Notes: Brought to us all by the people behind Bruichladdich Scotch and Waterford Irish Whisky (Of which we have numerous reviews of the various expressions), Renegade Rum Distillery produces a number of rum expressions. All of them are Grown, Harvested, Milled, Distilled, and Bottled By the Renegade Rum Distillery in Grenada, Windward Islands.

This very particular rum is their Renegade Cane Rum Pre-Cask Single Farm Origin “Dunfermline” inland from the eastern coast plain of Grenada. The soil is a mix of volcanic and alluvial soils and is the site of a derelict rum distillery.  The sucrose-rich canes are from three distinct varieties called Purple Tall Boy, LacaLome Red, and Cain – in three distinct terroirs. The cane juice is pressed and fermented for 60 hours (3 1/2 days) for about 3/4 of the mix, while the last 1/4 is fermented for 97 hours ( 4 days total). The rum is distilled in a mix of both pot and column stills for the characteristics that each type of still is known for. Each variety of cane is kept separate to be placed in barrels and blended later. The rum  is then aged in a 50/50 split of barrels, 1/2 of which are American Oak First Fill Barrels ( A first fill is a USED bourbon barrel- a never used before barrel would be called a Virgun barrel by the way), and 1/2 are placed in premium French Barrwls ( not specified as to Virgin or used)

The process they use is known in the industry as Rum Agricola style, which is a direct use of fresh pressed cane juice to be made into rum and is usually the province of the French Caribbean Islands – most other rum distilleries use the Rhum Industrial process where cane is first made into sugar and molasses, and the rum is fermented from that as almost a by-product of sugar cane production. This method, it can be argued, is rum in its purest and freshest form – both in means of production and in its origin. The genealogy as it were of this rum is remarkable in that every single facet is relentlessly documented when you type in its “Cane Code” ( SFCDUN-01) on the website; this unlocks a treasure chest of information on every aspect of this rum inception and extreme detailing of its journey from field to flask. Why, you may ask, is this necessary or desirable? Simply put, it tells you every aspect and variable in this rum and its unique identity – which can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of why it tastes the way it does and how this was accomplished. This, in turn, leads to a greater understanding of the variables that affect a rum and helps you, the consumer, identify what you like or make you like a particular rum with crossover knowledge of what to look for in other rums and other spirits. No other company approaches this level of detail and, by extension, transparency of how a particular spirit is made.

In this, they have accomplished a singular achievement.

As an internationally known spirit and, in particular, rum judge ( not to mention enthusiast ), I have seen and tasted 100’s of rums, been to many distilleries, and can count many distillers, blenders, brokers, and friends. I can say a lot about rum and how it is made.
I will try not to bore most of my readers with a long exposition on the rum industry and the many possible negative things that could be leveled about how the bulk of rum is made commercially. I’ll leave that for another time. Suffice it to say that most mass-produced rum is at the level of cheap blended whiskey or worse – a soulless commodity made as cheaply as possible and just this side of legal in terms of what they can get away with. Not to mention, there are a lot more laws regarding whisky than rum, if that clarifies things a bit. It is essentially a commodity that is bulk produced and produced as cheaply as possible, with all manner of additives, color sugars, and techniques, with cost the overriding decision of the makers in most cases, with some notable exceptions.

This rum is on the other side of the rum spectrum, much in the same and in the same spirit as Bruichladdich Scotch and Waterford Irish Whisky are. Extreme exemplars of terroir, obsessive detail, dedication to the best possible techniques, relentless innovation, and not a little magic. Everything that can be analyzed and perfected, every detail/technique tweaked, and quality control that can be utilized seem to be on it.

The goal was to produce an unrelenting and unapologetic example of a, let us say, pure strain/exemplar/etude of a very particular type of rum in its purest form, barreled in carefully selected barrels for maximum flavor, balance, and complexity.

It is not for everyone. Hell, it’s not for most people; it is only for people who wish to experience a rum without compromise to be singular in every aspect and made as scrupulously as possible to personify its origins.

OK, Enough!

On to the usual type of review and breakdown of what we thought…

Appearance: It is clear and honey-gold in color. It displays a nice oily body swirling with a medium coat on the glass, with tears forming rapidly on the meniscus.

First Impression: Spicy, grassy in a cane-driven positive way, very much an agricole style ( if not technically one from the AOC standpoint) with strong whiffs of marmalade, allspice, turmeric, cinnamon, slight char, and Virginia tobacco notes,

Taste: Delicious in a spare, aesthetic, and dry way, with a dry cane grass entry with loads of spice melange, with a discrete touch of sweetness manifesting in the lingering finish with an aftertaste of myrrh/

Drinks: Makes some lovely dry tiki type cocktails, holding its own and yet playing well with other ingredients.

Bottle: Interesting heavy-bottomed decanter, beautiful in its way, but the neck is a two-fingered challenge and a touch short, IMHO. Nicely distinctive light sea green glass stopper with their logo screened on top and with a nylon O ring so it is easy to open yet secure on closure. Embossed and raised printing with subtle shading on the label in the front and a downright chatty history and description on the back label. Type is a touch small, but contrast is good, so those over, say 30, can still read it.

Other:Type in the “Cane Code” SFCVDUN-01 on the webpage to unlock even more fascinating details on this delicious rum.

Final Thoughts: An excellent example of a carefully made rum that does not hide behind and additives, modifiers or sweeteners.An excellent spare example of a rum.

Website: www.RENEGADERUM.com
An excellent website, while not as OCD as their Waterford Irish Whiskey series of pages the Renegade rum site still contains much more information than most sites and well worth a thorough read !