IN THE DRAW TO WIN!

Win the AWARD WINNING Naud Hidden Loot Spiced Rum! It is in Panamá, where the jungle conceals a history of gold and plunder which dates back to the 17th century, that the best sugarcane has been picked to be distilled into a great rum. Following a long aging in Bourbon casks, it has travelled from the Caribbean to the Atlantic coast, where it has absorbed spicy notes and natural aromas under the influence of Emile Perrier, whose spirit still lingers in our Distillery on the banks of the Seugne. An invitation to a sweet tropical daydream. A must add to your Spiced Rum collection!

La Maison du Rhum
Dos Maderas Origen Thailand
A Bourbon cask-aged for 12 years in Thailand before being whisked away to Jarez, Spain where it spent an unspecified period finishing in 80 year old sherry butts!

Our Tasting Notes:

Nose: Lots of biscuit spices and fruit mince front and centre on the nose. Sweet, fruity-cakey and inviting with an herbaceous twang as well.

Palate: Lovely rich and viscous mouthfeel, Christmas cake fruit notes by the bucketload, some custard-y silkiness, biscuit spices and hints of jube lolly floating around in there somewhere.

Finish: Long lasting and succulent with fruit cake notes giving way to ginger spices and vanilla pods, Werther’s originals and espresso coffee.

Incredibly easy sipping rum – big depth of flavour with little confronting or challenging aspects to its flavour profile. Even the French-oak spice is kept right in check. Won’t scare any beginner off with big funky hurdles – yet there’s a lot of fruit present in this to chew on.    

Purchase this Rum
La Maison du Rhum Bottle
La Maison du Rhum Stats

FROM LA MAISON DU RUM

La Maison du Rhum is proud to present its new range of aged XO rums, a celebration of French, Spanish, and English rum traditions. This exclusive collection is a testament to our expertise in selecting exceptional rums from around the world.

Each rum in this range has been carefully selected for its distinctive character and unique aromatic profile, resulting from meticulous aging and unparalleled craftsmanship. The richness and complexity ofthese rums will offer an unforgettable tasting experience.

Discover the quintessence of aged rum with La Maison du Rhum, where each sip reveals a story of passion and tradition: the spicy and woody finesse of the French tradition, the sweet and car caramelized aromas of the Spanish tradition, and the fruity intensity of the English tradition.

A true homage to the French style, this XO rum selected by La Maison du Rhum, is an old Mauritius cane juice rum.

Notes of fresh sugarcane sprinkled with savory spices await in tasting this exceptional rum.

Each bottling of La Maison du Rhum is meticulously chosen to preserve the original character of the selected blend.

Nose: spicy, vanilla, nutty

Palate: yellow fruits, mellow oak, sweet spices

Finish: exotic fruits, woody

ABOUT LA MAISON DU RUM

La Maison du Rhum is all about celebrating the wild, wonderful diversity of the rum world — the kind of diversity that keeps us rum tragics endlessly curious. Instead of running their own distillery, they roam the globe hunting down standout casks from the Caribbean, Latin America, the Indian Ocean and beyond. Think of them as globe‑trotting rum scouts, sniffing out the good stuff so the rest of us can sit back and enjoy the spoils.

Each release is a snapshot of a place, a distillery, and a moment in time. La Maison du Rhum works directly with producers big and small, selecting barrels that show off the quirks of local cane, fermentation styles, still types, and ageing conditions. They bottle these discoveries in limited batches — often with vintages, distillation details, and cask notes that make collectors grin and newcomers feel like they’ve just unlocked a secret level of the rum world.

Over the years, the brand has earned a reputation for delivering rums with real character — not cookie‑cutter blends, but expressive, region‑driven spirits that tell a story in every sip. Whether it’s a grassy agricole from the Indian Ocean or a rich molasses bomb from Central America, La Maison du Rhum gives drinkers a guided tour of rum’s global landscape. For the Rum Tribe, that makes them exactly the kind of bottler we love: passionate, curious, and always ready to surprise us with something worth pouring.

La Maison du Rhum