The Rumcast

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.Hey all! It's time for a bittersweet episode — this month, we sat down with Rumcast veteran Kate Perry, who will be stepping away from her position at La Maison & Velier at the end of the year for a new chapter outside the world of rum. Kate told us all about what's next, why she decided to pursue something outside the rum and spirits industry, and reflected on how much has changed for rum over the last decade. It was a great look back at the development of rum in the U.S. through the lens of Kate's work at Velier and La Maison & Velier, with lots of great stories along the way. Have a listen and raise a glass to Kate with us. If you want to support Kate's next venture, check out the GoFundMe here!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.This is an episode that's been months in the making. After our Rumcast Reserve project, Main Rum Company put together a mystery box of old and rare cask samples that they promised would wow us. Thanks to U.S. customs, it took nearly a year for us to actually get our hands on the samples, but once we finally did we can definitively say they did not disappoint. They were some of the finest rums we've ever tasted.For an extra bit of fun, we decided to try our luck at guessing their origins. This episode shows you how we did, all in real time, followed by a ranking of our personal favorites at the end. Here's a look ahead at what we tasted:1992 Pampero aged for 34 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 42.3% ABV1989 (or 1991?) Caroni aged 34-37 years in an ex-rum cask, 45.4% ABV, TMC8 mark1983 blend of various Hampden and Long Pond marks (including DOK, HGML, C<>H, <>H, HLCF, LPS, and STC♥E), full aging details not revealed, 48.6% ABV, listen for more detailsBlend of Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana rums with an average vintage of 1990, though rums from '82, '83, '86, and '89 are also in the blend, 48.9% ABV1989 Guyana (Uitvlugt Port Mourant) aged for 37 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 56.7% ABV1984 Clarendon (MMW mark) aged for 42 years (including 34 at origin) in an ex-rum cask, 59.7% ABVThese were all cask samples from Main Rum Company, so everything is cask strength and single cask. Have a listen, and see how wrong we were!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.In this episode, we caught up with Mitch Wilson just a week before the end of his 7-year run as the brand ambassador for Black Tot Rum to discuss his exciting next gig, reflect on his Black Tot tenure, and go deep on what it's actually like to live on the road as a brand ambassador.We discuss:The new role he'll be taking on in the rum worldPerception vs. reality of being a brand ambassadorWhat it's like spending 250+ days on the road in a yearThe challenges small spirits brands face in the marketHow big brands buy their way onto cocktail menusThe daiquiri strategy for becoming a brand ambassadorHis first (and worst) masterclass performanceHow to ask for better rum at bars without sounding like an assholeThe prospect of single-flagon Black Tot releasesAnd more!As we mentioned at the beginning, come join us for the live Rumcast show on September 19 at Boston Rum Week!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.It's time: we're back with the second entry in our series to determine the best daiquiri rums available on the market, the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket!This time, we're breaking down the "modern" portion of the bracket. Compared to the "classic daiquiri" rums in round one, these rums are typically more flavor-forward, and often composed of both pot and column still rums from multiple countries. Some of them also feature aged (and unfiltered) components.From heavy favorites like Probitas, to overlooked gems like Worthy Park Silver, to unavoidable bar staples like Planteray 3 Stars, to newcomers like Grander Cane Harvest, we put them all to the test to see what stood out and what disappointed.Here's the full rum list:Probitas / Veritas, the collaboration between Foursquare Distillery and Hampden EstateHolmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum (the people's choice vote winner!)Hamilton Breezeway BlendPlanteray 3 StarsWorthy Park SilverBanter White RumTranscontinental Rum Line High SeasGrander Cane HarvestCheck it out and let us know which rums you prefer from the bunch. Cheers!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.In this episode, we sat down with the founder of the only independent rum bottler exclusively focused on sourcing rums from the United States, Seth Benhaim of Mainland Rum.Since launching a little over a year ago, Mainland Rum has released some of the longest aged American rums to hit the market in recent years, including a 10-year-old Louisiana and a 9-year-old California to go along with releases sourced from Georgia and Florida.With their first unaged release from a Minnesota distillery set to hit the market soon, we figured it was a good time to catch up and learn more about Mainland's vision. We discussed:Arriving at the idea to focus solely on American rumThe challenge of sourcing longer aged rums from craft distilleriesNegative perceptions associated with the categoryThe double-edged sword of releasing rums from closed distilleriesFirst impressions of Mainland's unaged "S. Pombe" release sourced from Black Frost DistillingThe future of the American rum categoryAnd moreHave a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions!Learn more about Mainland Rum on their website.