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You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode, we attempted a new mid-year exercise — picking 10 bottles each we think are the most talked about / anticipated releases of the year among rum enthusiasts, including bottles that have already hit shelves and some that are still on their way.

The goal was not only to create a snapshot of what's popular with rum enthusiasts in 2025, but also to give you a handy list of bottles you may want to add to your list to try if you haven't already.

After you've had a listen, send us an email or drop a comment on social to let us know — which releases are you most excited about this year? Which ones did we miss? We'd love to know!

We've included the full lists below, so stop scrolling here if you want to be surprised!

**Spoilers Below**

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John's Top 10 List:

10. Holmes Cay Réunion Island Rum Traditionnel - Single Origin Edition #4

9. Black Tot Finest Caribbean (New Blend)

8. Dead Reckoning Vanuatu 83 Islands

7. Raising Glasses Full Circle Blend

6. Bedford Park Westerhall Grenada 27-Year

5. Alambique Serrano - Alambique de Cobre

4. Habitation Velier Hampden PM Spirits / Prestige-Ledroit Blend

3. Roaming Road Belize 18-Year

2. Renaissance Clouded Leopard

1. Alambique Serrano Vida Nativa Series #1: Pico Canoa

Will's Top 10 List:

10. Black Tot Historic Solera Blend

9. Hampden 1753

8. Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selection: Mandamus

7. Papalin Jamaica High Ester

6. Renaissance Clouded Leopard

5. Mhoba Rum: The Shaldon

4. Bristol Classic Rum Jamaica DOK 2009

3. Hampden The Maverick

2. Alambique Serrano Vida Nativa Series #1: Pico Canoa

1. El Dorado High Ester Blend #2: PM/DHE

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode, we sat down with the founder and distiller behind one of the most interesting rum projects in the U.S. right now, Robyn Smith of rum et al., a chemical engineering PhD turned rum distiller.

The premise behind Rum Et Al is simple but fascinating. Robyn started with a foundational, always-available rum she named Baseline. She's since released batches in which she introduces a "variable" to the Baseline recipe, such as dunder. This allows you to taste the exact differences that the variable brings to the flavor profile when tasted side by side. If you're a rum geek, it's a really cool tasting experience.

During the episode, we discussed:

How she went from chemical engineering PhD to rum distiller

Her experience in R&D for Lost Spirits Distillery

How rum et al. came to be

All the nerdy rum production details

The joys and challenges of being a one-woman operation

Congeners vs. esters

How ester measurements translate to flavor profile

What we might see from her next

And much more!

Be sure to check out her YouTube channel, This Blog's Neat! These videos about her rum et al. releases are a great place to start:

How Baseline Was Made

How Variable (Dunderclap) Was Made

How Variable (Tailspin) Was Made

Have you had a chance to try Robyn's rum? What stood out to you in the conversation? Let us know via email (host@rumcast.com) or social!

Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

Sometimes we get in the mood to do something a little crazy, and this episode is one of those times.

After the debut of the latest musical number from John Gulla (don't miss this one), we spend 60 minutes putting a big dent in our backlog of rum samples by tasting and sharing rapidfire thoughts on 10 interesting rums each, for a total of 20.

We set a timer for two minutes and 30 seconds for each sample, leaving ourselves some extra time at the end to discuss our favorites, what we learned from the exercise, and more.

From recent releases like Papalin Jamaica High Ester Blend, to classics like Rhum Bielle Blanc, to up-and-coming producers like Taiwan's Renaissance Distillery and Australia's Mt. Uncle Distillery (including an Australian agave cask finish??), to recently closed distilleries like Japan's Nine Leaves, to soon-to-be-released rums that we saved as surprises — the range is wide and vast, just like the category of rum and John's vocal range.

You can check out the complete list of rums below, or just dive right into the episode!

After you've listened, let us know — have you tried any of these rums? If so, what did you think of them?

Cheers!

Complete List of Rums Sampled:

Oxbow Rhum Louisiane 2022 Harvest (United States)

Uruapan Cana Cristalina Single Agricola (Mexico)

Below the Salt L'Ardois JaQ (Nova Scotia)

Velier Nine Leaves 2023 Last Drops (Japan)

Botran Rare Blend - Italian Wine Cask (Guatemala)

Grander Toasted Oak Small Batch (Panama)

Rum & Cane - Asia Pacific XO (Fiji / Indonesia Blend)

Mt. Uncle Iridium X (Australia)

Crooked Island Rum - Waterman (Jamaica / Dominican Republic Blend)

Mt. Uncle Iridium X Agave Cask Edition (Australia)

Dràm Mòr Single Cask - Secret Distillery 7-Year (Mauritius)

Foursquare Magisterium (Barbados)

Rhum Bielle Blanc (Marie Galante, Guadeloupe)

Papalin Jamaica High Ester (Jamaica)

Renaissance 2018 Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask (Taiwan)

Raising Glasses Full Circle Blend (8 Countries)

4 Surprise Rums (3 of which haven't been released yet)