I visited a rum distillery a few years ago, in Jamaica. And the air was so full of the spirit of rum I came over all queer and am ashamed to say, I had to stagger out  and gulp in fresh air. It didn’t put me off rum though, not by a long chalk, so when the Frost office sipped this  rum brand, it was all hands on board.

So what was the rum? It was an independent craft rum brand that Elements Eight has launched as a new addition to the range – Elements Eight Republica.

Republica is a premium, aged blend of two single rums, sourced from distilleries in Cuba and Panama.  The rum is produced from 100% traditional column stills, debunking the myth that only “quality” rums can be made by blending pot and column distillations.  Republica is non-chill filtered and aged for a minimum of five years in Bourbon casks and has an ABV of 40%.

We found the rum has a naturally sweet character the product of the harmonious balance of two single rums, from two historically important rum-making Caribbean republics.

So why not try a cocktail for Christmas.

 

Signature Cocktail: Old Cuban

45ml of Elements 8 “Republica”
25ml of freshly squeezed fresh lime juice

20ml sugar syrup
2 drops of Angostura bitters
6mint leaves
25ml of Champagne or Crèmant de Bourgogne
Method: Bruise the mint in the bottom of the shaker.  Add the other ingredients, other than the Champagne, add ice and shake to chill.  Strain into a coupe glass and top up with Champagne.  Garnish with mint.

Maybe leave one out for Santa on the mantelpiece, not to mention the reindeer. They’d get a bit of a gallop on, I reckon.

 

Elements Eight Rums are available at:

The Whisky Exchange: £30.45 www.thewhiskyexchange.com

Masters of Malt: £30.41 www.masterofmalt.com

 

Website: www.e8rum.com | Twitter:  @Elements8Rum