Sean Skelly works at Wineonline.ie. He operates in our warehouse and order processing. In the 4 years he has worked with the team, he has convinced everyone at Wineonline.ie of the merits of rum! He loves rums and has a distinct belief that rum offers consumers something that whiskey does no. Rum has been produced for centuries and it offers incredible value in a category of brown spirits dominated by whiskey. Aged whiskies command huge prices, and Sean has picked out 5 of his top selected rums, that he believes offer huge value for consumers at sometimes half the cost of whiskies aged for the same amount of time. He recently travelled to Rhum Fest in Paris and on his return, we asked him to pen some thoughts, along with his favourite rums for you to try.
Such is his passion for Rum that he is also the founder of The Irish Rum Society. If you are lucky, they periodically hold rum tastings with industry leading ambassadors, distillers and enthusiasts and one such incredible tasting is coming up on Saturday June 7th from 5.30pm – 7pm in Dublin 2. It is open to all and is limited to 20 seats, over half of which are full already. If you are the least bit intruiged, you really should go and taste some of the best rums from St lucia Distillers. It is for learners and enthusiasts and all are welcome. Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/st-lucia-distillers-rum-tasting-with-dave-marsland-tickets-1328049113649
"It was the Summer of 2018 when I decided to treat myself to a 'serious' rum. Rum and coke had been my drink of choice for several years, and having recently gotten into cigar smoking, I wanted something fancy to match up to a good Cuban stick. I had criteria; I didn't want anything with added sugar, it had to be something I could sip neat, and I didn't want it to cost the earth. Throughout my research the same bottle kept appearing as the recommendation, Doorly's 12 year old Barbados Rum. I had a trip to London planned and I knew that Doorly's 12 was the bottle I was going to get on my pilgrimage to The Whisky Exchange.
As soon as I popped the cork I knew I had made the right choice, this was heaven in a bottle (and spectacular with a mid-strength Cuban cigar!). Six months later I read that Doorly's 12 was awarded The Whiskey Exchange Spirit of the Year 2019, the first rum to ever achieve such an accolade. My eyes had been opened to a whole new world of flavour. Whiskey was booming in Ireland but nobody here had a clue about rum, it seemed so mysterious and exotic!
Since that day I've set about learning about rum, from books to rum festivals overseas, setting up my own dedicated rum page on Instagram to finally founding Ireland's first ever rum club, The Irish Rum Society, in 2023.
With some whiskies becoming ever more rare or increasingly expensive, more and more people are looking for 'malternatives', and so below I am showcasing 5 rums that every whiskey drinker needs to try:
RL Seale's 10 year old Rum - Barbados
For lovers of a good Irish Pot Still Whiskey, R.L. Seale's 10 year old rum, from the much vaulted Foursquare distillery in Barbados, comes packed with pot still spice and bags of fruit alongside it. When you consider the accelerated effects of aging a spirit in the Caribbean climate, this is akin to 20-25 years aging in Ireland or Scotland, for a fraction of the price! Bottled at a serious 46%, this would be a surefire hit for seasoned whiskey drinkers everywhere.
Admiral Rodney Royal Oak - St Lucia
Whiskey/Cognac and cigars, it's a thing right? Believe me, rum has you covered in this regard. You like your spirits aged, with those familiar luxurious flavours of leather, tobacco, raisins and other what we call 'rancio' flavours that come from expert aging and barrel influence? Admiral Rodney Royal Oak is the high end sipping experience you're looking for. A blend of rums aged between 7-12 years in St Lucia in ex-Bourbon barrels, bottled at an approachable 40% and housed in one of the most stunning bottles you'll see anywhere, this is a fabulous sipping experience.
Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve - Jamaica
Winner of the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) Rum Producer of the Year 2023 Worthy Park is a true 'field to bottle' brand, with everything from sugar cane grown to aging and bottling all done on site in Lluidas Vale, Jamaica. Their Single Estate Reserve was voted 'Best Rum in the World' 2020 and overall Spirit of the Year at The Whisky Exchange, and one sip will show you why.
This is a blend of 100% copper pot still rums aged between 6-10 years in Jamaica. Aromas of toasted oak and spicy fruit lead to luscious and tropical fruits with a soft, buttery texture on the palate. This is a standout rum that will sit shoulder to shoulder alongside any premium aged whiskey, and must be experienced.
Foursquare 2009 12 Year Old Exceptional Cask Selection - Barbados
So you like your spirits at cask strength? Let world class Rum Producer Richard Seale from Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados show you what a cask strength rum can be. A blend of pot and column rums expertly blended in Barbados, and aged for 12 years on-site in ex-Bourbon barrels, this behemoth is bottled straight from the barrel at 60%, and is packed with tropical fruit flavour. Let the rum rest for 20 minutes to let it open up, or add a touch of water to really see this rum fully express it's flavour. This limited edition release is a singular experience to be savoured, and it's EXCLUSIVE to WineOnline.ie.
Fore Irish Golden Rum - Ireland
Fore Distillery was established in 2021 in the breathtaking surroundings of Fore Valley in Co. Westmeath. Their Golden Irish Rum is a rum to be taken seriously, and it's fantastic to see a local rum made with the spirit placed to the fore (pardon the pun). With no additives, this silky rum is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished with the unique qualities of locally sourced Irish Oak to impart additional colour and complexity, crafting a truly exceptional Irish Rum.
The Rum Box
This has proven to be a real hit with rum fans of all levels, from the novice to the connoisseur, and with the collection of rums inside the box, it's not hard to see why. The most diverse spirit in the world is fully showcased, from world class distilleries such as Worthy Park to Rhum Agricole from Martinique is on show here. Not sure where to start in rum? Try the Rum Box and find the rum style for you. With ten rums from ten different countries, you'll find more than a few rums to pique your interest in this fantastic global spirit."
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