Buffalo NY rum - Lakeward Spirits

[mamajuana]

Today I was shopping last minute at a liquor store and noticed something. A buffalo distilled (not sourced) White Rum "INLAND SEA RUM" retailing for 26.00 at 80 proof. They tout it as "WNY's first authentic rum".

"The distillery retains a Class D license and a Class 1A license, which is unusual in Buffalo in that it can produce spirits with fewer regulations and in larger runs. "

https://www.buffalorising.com/2016/08/t ... r-the-ofw/


The have also recently sourced Used bourbon barrels from the noted and highly respected woodford reserve. So we will see some rather interesting aged rums in the future.

http://www.barrelfactory.com/lakeward-spirits.html


They claim on the back of their bottle to use the finest molasses and a unique yeast strain also that their still is made of solid copper. Other details have been scant to come by so far as their website does not yet even feature even basic information about the rum.

http://www.lakewardspirits.com/

I will be sure to follow up with my thoughts and testing as time allows.

Release notice of their rum:

https://www.buffalorising.com/2017/09/i ... t-brewery/

[Capn Jimbo]

Again, thanks...


This is a complete and well cited article, and yet another example of the artisan trend toward pure, quality spirits and away from the secret, sugar laden crap that still abounds. It is only a matter of time before a few more of the majors are forced to take note...

Thanks again my old friend...

[mamajuana]

I did a tasting last night of this rum. It being a local craft spirit I wanted so much for this to be good. Solid copper custom stills? Unique yeast strain? Local craft USA made? It's gotta be decent!

The nose of the rum was of light alcohol. The taste is that of bottom shelf highly column distilled commercial rum. After its initial note of rubbing alcohol, the finish was so quick that it was absent. This rum was devoid of any character what so ever. If you gave this to a Vodka drinker they would probably not know it was rum.

Sadly as a self proclaimed white rum expert I have to say this is among the worst rum's I've ever had. It is certainly distilled to near or at max percentage on only the column still. Certainly the worst at its price point and craft roots. I have to mark this on the do not buy list.

I'm looking to the future though. This was WNY's "first authentic rum". This was a bottle probably from their first run. I can only hope we see some improvement or tweaks in the product. I am concerned though that if they are aging this spirit that the aged products simply wont be good either. You can't make a great aged rum with a bad white base.

[Capn Jimbo]

Thanks Mama for your review...


I couldn't agree more in re the notion that a thin white is highly unlikely to transform into a meaningful aged rum.