NEW RUM ADDS A CELTIC SPIN TO A CARIBBEAN CLASSIC
Now when you think of Scotland and alcohol gin and whisky spring to mind. If we told you that you can now add rum to that list then you might be thinking we’ve drank too much for the former. When you think of rum it typically sends drinkers to sunnier, exotic climes. Now – in a first for Scotland – an addition to the rum scene promises to inject the spirit of Scotland to this Caribbean cocktail staple.
SeaWolf – the first white rum to be distilled on Scottish soil – launched on 1st December 2016. It has been created by Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, the brains behind Edinburgh bar Bramble – cited by Drinks International as one of the World’s 50 Best Bars – and Vino Wines’ co-founder, Gavin Ferguson, who have formed drinks innovation company, Boilermaker Drinks Co. It’s a bold move for the trio – one they hope will help make rum the UK’s next craft sector.
“Rum is a massive player in the cocktail world. However, when we started looking around for a British brand, we realised that very few brands are distilled here and so SeaWolf was born,” explains Aikman. “We feel that British rum is about to have its time in the spotlight and we aim to be at the forefront of this.”
Taking its name from the Native American term for killer whales, the name makes a subtle nod to both Britain’s naval links with rum importation but also the pods of sea wolves that are found dotted around the coastline today. 18-months in the making, it has a limited first run, with only 300 bottles being made available before the end of the year.
Made in Angus at Ogilvy Spirits, the fermentation of the cane molasses – the spirit’s base ingredient – is done at low temperature for four weeks using both rum and champagne yeast – which gives this drink its unusual flavour profile. Once poured, notes of unripe banana and sugar cane on the nose give way to tropical fruits on the palate with a faint citrus and spice finish.
“We decided that if we were going to make the first white rum distilled in Scotland, it would be one that would be proudly Scottish…good enough to work well straight and as a base for cocktails,” says Aikman. “It had to have character, flavour, mouthfeel and body which can be difficult with an unaged spirit but we think we’ve delivered on all aspects. SeaWolf is Boilermaker Drinks Co’s first project but we have aspirations to produce a stable of Scottish spirit products and eventually produce in our own distillery.”
SeaWolf will be on sale from 1st December 2016 online priced at £29.99 (500ml), ABV 41% we think it makes the perfect Christmas present!
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