Latest news with #CraftDistilling
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Rum, According To America's Top Bartenders
Dark and Stormy Rum Cocktail with Lime and Ginger Beer A Caribbean rum from St. Kitts and Nevis was chosen as the World's Best Rum by America's leading bartenders at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards. Below is a brief description and tasting notes for this top-rated rum. Old Road Rum is a distinguished ultra-premium rum brand from the twin-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean. Reviving a legacy that spans more than two centuries, Old Road Rum is named after the town of Old Road, the location of the first English colony in the Caribbean, established in 1623. The brand is deeply connected to the sugar heritage of St. Kitts and the artisanal rum-making traditions that once thrived across the island. St. Kitts, historically known as the 'Mother Colony of the West Indies,' was one of the earliest and most prolific sugar-producing islands in the British West Indies. The island's rich volcanic soils, year-round tropical climate, and rugged mountainous terrain made it ideal for sugar cane cultivation. By the 18th century, sugarcane plantations had covered the island, and rum distillation had become a natural byproduct of the molasses produced during sugar refining. Although sugar production ceased on St. Kitts in 2005, its rum history lives on in the thriving craft distilling community. Old Road Rum draws inspiration from this storied past while ushering in a modern renaissance of rum craftsmanship. The rum is bottled by the Old Road Rum Company, founded by Jack Widdowson. The company produces its rum in Barbados, rumored to be at Foursquare Distillery. It may also source and blend in premium aged rums from various other Caribbean distilleries. The rum is then further matured and bottled on the island. The Old Road Rum Limited Edition was released in 2022. It quickly garnered acclaim for its complexity, balance, and elegance, winning several industry awards. The rum is approximately 12 years old. It's a blend of pot and column-distilled spirits matured in ex-bourbon barrels of American oak. The abandoned Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation in St. Kitts in the Caribbean, once housed the island's largest distillery. Old Road Rum, Limited Edition has a deep amber-gold hue with hints of burnt orange and mahogany, underscoring its prolonged aging in oak casks. The rum is complex, aromatic, and slightly floral on the nose, featuring pronounced notes of molasses, caramel, toffee, burnt sugar, and ripe tropical fruits—namely banana, guava, and dried pineapple — accompanied by baking spice aromas of nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon, as well as floral notes of hibiscus and orange blossom. There are also faint rancio notes of old leather, tobacco leaf, and wood polish, along with a subtle, funky ester undertone—echoing Jamaican high-ester rum. The rum is creamy and robust on the palate with a mouth-coating texture and weight. It showcases caramel, vanilla, burnt sugar, and brown butter, followed by fruity notes of dried figs, dates, and stewed plums, as well as orange zest and almond. Spice notes of cinnamon, clove, and black pepper complement herbal notes of pipe tobacco and black tea, adding to the nuanced complexity. The finish is long, sweet, and layered, with lingering notes of molasses, caramel, cedarwood, wood spices, dried fruit, and a faint hint of smoke. The International Bartender Spirits Awards is a renowned global competition that showcases the world's best spirits. Selection is based on quality, innovation, value, and craftsmanship. Judged by an expert panel of bartenders and industry professionals, the competition is highly regarded in the spirits industry and serves as a benchmark for quality. Old Road Rum is a tribute to St. Kitts' rich sugar and rum history, while underscoring the growing role of artisanal, ultra-premium Caribbean rums. Whether sipped neat, paired with dark chocolate, or paired with a Caribbean cuisine-inspired dinner. Old Road Rum Limited Edition is a masterclass in balance, depth, and complexity. If you love rum, this is one expression not to be missed.
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Rye Whiskey, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The rye whiskey finalists from the 2025 SFWSC Rye Whiskey has been the fastest-growing whiskey category in the US. Between 2004 and 2024, 9-liter cases sold increased from 150,000 to 1.8 million. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the five whiskey finalists in the Rye Whiskey Category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey. Rectifier Rye is a small-batch craft whiskey from Wenzel Whiskey in Covington, Kentucky. Rectification is the historical practice of redistilling a spirit to eliminate faults and off-tastes. In pre-Prohibition America, however, the term was broadly applied to non-distilling producers. The whiskey is bottled at around 95 proof and blends three Indiana rye whiskeys. The source of the whiskeys hasn't been disclosed, but it is presumably primarily drawn from MGP and is based in part on MGP's 95% rye/5% barley mash bill. On the nose, the whiskey exhibits fresh rye bread, baking spices, vanilla bean, and dried orchard fruit aromas. The palate nicely balances sweet and spicy notes, delivering layers of cracked pepper, caramel sauce, cinnamon, and a hint of clove spice. The finish is medium to long, with lingering notes of honey, rye spices, and toasted oak. Wenzel's Rectifier Rye is a robust, spice-driven rye, offering lively flavors with a smooth, polished delivery. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as expressing 'concentrated, powerful rye bread, vanilla, dried fruit, and spice aromas. The palate features dried fruit, cooked cereal grains, rye spices, and well-seasoned oak notes. The finish is medium length and sweet with lingering rye spices and toasted oak notes.' This rye whiskey is a celebrated release from Balcones Distilling in Waco, Texas — one of America's most innovative and terroir-driven distilleries. Made from 100% Texas-grown Elbon rye, an heirloom variety, it meets strict Bottled in Bond standards: aged at least 4 years, distilled in one season, and bottled at precisely 100 proof. The Texas heat accelerates maturation, producing an intensely flavored whiskey with a layered complexity. The nose features powerful roasted coffee, burnt caramel, cooked cracked rye grain, toasted marshmallow, and dark cocoa aromas. The palate is robust and flavorful, featuring molasses, black pepper, dried fig, espresso, old leather, and seasoned oak. The finish is long, smoky, and earthy, with lingering bitter chocolate and spice notes. Balcones Bottled in Bond Rye is a muscular, richly textured rye whiskey with unmistakable Texas power and flair. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'aromas of apple pie, ancho chili, cracked rye bread, caramel, and vanilla notes. The palate features apple pie, baked orchard fruit, cinnamon, clove, caramel, vanilla, and a touch of cocoa. The finish is long and complex, with lingering chocolate, Tootsie Roll, baked apple, ancho chili, and a touch of char/ash.' Rye whiskey cocktail drink, on the rocks Ironroot Republic Distillery in Denison, Texas, is a family-run operation known for blending French cognac production techniques with bold American whiskey styles. "Sleight of Hand" is a small-batch, limited rye release bottled around 100 proof. Ironroot often uses heirloom corn and rye varieties, imparting unique character to their whiskeys. The nose is aromatic and complex, offering cherry cola, licorice root, burnt orange peel, and earthy rye spice aromas. It is bold but balanced on the palate, with layers of dark molasses, anise/fennel, cooked spiced plum, and toasted oak. The finish is long and bold, with lingering anise, cacao nibs, and peppery flavors. Sleight of Hand is a powerful, intense rye whiskey bursting with bold flavors reflecting Texas whiskey's power. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'Sherry inspired dried fruit aromas on the nose. The palate features overripe banana, Graham Cracker, pasilla pepper, caramel, vanilla, and powerful rye spice notes. The finish is long, hot, and spicy with lingering spice, oak, and molasses notes.' This rye whiskey is a hand-selected single barrel sourced by Southern Collective, a new label curating small-batch premium whiskey expressions. This single-barrel pick was chosen by Nashville Whiskey House and bottled at a cask strength of approximately 130 proof. It offers a fragrant herbal bouquet on the nose, featuring spearmint, fresh dill, candied ginger, caramelized sugar, and light oak char. The palate is flavorful and spicy, with prominent notes of mint-chocolate, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon spice, and lemon peel. The finish is medium-long and spicy, with a peppery snap and lingering sweet herbal undertones. This single-barrel rye is an energetic, flavor-packed whiskey, showing off a more intense version of the classic herbal-spice rye profile. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whisky as expressing 'herbal and spicy aromas on the nose. The palate exhibits a candied sweetness along with chocolate, herbal, and spicy notes of cinnamon and some clove. The finish is long, sweet, and complex with lingering pepper, spice, and herbal notes.' This Tennessee Rye, a special release from Sugarlands Distilling Co., celebrates their decade of distilling small-batch rye whiskeys. Known for producing cask-strength, non-chill filtered whiskeys, Roaming Man 10th Anniversary is a blend of older stocks, bottled at full barrel proof. The nose is rich and dense, featuring blackstrap molasses, dark cocoa, heavy rye spice, charred oak, and a touch of roasted coffee bean aromas. It is powerful and layered on the palate, showcasing burnt sugar, spiced cherries, chocolate-covered almonds, cinnamon bark, and charred oak flavors. The finish is long, hot, and slightly smoky, with lingering toffee, tobacco leaf, and rye spice notes. Roaming Man's 10th Anniversary rye is a bold, celebratory whiskey, full of intensity and craft character — a homage to the distillery's adventurous spirit. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as featuring 'floral, sweet, and spicy aromas on the nose. It's rich and viscous on the palate, expressing burnt caramel, cherry syrup, milk chocolate, and roasted nut flavors. The finish is long, powerful, and sweet with lingering caramel, rye spice, and slightly herbal notes.' These rye expressions from the 2025 SFWSC are some of the best rye whiskeys in America. They are all very flavorful, reflecting the incredible diversity of aroma and flavor of rye whiskey, from herbal to fruity to spicy. Virtually all of them are overproof, one a staggering 130 proof, yet they still offer the combination of smoothness and intense flavors prized in rye whiskeys. If you are a rye whiskey fan, these expressions are well worth trying and will expand your appreciation of American whiskey's enormous aroma and flavor range.
