Islay’s first rum distillery takes home a double gold
ISLAY’s first rum distillery The Islay Rum Distillery has taken home a global accolade at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Barrel Aged spirit.
Scoring an impressive 98 points, The Original Islay Rum Barrel Aged Spirit won the Double Gold at the spirits competition and signals the growing emergence of premium rum options from Scotland in the international market.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition helps to set the industry standard for excellence making a Double Gold accolade a clear indicator of quality for brands. The Double Gold win means that every judge on the blind-tasting panel awarded a gold unanimously, making it among the most rigorous endorsements in the sector.
Handcrafted on the Scottish isle, The Original Islay Rum marks a new chapter in Islay’s distilling history and sees a shift away from the traditional whisky options the island is renowned for.
Inspired by Caribbean distillation techniques and shaped by Islay’s rugged Atlantic environment, The Original Islay Rum combines coastal air, traditional craftsmanship and Islay’s centuries-old distilling expertise to deliver a premium, quality Scottish rum.
The rum is crafted using sustainably sourced molasses which then undergoes a fermentation process to develop layers of fruity, spiced and subtly sweet notes before reaching the still. A unique copper pot and twin retort still are then used to create a triple distillation effect in the single run, with the copper helping to slow distillation and produce a smooth spirit.
Following this process, the rum is then lightly aged in oak casks that previously held mature peated Islay single malt whisky, with Scotland’s cool climate allowing the rum to age more slowly than in tropical regions.
The final expression comes with an RRP of £49 per 700ml bottle, with an ABV of 46%.
The expression forms part of the distillery’s portfolio of three core rums which also features The Original Islay Rum Geal pure single white rum and The Original Islay Rum Peat Spiced.
Ben Inglis, head distiller and distillery manager at The Islay Rum Distillery, said: ” Surrounded by the powerful Atlantic Ocean, Islay’s cool maritime climate, coastal air and ever-changing weather create an environment that influences every stage of our rum-making.
“These natural elements contribute to a distinctive sense of place that defines The Original Islay Rum’s flavour, depth and character.
“Our Barrel Aged rum is an expression I’m particularly proud of. Maturing the spirit in casks that once held peated Islay single malt was a deliberate choice to root our rum in the island’s rich heritage.
“To have that recognised with a Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is a real validation of what we set out to achieve.”
