Overview

Brand: Esprit de Krewe

Origin: Rollins Distillery, Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

Still: Pot & Column Blend

Age: NAS

Finish: ex-Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Just a few weeks after reviewing a special release from the Rollins Distillery, we're back to check out a bottle in their core product line.

Espirit de Krewe Golden Rum is column-distilled from a base of 100% Floridian molasses at Rollins Distillery in Gulf Breeze, FL. Component rums are aged between 6 months and 2 years, blended, then bottled at 46% ABV.

Appearance

Gold, low viscosity

Nose

Vanilla, marzipan, warm honeycomb, hint of dandelion

Palate

Vanilla, salted almonds, fresh orange rind, honey

Finish

Medium-short, sweet, balanced; oak, vanilla wafer, honey

Rating: 6/10

Summary

The Rollins' take on a classic lightly-aged rum is quite serviceable, finding a place as an easy sipping experience or as a backbone in your favorite rum cocktail.

The experience is overall quite pleasant and balanced, with vanilla, almonds in the form of salted nuts or mazipan, and honey prevailing throughout. Dandelion comes through on the nose, and a fresh, slightly citrusy orange rind note is present on the mid palate. The finish is just long enough to let the palate trail off, but doesn't linger too long itself.

This makes an excellent Rum Old Fashioned, or bolsters a Mai Tai alongside perhaps more funkier or high profile rums. I'd say this rivals other accessible rums in the 5 years and below category; give this a try if you see it!

Recommended Cocktails

Further Reading