Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

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

This is an episode that's been months in the making. After our Rumcast Reserve project, Main Rum Company put together a mystery box of old and rare cask samples that they promised would wow us. Thanks to U.S. customs, it took nearly a year for us to actually get our hands on the samples, but once we finally did we can definitively say they did not disappoint. They were some of the finest rums we've ever tasted.

For an extra bit of fun, we decided to try our luck at guessing their origins. This episode shows you how we did, all in real time, followed by a ranking of our personal favorites at the end. Here's a look ahead at what we tasted:

1992 Pampero aged for 34 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 42.3% ABV

1989 (or 1991?) Caroni aged 34-37 years in an ex-rum cask, 45.4% ABV, TMC8 mark

1983 blend of various Hampden and Long Pond marks (including DOK, HGML, C<>H, <>H, HLCF, LPS, and STC♥E), full aging details not revealed, 48.6% ABV, listen for more details

Blend of Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana rums with an average vintage of 1990, though rums from '82, '83, '86, and '89 are also in the blend, 48.9% ABV

1989 Guyana (Uitvlugt Port Mourant) aged for 37 years in ex-bourbon and ex-Scotch malt whisky casks, 56.7% ABV

1984 Clarendon (MMW mark) aged for 42 years (including 34 at origin) in an ex-rum cask, 59.7% ABV

These were all cask samples from Main Rum Company, so everything is cask strength and single cask. Have a listen, and see how wrong we were!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

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

In this episode, we caught up with Mitch Wilson just a week before the end of his 7-year run as the brand ambassador for Black Tot Rum to discuss his exciting next gig, reflect on his Black Tot tenure, and go deep on what it's actually like to live on the road as a brand ambassador.

We discuss:

The new role he'll be taking on in the rum world

Perception vs. reality of being a brand ambassador

What it's like spending 250+ days on the road in a year

The challenges small spirits brands face in the market

How big brands buy their way onto cocktail menus

The daiquiri strategy for becoming a brand ambassador

His first (and worst) masterclass performance

How to ask for better rum at bars without sounding like an asshole

The prospect of single-flagon Black Tot releases

And more!

As we mentioned at the beginning, come join us for the live Rumcast show on September 19 at Boston Rum Week!

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

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

It's time: we're back with the second entry in our series to determine the best daiquiri rums available on the market, the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket!

This time, we're breaking down the "modern" portion of the bracket. Compared to the "classic daiquiri" rums in round one, these rums are typically more flavor-forward, and often composed of both pot and column still rums from multiple countries. Some of them also feature aged (and unfiltered) components.

From heavy favorites like Probitas, to overlooked gems like Worthy Park Silver, to unavoidable bar staples like Planteray 3 Stars, to newcomers like Grander Cane Harvest, we put them all to the test to see what stood out and what disappointed.

Here's the full rum list:

Probitas / Veritas, the collaboration between Foursquare Distillery and Hampden Estate

Holmes Cay Fiji Single Blended Rum (the people's choice vote winner!)

Hamilton Breezeway Blend

Planteray 3 Stars

Worthy Park Silver

Banter White Rum

Transcontinental Rum Line High Seas

Grander Cane Harvest

Check it out and let us know which rums you prefer from the bunch. Cheers!