Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VGhjOli-cPQ 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 definiti
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Xn0HjDBebpw 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
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c-xDFY2jeFA 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 c
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zIAF12lf1hg 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 1
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MkuHntKFLbg This episode is the first entry in our ongoing Daiquiri Bracket series. Join us for a head-to-head showdown between 8 rums to see which one makes the best daiquiri in the classic category — the crisp, clean, refreshing style of daiquiri that made the drink famous worldwide. Can anything top the beloved Cuban Havana Club? Are B
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2q2Qh3m8oTI We've got something totally different for you today — a new series of episodes to determine the ultimate daiquiri rums currently available in the (mostly U.S.) market! We're calling it the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket, AKA The Daiq Braiq™. 32 rums will compete across 4 different categories of daiquiri rum styles. This episode is a
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cASCqmo12Zg In this episode, we caught up with Alambique Serrano founder Jason Cox about his latest project, The Rums of Mexico — a wide ranging series of rums sourced from aguardienteros and distilleries across Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Jalisco. We recently shared our thoughts on these rums in a bonus episode, but this interview with Jason g
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u2GefwpNvvg This episode is something fun we've never done before: Kate Perry (La Maison & Velier) and Brett Kozinn (PM Spirits) presented us with 7 mystery samples that are all candidates for the next wave of Flag Series releases for the U.S. market. We tasted through them together, debated our favorites, and attempted to guess origins b
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Jz1dzJSIORY We're back with Part 2 of our conversation with Foursquare's Richard Seale and Ian Burrell, the Global Rum Ambassador. In this episode, we discussed common misconceptions of the Jamaica Rum GI, including a fascinating deep dive into the history of Jamaican rum aging overseas, media coverage of the story, and what might happen
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QRGucs9K_3k In this episode we sat down with the dynamic duo of Foursquare's Richard Seale and the Global Rum Ambassador himself, Ian Burrell, for a conversation that covered so much ground we broke it into two parts. In Part 1, we discuss their new project that's been years in the making, other collaborations on the horizon, the future o
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/G0aoLRa0VAE It's time for our annual predictions for the rum world in 2026, but with a slight format twist. Rather than just making predictions, we also include the biggest rum-related questions on our minds as we head into another year. What rum predictions or questions do you have for the next 12 months? Hit us up via email or social an
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0C7UvYqsZz4 It's time once again for our annual lookback at our favorite rums of the year! This time, we both select favorites from the following categories for 2025: Value rum "New to me" rum Unaged rum Aged rum Blend Single cask "Am I the asshole?" rum Overall rum Bottler of the year Distillery of the year As mentioned during the show,
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A2iSfAffgiU In this episode we sat down with Trudiann Branker to go inside her role as master blender at one of the rum world's iconic distilleries, Mount Gay. After taking over for former master blender Allen Smith, Trudiann has played a huge role in shaping the current era of Mount Gay and Barbados rum, from reformulating traditional bl
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q3GX_ttTmHM In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums. We talked to Pedro about: Wha
Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here: https://www.rumcast.com/reserve You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RAJkBUrXzBY In this episode, we discussed something that we've somehow never dedicated a show to (but with a twist, of course): assembling a rum bar that would offer a beginner a complete view of the rum world. The twist, however, is that we have to do it in as few bottles as possible. Needless to say, it's a tough exercise! We debated ho
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can now pre-order our first-ever Rumcast Reserve single cask releases online! Head to our online retailer to grab your bottles today: https://raisingglasses.com/product-category/spirits/rum/rumcast-reserve/
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wyrs9Wxq1Dc In this episode, we caught up with Robert Greaves, founder of Mhoba Rum, the South African cane juice rum distillery that's pumped out a steady supply of distinctive, high-octane ester bombs over the last several years. Robert's been on our list ever since we heard he not only founded the distillery, but also built most of it himself, from the pot s
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bt-nefLJKD4 We've tallied the votes and are ready to reveal the champion of the 4th annual Rumcast fantasy rum draft (along with the debut of a new hit rum-themed song from John Gulla — be sure to listen to the very end). Guest participant Arminder Randhawa of The Rum Revival joined us to break down the voting results for each category, which included a number
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Uz9Y5no2O0w In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the iconic series of the rum world: Habitation Velier, Luca Gargano's collection of unique pot still rums from all corners of the globe. We start with a look back at a decade of Habitation releases and what's made the series such an enduring presence in the modern rum world. We then taste through the
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EBEG8zlG7LY Note: We need your help to make the most of this episode! Go to rumcast.com/vote after listening to help determine the winner of this year's Fantasy Rum Draft. Thank you! For the fourth year in a row, we're back with our annual Rumcast Fantasy Rum Draft. In this annual competition, we compete head-to-head to “draft” rums from the selection of an onl
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KG-0I7-l_ng Today's the day! We’re revealing the identity of the second cask selection that will be featured in our upcoming Rumcast Reserve release. And since two reveals are more fun than one, we're also unveiling the finished (pending TTB approval) label design. In addition to the reveals, we also take you through the work that went into them — from the twis
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OqHh-Jb1dr8 In this episode, we caught up with Dawn Davies, head buyer for The Whisky Exchange—one of the premier spirits stores in the UK. Dawn is a huge rum fan with an excellent palate (she's one of the very few Masters of Wine in the world), and her position at The Whisky Exchange gives her a fascinating perspective on the world of rum. You can watch the vi
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vT_KnPiDfEg After releasing Part 1 last week, we're back with the second installment of our guide to all Guyana rum. We kick off Part 2 with a discussion of DDL's influence on the modern rum landscape through its El Dorado releases and notable releases from independent bottlers. Next up, we confront the additives questions that have been associated with the dis
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jbOjSRja6Nc In the latest chapter in our Rumcast Guides series, we turn our eyes to Guyana and the legendary style of Demerara rum. As one of the world's most distinct, essential rum categories, this episode has been a long time coming. Whether you're new to the rums of Demerara Distillers Ltd. or a seasoned enjoyer, there's something in here for everyone. In P
Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BcE6Atm6iys In this episode, we sat down with Mike Gilmore, founder of Roaming Road Spirits, to go behind the scenes at one of the newest independent rum bottlers in the U.S. Roaming Road first got on our radar last year when they came out of the gate hot with an impressive slate of initial rum releases that included a memorable H Hampden rum, among others. Wit
