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Rum

The golden age Bars and brands react to the resurgence in popularity for rum. Zoe Fryday reports

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or a long time, rum has been considered the underdog of the drinks world, however, now a ‘revival’ of sorts appears to be unfolding. This year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) exposed some of the key progressive spirit categories set to dominate the year ahead, and rum, undoubtedly, is one of them. Over the past five years, the IWSC has witnessed a huge spike in rum entries from all over the world.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for rum,” explains IWSC general manager Adam Lechmere. “We’re seeing the authentic and the artisan being celebrated in everything from chocolate to gin to wine to mezcal, and there is no product more authentic than hand-made rums from small producers using methods that have been handed down through generations of cane-cutters and distillers.”

The current holder of the competition’s Rum Trophy is Trois Rivières VSOP Réserve Speciale, a 40% ABV Rum Agricole from Martinique. Having been aged in French oak casks for over five years, it offers a rich palette of flavours, with notes of blond tobacco, gingerbread and dried fruits.

2018’s Rum & Cola Trophy was awarded to Cabby’s Rum, while J Gow Spiced Rum, from VS Distillers, took home the Rum &

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Ginger Beer Trophy.

Banks Rum global brand director Magali Podesta deems that rum is entering a “golden era” in the UK. “This is largely thanks to the explosion in popularity for other spirits such as whisky and gin. Along with the premiumisation of the category, it has made consumers willing to learn and explore, which has acted as a gateway to start experimenting with rum,” says

Cut Smoked Rum

Magali. She also observes that alongside the renewed interest in Tiki and punch serves, a number of bars are recreating classic cocktails by using rum as a base, with Rum Old Fashioneds and Negronis starting to pop up on menus. “With millennials drinking less, but better than previous generations, we’re also seeing bars producing creative twists on traditional serves such as Piña Coladas, Daiquiris and