In today's episode of the Bartenders' Brands Awards we feature the bartender favourite, rum.
Our rum panel is developing something of a reputation for picking out esoteric rums as their Category Champions.
This year was no different, with Kiyomi Okinawan White rum storming to the win. From the southerly, subtropical Japanese island of Okinawa, judges were taken aback by its “beautiful, pot still-produced tropical aromas, with further delicate notes of apple blossom and tapenade”.
They were convinced by the “beautiful bottle” too and with the price thrown into consideration, it was golds across the board – and the third best overall score in the BBAs this year. Havana Club Original Añejo 3 Años is something of a bartender go-to so it’s no surprise the panel gave it a thumbs up. “Creamy, soft fruitiness, smooth” came the remarks, before declaring it was the perfect rum for a Daiquiri.
A silver for its looks and a gold for value gave it a combined score of 82/100. Plantation Xaymaca Special Dry took silvers for taste (“rounded, big flavour, slight funk”) and design and a gold for bang for buck.
Hoolie Manx was another lesser known. Judges spotted “grass, minerality and fruit” on their way to scoring it high-ranking silver medals across the board.
In fifth was Cuban rum Eminente Ámbar Claro, liked for its “dry, peppery, light” profile and loved for its embossed bottle.
For more on the how the BBAs works, visit here.