Rum Fire White Overproof

Open this bottle and everyone will notice... which is a good thing in my opinion, especially with an aroma of overripe banana, guava, and mango (or nearly any other overripe tropical fruit). Unlike other overproof Jamaican rums, this one's aroma has a citrus finish that entices another sniff. Despite its high proof and robust aroma, this rum is a fantastic sipper. I find I can spend a long time nosing and sipping a pour of this, as the flavors evolve and expand. If you appreciate subtle funk, this is your rum. It's present to captivate and works well in cocktails, but it finishes cleanly. While other over-proof Jamaican rums might end with a durian note, this one finishes with a balanced citrus flavor, akin to a well-made daiquiri. The funk is undeniable, given it's 100% pot still Jamaican rum made using traditional muck pits. Much like the intelligent female lead in an 80's film, this rum's outward appearance (its label) conceals an inner quality that shines both on its own and in cocktails.

Wow, I was unsure if this was a positive review or not, then I saw it was a friend and I know how much they love Rum Fire and well there is the 87 Point score. I can see where they were being playful in reference to the name. To me Rum Fire is perfectly definitive, traditional Jamaican Rum; this is the kind of rum that originally made Jamaica famous for its rum. Rum Fire is a high ester, fruity, intricate, higher proof and layered rum that is also somehow amazingly balanced. My only problem with this rum is personal, I just want to keep drinking it. Embarrassingly, I used to mock the label, but I actually have grown to love it over all the years I have been drinking it; it's funky.

Drinking neat, the aroma presents banana candy, ripe mango and papaya, spiced sugar syrup, coconut meat, and a trace of cantaloupe. The taste features a prominent blend of tropical fruits, with undertones of orange zest, sea salt, and white pepper, alongside a subtle mix of herbaceous/grassy notes and gasoline. The finish is prolonged and dry, with overly ripe bananas and tropical fruits somewhat obscuring the grassy gasoline scent. This might not be an everyday dram, but I find it quite drinkable neat and am eager to experiment with it in cocktails.

I think it's time to examine some Hampden selections. This is the distillery that showed me rum could be fascinating. This expression is intensely funky and fruity on the nose, with a hint of heat and a slightly tart note I can't quite identify. Burnt rubber and banana peel are present. The finish has a touch of salinity. Overall, a superb example in the "white overproof" category.

A superb illustration of Jamaican overproof. Not for the timid! High ester pot still from Hampden Estate. The extended fermentation and double retort impart that Jamaican funk that I recognize and adore.

All the oily, mechanic shop character of an aged Hampden, but without the barrel influence. Impressively well-balanced and accessible for its proof. If you appreciate funk, this is the white rum for you.