Tasting Notes for Rum & Cane Merchants Asia Pacific XO Rum
Nose: Sweet manuka honey, tropical fruits, all spice and smoke.
Taste: Baked banana, spiced oak and crème caramel.
Finish: Long and herbaceous.
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As the name would suggest, Rum & Cane Asia Pacific XO is a blend of specialty premium rums from the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, this means Fiji and Indonesia. The rums in this unique blend are all molasses-based and distilled in column stills. It’s labeled as “XO” — which has no legal definition in the world of rum — but we assume that these rums are at least 5 years old and aged in ex-bourbon casks. Notably, this is a strictly limited release — there are only 2000 bottles to be had world-wide. All Rum & Cane Merchant rums are naturally aged, have no additives, are never chill-filtered and bottled at 43%. The bottle and display tin really is beautiful and it definitely won’t look out of place on your shelf!
Rum & Cane Merchants say, “In Fiji, fresh sugar cane grown on the island is processed into sugar and molasses which is used to make Fiji rum. The Chinese brought distilling techniques to Java in the 15th Century. Asia Pacific XO rum is a very unusual blend – we think this might just change your perception of Rum.”
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West Indies Rum & Cane Merchants is the new rum brand from Crucial drinks. Officially based in The City of London, they are blending great premium Rums that focus on regional flavours and styles, with each blend a marriages of rums from two different distilleries from one region. Importantly, it does seem like they are trying to do things the “right” way and all of their rums are naturally aged, have no additives, and are never chill-filtered. The rums are described as XO, or extra old, which is kind of a meaningless term that has no legal definition, but judging by the colour of the rum and the fact that they haven’t added any caramel colouring, we assume that these rums are at least 5 years old.
Design-wise, Rum & Cane Merchants have come up with another winner. The bottle is designed to mimic the dutch rum “onion” bottle of yesteryear which was used by Dutch merchant ships in the 18th century. The wide body of the bottle gives it a low centre of gravity and minimises spillages when opened on choppy seas. Needless to say, it'll definitely be safe on your shelf and certainly won’t look out of place. We’re not sure why, but it really does seem that all the best bottles are saved for rum! -
Producer Unnamed distilleries in Fiji and Indonesia Style Column distilled molasses rum Age No age statement Volume 70CL ABV 43%