m u R S R E I T N
fRO
Spirits expert Tash McGill shares the exciting new developments in rum production and regulation in New Zealand. THE SOPHISTICATED FUTURE OF THE OVERPROOF COCKTAIL There’s a resurgence of overproof rum as a palate magnet for the bold and curious. While Wray & Nephew might be the mainstay of bartenders and fanatics for distinct character and luscious texture, 1919 Distilling has just released Cane – a New Zealand-made pure single rum double-distilled on a copper pot still and is full of character, light-bodied and designed to make cocktails sing, like its Caribbean counterparts. And it’s overproof, because that is the flavour of the day. 16 THE SHOUT NZ – JULY 2022
Why overproof? Overproof or navystrength have traditionally been used interchangeably to refer to any spirit (particularly rum or gin) bottled at a greater strength alcohol by volume than 50%. Now, it’s not uncommon to see spirits above 45% labelled overproof either. Higher ABV spirits are
Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
Tash McGill is a spirits and hospitality writer who regularly hosts tastings and education classes for those wanting to know more about spirits and their uses – from cocktails to culinary food matches. She has been in the spirits and cocktail industry for more than 10 years, writing, tasting and judging competitions.
