Seth Benhaim, recognized for his impactful entry into the spirits scene with Damaged Barrel Whiskey, is now making waves together with his newest enterprise below Badwater Manufacturers: Mainland Rum. This revolutionary undertaking goals to independently bottle rum distilled proper right here on the American mainland.
Whereas imported rums dominate the U.S. market, accounting for 85 to 90% of consumption, domestically produced rum usually goes unnoticed, regardless of the expansion of craft distilleries. Benhaim acknowledged a major hole: Mainland American rum lacks family names and go-to bottles. He noticed this ignored class as a main alternative, believing that “American rum is overqualified and ignored” and deserves its second within the highlight. Mainland Rum is poised to vary this by highlighting the distinctive distilleries, their processes, and the distinctive rum being produced throughout mainland America.
In a transfer to respect distillery anonymity whereas nonetheless providing transparency, Mainland Rum employs a intelligent labeling technique. Whereas the state of origin is prominently displayed, the precise distillery’s identification is subtly embedded on the entrance label. Flanking the age assertion, distinctive latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates are offered for every distillery. These coordinates could be simply searched on-line, permitting curious customers to uncover the exact origin of their rum.
Mainland Rum launched in Could 2025 with its inaugural releases, together with a 10-year-old Mainland Rum Louisiana Single Cask and a 9-year-old Mainland Rum California Single Cask. These debut bottlings, offered to Drinkhacker, showcase distilleries which are possible unfamiliar to most customers. This initiative not solely brings consideration to the existence of aged mainland American rum but additionally encourages exploration of those hidden gems. It’s time to make clear these proficient mainland rum distilleries and uncover the outstanding spirits they’ve to supply.
Mainland Rum Louisiana Single Cask 10 Years Outdated Evaluation
Distilled in Louisiana, this rum from Louisiana Spirits in Lacassine—higher recognized for its Bayou Rum model—is a nod to Southern artisanry. Distilled from a mixture of unrefined Louisiana sugarcane and premium Grade A molasses sourced from Louisiana’s sugarcane processors, the rum was fermented for 3-4 days in closed-top tanks, embodying the area’s wealthy terroir. In September 2014, the distillate got here off the pot nonetheless round 160 proof and was barreled round 125 proof in a 53-gallon ex-bourbon barrel, beforehand residence to high-rye bourbon with an preliminary #4 char. For over a decade, the barrel matured in a non-climate-controlled warehouse below southern Louisiana’s sultry skies, enduring sweltering summer time highs of 92°F and winter lows of 45°F. In Could 2025, after greater than 10.5 years of ageing, Mainland Rum bottled this singular expression at a cask power of 120.8 proof. A uncommon gem, this single-barrel launch marks a primary for rum distilled by Louisiana Spirits, providing an unprecedented mixture of age, proof, or as a single barrel providing with such age and proof.
After affected person maturation in oak, Mainland Rum unveils an aroma ripe with esters, providing overripe bananas and the tang of scorching glue. Because the senses settle, cinnamon applesauce surfaces, adopted by the smoky character of toasted marshmallows. With time within the glass, the bouquet culminates in a deep caramel embrace.
On the palate, the rum pops with banana taffy, its estery sweetness rapidly balanced by a grounding tobacco word. This dryness quickly provides strategy to real maple syrup, accented by a touch of nutmeg. The mouthfeel is heavy and dense. The end transpires with a contact of black pepper, then pivots again to smoky toasted marshmallows, concluding with honey and comfortable, dry leather-based.
Mainland Rum stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best choices from La Maison & Velier, Holmes Cay, and Foursquare’s Distinctive Cask collection. This can be a rum for essentially the most discerning connoisseurs, able to rivaling one of the best from any distillery or bottler.
Bayou Rum’s Reserve Choose Barrel and XO Mardi Gras are each glorious rums, every providing a definite and nice expertise. Nevertheless, Mainland actually shines. It’s simply value twice the worth of the Reserve Choose, and when in comparison with the XO Mardi Gras on the similar value however at cask power, Mainland gives a greater sipping expertise. Its depth and complexity make Mainland the easiest way to expertise one of the best of Louisiana Spirits. 120.8 proof. A / $90
Mainland Rum California Single Cask 9 Years Outdated Evaluation
Golden State goodness! Mainland Rum California Single Cask, aged 9 years, was distilled by Stark Spirits Craft Distillery in Pasadena, California, based in 2013 by Greg Stark. Produced in 2016, this rum’s story started with molasses, fermented in closed-top chrome steel tanks. It was then distilled on an imported and customised 600-barrel copper pot nonetheless. The distillate got here off the nonetheless round 160 proof earlier than being proofed all the way down to 125 proof for barreling.
For simply over 9 years, the rum matured in a 53-gallon ex-bourbon barrel, boasting a #4 char and beforehand holding a traditional Kentucky-style rye-mashbill bourbon. All ageing happened below the extraordinary solar of inland California, the place scorching summers and constantly hotter temperatures fostered a speedy maturation. The barrel was lastly dumped in early 2025. This launch marks a major milestone, as Stark Spirits Craft Distillery has by no means earlier than commercially supplied a cask-strength rum or a single barrel expression. Mainland Rum presents this unprecedented providing, a style of California historical past within the making.
The nostril of this California rum gives the aroma of brown sugar and pineapple, with the composite smells of the marinade generally used to bake a ham. Because the rum develops, burnt campfire marshmallows and hazelnuts be part of for a really interesting bouquet. On the palate, a cherry soda taste begins issues off, rapidly choosing up a barely medicinal word that presents as cherry cough syrup. These sturdy cherry notes linger, however transition to candied ginger and tart inexperienced apple with an oily mouthfeel. The cherry cough syrup character returns on the end, however rapidly strikes to an earthy banana bread word met with vanilla ice cream and a Dr Pepper taste that lingers for a very long time.
I’m extraordinarily happy with this comparatively unknown rum from California. It’s a bottle that may undoubtedly captivate even essentially the most seasoned rum fanatic. Very similar to their Louisiana providing, Mainland Rum delivers a home bombshell bottling that calls for American delight and admiration. Primarily based on these two choices, I can’t wait to see what Mainland Rum gives sooner or later! 121.8 proof. A / $85
Mainland Rum Louisiana Single Cask 10 Years Outdated
USD90
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