A new premium brand has been launched specialising in rare, single-distillery rums. The Renegade Rum Company offers small batch bottlings of quality, unvatted Caribbean  rums from distilleries  - and even specific stills - that often no longer exist.The big rum names Bacardi, Captain Morgan etc. abound; yet very little is known about the old original distilleries, their celebrated stills and stylistic differences. The brand is the work of Scotch whisky specialists Murray McDavid, the Islay-based independent bottler, renowned for quality selection and pioneering cask policy.The RRC’s Mark Reynier: “Three years ago we decided to explore rum, to see if we could single-maltify it. We tracked down casks from a range of single distilleries. We were surprised at the dearth of real rum, the lack of individuality, the paucity of styles, a scarcity of information. It seemed true rum was dead and  buried. Rum and whisky worlds evolved in similar ways: both are now dominated by multinationals, big marketing and  blended spirit destined for mixers & cocktails. Equally the distilleries: Before anyone discovered their true star status, Scotland’s Port Ellen, Brora and Lochside were history."  

Sadly it’s the same in the Caribbean. "Many plantations were founded by Scots. That overseas money led to the C19 Scotch distilling boom, and perhaps today’s  post-colonial, slavery-induced guilt too. Could the legacy of ill-gotten gains have prevented Rum from ever being  taken seriously? After all pirates created legendary awareness, if not a quality reputation. Renegade Rum combines single distillery rum provenance, with their innovative cask expertise - exceptional quality French oak is used  for extra complexity and texture. This is rum ‘unplugged’ - bottled naturally without chill-filtration, colouring-free at Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay and reduced  to 46% with island spring water. Renegade Rums are not intended for mixing with coke, but are for savouring with deliberation on their own by single malt aficionados and Cognac enthusiasts."

"Palm trees and beaches, pirates and sailors, cocktail umbrellas and coconuts are the clichés of blended brands. At last there is serious rum for the true spirit connoisseur."