BoBo on Castle Street recently debuted its new Rum Club, promising to take our tongues on a journey across South America and the Caribbean, sampling rum from the world’s most highly regarded distilleries.
BoBo’s focus on this most storied of drinks is in fact in line with what has been happening in the premium drinks industry in recent times with rum becoming a favourite tipple during the lockdowns – a trend that is likely to continue according to experts.
Flavoured and spiced varieties have huge appeal and bars are increasingly looking for new and innovative recipes to captivate their customers which puts BoBo in the vanguard.
This 90-minute tasting session was hosted by Adam Keegan who gave us great insight into the history and heritage of the much loved spirit. This was definitely not about Rum and Coke!
Rum is fermented from sugarcane and its cultivation began around 6000 years ago. Come the 13th century sugarcane plantations were set up in the Portuguese islands of Madeira and the Azores and the Spanish Canary Islands. As the Spanish colonised the Caribbean, sugarcane spread to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, while the Portuguese colonisation of Brazil intensified cultivation of sugarcane.
We started with a simple classic, a Dark & Stormy, with lime Goslings Black Seal Rum (the original rum used in the creation of the drink) and ginger beer. The origins of this drink are up for debate, but Goslings say it was invented in Bermuda, with its strong ties to Portugal, just after World War I.
Suitably lubricated we then tasted and discussed another five rums, considering the three key elements of nose, palate and finish. First up was Pampero Blanco, a delicious creamy white rum from Venezuela. By law, Venezuelan rum must be aged for a minimum of two years, meaning this is smoother and more characterful than standard white rums. Bacardi anyone!?
Next was The Kraken Black Spiced, launched in the UK in 2010 and named after the legendary sea monster, it’s a blend of Caribbean rums that should appeal to fans of rich, navy-style rum.
A fantastic treat next was Plantation Pineapple, originally created for Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans in 2015, it’s white rum infused with the rinds of Queen Victoria pineapples and aged in casks for three months. Pineapple deliciousness galore!
Next, Koko Kanu is a naturally made and beautifully rich tasting coconut flavoured rum from Kingston named in honour of Jamaica’s Arawak Indians and it hit the spot. It was followed by Santa Teresa 1796, another Venezuelan rum and arguably even better than the first. Perfect for sipping and just as well really given it was our fifth glass of the evening!
And finally a special measure rounded the event off in style, a limited edition Portuguese rum from William Hinton, a blend of Madeiran agricole rum aged in a combination of Port, Madeira, Bourbon, Sherry and Brandy casks for six years.
It marked a wonderful finish to a brilliant introduction to this much underrated and complex drink. This was a fun and relaxed evening that struck the right balance between a little learning and a lot of laughter. Highly Recommended.
BoBo’s Rum Club’s next outing is Thursday, June 16 and for just £30 over 90 minutes participants enjoy seven rums – BOOK: BoBo (superbexperience.com)
