Friday, March 9, 2018

The Rum and Cachaça Masters 2018 Results


     The Rum & Cachaça Masters 2018 was notable for the sheer quality of the expressions on display. As our blind-tasting competition proves, the category is bursting with innovation.   Rum is coming under greater scrutiny than ever before.   As the category takes slow but meaningful steps up the ladder of premiumization, and as the captivating notions of ‘craft’ and ‘heritage’ seep over from other spirit sectors, consumers and industry stakeholders are paying closer attention to rum – how it’s made, where it’s made, and its quality credentials.
      Rum has long been something of an elusive party spirit, and a lack of consumer education – as well as irregular definitions around the world – means it hasn’t premiumized as fast as its brown spirit cousins whisky and Cognac. As the category moves upmarket, some products have also been criticized for a perceived lack of transparency, namely, using color, sugar and other additives, seemingly to justify higher price points.
     Despite this, rum truly is a drink for the masses, and its potential is clear for all to see – it is sweet enough to be accessible to new spirits drinkers, and still has the sophisticated traits inherent to aged products that are sought by spirits connoisseurs.
The Spirits Business gathered together a group of drinks experts at The Rum Kitchen in London’s Notting Hill to assess the state of the category. Our Rum Masters 2018 competition was assessed by three panels of tasters. The first flight of the day – a Cachaça sub­category – came under the scrutiny of: Daawud Zepherin, The Rum Kitchen ambassador; Alessio Franzese, executive bar manager at The Kitty Hawk; Chris Mathurin, rum blogger; and Peter Holland, independent rum expert and founder of thefloatingrumshack.com. The panel was chaired by Melita Kiely, deputy editor of The Spirits Business.

Read More at https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2018/03/the-rum-masters-2018-results/  





The Rum & Cachaça Masters 2018 Results


Cane Spirit/Cachaça

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Very Good Goods
Vale Verde Prata
Gold
Very Good Goods
Vale Verde Extra Premium 3 Años
Gold
The Responsible Trading Company
Abelha Organic Cachaça
Silver

White Rum – Standard

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Bardinet
Negrita White Signature
Gold
Aldi UK
Old Hopking Premium White Rum
Silver

White Rum – Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Havana Club International
Havana Club 3 Year Old
Gold
Angostura
Angostura Reserva
Silver
E. C. Oxenham & Cy
Bougainville White Rum
Silver
Tanduay Distillers
Tanduay Asian Rum Silver
Silver

White Rum – Super­-Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Bacardi
Banks 5
Gold
Worthy Park Estate
Rum-­Bar Silver
Silver

Gold Rum – Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
E. C. Oxenham & Cy
Bougainville Gold Aged Rum
Gold
Crucial Drinks
Six Saints Pedro Ximénez
Gold
Tanduay Distillers
Tanduay Asian Rum Gold
Gold
Bardinet
Negrita Añejo Reserva
Silver

Gold Rum – Super-­Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Neptune Rum
Neptune Rum Gold
Master
Element Eight
Element Eight Republica Rum
Master
MSB-­Spirits
MarlinSpike 888 HighSeas Blend
Gold
Angostura
Angostura 1919
Gold
Bacardi
Banks 7
Gold
One Eyed Spirits
Ron de Jeremy Reserva
Silver

Gold Rum ­ Ultra-­Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Worthy Park Estate
Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve
Master

Gold Rum – Aged up to 7 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Worthy Park Estate
Rum­-Bar Gold
Gold
Marauda Rum
Marauda Rum Steelpan
Gold
Brugal
Brugal Extra Viejo
Silver
Neptune Rum
Neptune Rum Gold
Silver
Rathlee Distilling Company
Rathlee Golden Barrel Aged
Silver
Bajan Trading
Rum Sixty Six Extra Old
Silver

Gold Rum – Aged 8 to 12 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Maison Ferrand
Plantation Fiji 2009
Gold
Bacardi
Bacardi Limitada
Silver
Indian Ocean Rum Company
Penny Blue XO #005
Silver
Bajan Trading
Rum Sixty Six Family Reserve
Silver
Bajan Trading
Rum Sixty Six Cask Strength
Silver

Gold Rum – Aged over 13 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Maison Ferrand
Plantation Peru 2014
Gold
Maison Ferrand
Plantation Barbados 2002
Silver
Pirate’s Grog Rum
Pirate’s Grog No.13
Silver

Dark Rum – Super-­Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Lost Spirits Distillery
Lost Spirits Distillery ‘Jamaican’
Master
Havana Club International
Havana Club Selección de Maestros
Gold
Stoli Group
Bayou Select Rum
Silver
Rémy Cointreau
Mount Gay Black Barrel
Silver

Dark Rum – Ultra-­Premium

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Bodegas Williams & Humbert
Ron Dos Maderas Luxus
Gold
La Hechicera Company
La Hechicera Solera 21
Gold
Bacardi
Facundo Exquisito
Silver
Bodegas Williams & Humbert
Ron Dos Maderas PX
Silver
Añejos de Altura
Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23 Rum
Silver
Angostura
Angostura 1787
Silver
Bodegas Williams & Humbert
Ron Dos Maderas Selección
Silver

Dark Rum – Aged up to 7 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Angostura
Angostura 7 Year Old
Gold
Nyborg Destilleri
Huracán Organic Rum
Gold
Havana Club International
Havana Club 7 Year Old
Silver

Dark Rum – Aged 8 to 12 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Bacardi
Bacardi 8 Años
Master
Cruzan Rum
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum
Gold

Dark Rum – Aged over 13 Years

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Havana Club International
Havana Club 15 Years Old
Gold
Pusser’s Rum
Pusser’s Rum Aged 15 Years
Gold
Cubata
Ron Vacilón 15 Años
Gold
Cubata
Ron Vacilón 18 Años
Gold
Cubata
Ron Vacilón 25 Años
Gold
Aloha Assets Corp
Autentico Nativo 15 years
Silver
Famille Naud Master Distillers
Naud 15 Year Old Panamanian Rum
Silver

Rhum Agricole – White

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Cuvée l’Océan
Master
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Cuvée Mojito & Long Drink
Gold
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Rhum Blanc Agricole 40°
Silver
Groupe BBS
Maison La Mauny Ter Rouj
Silver

Rhum Agricole – Aged

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Signature de Maître de Chais
Master
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny VSOP 40°
Master
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières 12 Ans
Master
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny XO
Gold
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Cask Strength
Gold
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Rhum Ambré Agricole 40°
Gold
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières VO Cuvée du Moulin
Gold
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières VSOP Réserve Spéciale
Gold
Crucial Drinks
French Overseas XO Rum
Silver
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Héritage 1749
Silver
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Rhum Ambré Agricole
Silver
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Rhum Ambré Finish Whisky
Silver
La Martiniquaise
Rhum Vieux Saint James
Silver

Rhum Agricole – Overproof

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Groupe BBS
Maison La Mauny Rhum Blanc Agricole 50°
Gold
Groupe BBS
Maison La Mauny Acacia
Silver
Groupe BBS
Trois Rivières Rhum Blanc Agricole 50°
Silver

Spiced Rum

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Bardinet
Negrita Spiced
Master
Aldi UK
Old Hopking Spiced Gold Rum
Gold
BBC Wines & Spirits
Botafogo
Gold
Stoli Group
Bayou Spiced Rum
Gold
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Rhum Spiced
Gold
Distil Company
RedLeg Spiced Rum
Silver
One Eyed Spirits
Ron de Jeremy Spiced
Silver
Anchor Spirits Ireland
Spike Island Spiced Rum
Silver
Elements Eight
Elements Eight Exotic Spiced Rum
Silver
Pedro Mandinga
Pedro Mandinga Spiced
Silver
2240 Social Club
World’s End Rum ‘Tiki Spiced’
Silver
Atom Brands
Rumbullion!
Silver
Spirit of Glasgow
Sugar House Spiced
Silver
Atom Brands
Rumbullion! XO 15 Years Old
Silver
Atom Brands
Rumbullion! Navy-­Strength
Silver

White Rum – Overproof

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Worthy Park Estate
Rum-­Bar White Overproof Rum
Master

Gold Rum – Overproof

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
LWC Drinks
Old J Tiki Fire
Silver

Dark Rum – Overproof

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Pusser’s Rum
Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof British Navy Rum
Master
Maison Ferrand
Plantation OFTD (Old Fashioned Traditional Dark)
Master
Lost Spirits Distillery
Lost Spirits Distillery ‘Navy 61’
Silver

Flavoured/Infused

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Paradise Imports
Gubba Silver
Silver
Groupe BBS
Maison la Mauny Ananas 40°
Silver

Rum/Cachaça Liqueurs

Brand Owner
Product
Medal
Grays Distilling
New Grove Honey Rum Liqueur
Gold
Very Good Goods
Vale Verde 1727 Licor de Café
Gold
Pirate’s Grog Rum
Pirate’s Grog Black Ei8ht Coffee Rum Liqueur
Gold