There aren’t many spirits which prompt a little learning into the world of crustaceans, but RedLeg Spiced Rum is one of them. The crab which this rum is named after is a brightly coloured critter which apparently makes for an excellent addition to the home aquarium on account of its excellent appetite for algae. The rum itself too hails from the caribbean, where it is rested in oak barrels along with vanilla and ginger before being brought to the UK for bottling.
Nose: Aromas of burnt toffee, vanilla, milky coffee, custard, cinnamon, and juicy oranges are all present, but each delicately so. They hint towards a rum that is relatively light on the spicing, but balanced with it.
Neat: Spiced rums are not generally intended to be consumed neat, and certainly this doesn’t risk setting a new trend. By no means an unpleasant spirit, but the balance of flavours on the nose has carried through to a palate that falls flatter than was hoped. Slightly spicier, and with a pleasant touch of gingerbread and cookie dough, this is a rounded spirit in which the flavours are there, but need turning up a notch or two. The restrained vanilla custard hints for example are good, but I’d like more of them.
Mixing: The most significant benefit of an understated approach to spicing is that this is an extremely versatile rum which performs respectably across a range of styles of cocktail. Whilst it doesn’t have the required body and complexity to be laid bare in drinks such as an Old Fashioned, this is not the sort of drink that is necessarily expected of a spiced rum. Those that are, such as the Cable Car or Cuba Libre turn out to be accessible easy drinking libations which slip down very easily indeed. Citrus really helps to perk up the flavours a little, causing them to shine, and as such a Daiquiri with its hint of vanilla is of the ilk that could become quite the crowd pleaser at a summer BBQ. It works well too with fruity flavours, a Spiced Pear being particularly successful. They are all put to shame however with the signature Redleg Apple and Ginger (recipe below) which offers all the complexity you need in a refreshing highball.
Signature Cocktail – RedLeg Apple and Ginger
Combine equal parts RedLeg Spiced Rum, Apple Juice and Ginger beer over ice in a highball glass.
RedLeg Spiced Rum is an understated example of its type, making it accessible and versatile albeit also a spirit that leaves you hankering for just a bit more flavour.
Rating:★★★★
RedLeg Spiced Rum is available to buy from Master of Malt.
★: Terrible, only drink for a dare. ★★: Meh, not undrinkable but best left alone. ★★★: Reasonable, middle of the road. ★★★★: Tasty stuff, well worth seeking out. ★★★★★: Incredible, booze doesn’t get better than this. You need a bottle in your life.
Review – Redleg Spiced Rum
There aren’t many spirits which prompt a little learning into the world of crustaceans, but RedLeg Spiced Rum is one of them. The crab which this rum is named after is a brightly coloured critter which apparently makes for an excellent addition to the home aquarium on account of its excellent appetite for algae. The rum itself too hails from the caribbean, where it is rested in oak barrels along with vanilla and ginger before being brought to the UK for bottling.
Neat: Spiced rums are not generally intended to be consumed neat, and certainly this doesn’t risk setting a new trend. By no means an unpleasant spirit, but the balance of flavours on the nose has carried through to a palate that falls flatter than was hoped. Slightly spicier, and with a pleasant touch of gingerbread and cookie dough, this is a rounded spirit in which the flavours are there, but need turning up a notch or two. The restrained vanilla custard hints for example are good, but I’d like more of them.
Mixing: The most significant benefit of an understated approach to spicing is that this is an extremely versatile rum which performs respectably across a range of styles of cocktail. Whilst it doesn’t have the required body and complexity to be laid bare in drinks such as an Old Fashioned, this is not the sort of drink that is necessarily expected of a spiced rum. Those that are, such as the Cable Car or Cuba Libre turn out to be accessible easy drinking libations which slip down very easily indeed. Citrus really helps to perk up the flavours a little, causing them to shine, and as such a Daiquiri with its hint of vanilla is of the ilk that could become quite the crowd pleaser at a summer BBQ. It works well too with fruity flavours, a Spiced Pear being particularly successful. They are all put to shame however with the signature Redleg Apple and Ginger (recipe below) which offers all the complexity you need in a refreshing highball.
Signature Cocktail – RedLeg Apple and Ginger
Combine equal parts RedLeg Spiced Rum, Apple Juice and Ginger beer over ice in a highball glass.
RedLeg Spiced Rum is available to buy from Master of Malt.
★: Terrible, only drink for a dare.
★★: Meh, not undrinkable but best left alone.
★★★: Reasonable, middle of the road.
★★★★: Tasty stuff, well worth seeking out.
★★★★★: Incredible, booze doesn’t get better than this. You need a bottle in your life.