Flavoring vs. FLAVORING

[sleepy]

OK - despite some very drinkable post-distillation-flavored "rum liqueurs" (tm) that I would never consider as "rum", but enjoy, there's another class that puzzles me. (sorry to revive our "angels dancing on the head of a pin" discussion of what is allowable in "true rum".)

There are some, I have have no idea of how many, distillers that include spirits flavored by means of "gin stills" in their blends. In a gin still. introduction of the spice and/or botanical flavors occurs in the vapor phase of distillation as distillate vapors pass through a chamber in the head of the still containing the flavorants.

I have read that the spice in Goslings is introduced this way.

This method is how true gin is made vs. cheap, gin-flavored vodka - Bombay vs. Booth's.

Is this method cheating? How widespread is its use? I think a classic spicy rum profile w/o post-distillation tampering is just good practice (if used), but wanted to open the discussion.

[da'rum]

Maceration vs a Botanicals basket. Either/or in my opinion. As long as the spices are real and not artificial then at whatever phase it is added is fine by me. It'd be a quality and results driven thing.

[Capn Jimbo]

To be fair...


Gin is F. Paul Pacault's favorite white spirit. It makes no pretenses of its contents; indeed, the botanical components/additions are openly labeled and heavily promoted. Gin by definition is an altered spirit with a long tradition.

Frankly the use of a gin head is really quite admirable, as the head is attached to a pot still and in general is a quality batch process. If this indeed occurs with rum and spices, more power to the distiller - but - as always, most people appreciate honesty and transparency in spirits. As da'rum has often stated, as long as it's labeled he doesn't care, it's buyer's choice.

Good practice in rum making is an oxymoron. However your report of Gosling's using a gin head is fascinating - we couldn't find any evidence of Goslings using this practice. If you have a link or citation, do post it...

[sleepy]

My thought that Gosling's might include use of a gin still may be apocryphal. If my senior memory serves, it comes from both a friend and inveterate boat-bum who has spent a great deal of time on Bermuda and from - pretty sure - a fiction writer who is generally pretty meticulous in background research - either Bob Morris or Randy Wayne White - more likely Morris, since he has a novel set in Bermuda.

The comparative delicacy of the spice notes in Gosling's is what gives this credence for me. The recipe for Gosling's is held no less closely than that for Coca Cola!

[Dai]

Maceration vs a Botanicals basket. Either/or in my opinion. As long as the spices are real and not artificial then at whatever phase it is added is fine by me. It'd be a quality and results driven thing.

I'll second this.

To be honest without clear labeling it is going to be Nye on impossible to buy unadulterated rum. Unless there is a list of some sort most of us consumers even informed ones like us are going to find it difficult or impossible depending on how informed you are. Even if you knew one of your favourite rums had additives would it stop you from buying it. maybe, maybe not, it all depends on a lot of things that influence our buying decisions on any given purchase or day. What I think we all agree upon is that these additives should be labeled and stated on the bottle.