Style: Rum distilled from fresh sugarcane juice
Age: No age statement
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Region: Dunfermline, Grenada

It’s no secret that we here at The Educated Barfly are big supporters of Renegade Rum — we’ve discussed rum from Grenada in general and we’ve written about their focus on sugarcane terroir at length. Renegade’s approach to making rum is all about expressing the unique terroir of Grenada through the distillation of fresh, locally grown sugarcane. The distillery started out with bottling their unaged, single-farm expressions last year.

Renegade recently launched its new core lineup for the United States and we were lucky enough to get a hold of a bottle of the Single Farm Cuvée: Dunfermline expression. This rum is a combination of column and pot-distilled cane rum that was then barrel-aged and blended to highlight the unique flavors of the sugarcane grown on Dunfermline farm in Grenada. Let’s dive in and see what this rum is all about.

Tasting notes

The time spent aging in the barrel has done little to temper this rum’s aggressive and unique bouquet. Aromas of lemongrass, olive brine, and overripe tropical fruit are at the forefront with a slightly metallic, mineral note that reminds me of tomato paste. Once sipped, the caramel and vanilla that one would expect from a Caribbean-aged rum are far more pronounced. The palate still has that grassy, vegetal quality expected from fresh cane rums, but with lychee, mango, and pomegranate juice rounding things out. There’s a salty, slightly sulphuric note on the back end that adds a nice balance to the fruit and vegetable notes. The finish is creamy with lingering notes of caramel, a bit of baking spice, and just a hint of salinity.

Final thoughts

Like all rums from Renegade, this is a spirit that doesn’t hold back. The intense aroma of this rum is completely unique. It’s briny, and fruity and has a unique mineral-like quality. All of these notes combine to create a bouquet that’s completely bewildering and captivating. There is a bit of a disconnect between the intensity of the aroma and the palate. I felt a bit let down by the more subdued palate after getting smacked around by the nose, but there’s no flavor that is out of place or off-putting. It’s a singular drinking experience. For those who enjoy seeking out unique bottles with unique stories, Renegade’s Single Farm Dunfermline is exactly that.