Heeding The Call Of Sairen Rum And Its Inspiration From Greek Mythology

Mythology is fertile ground for reinterpreting stories and sharing them in a new context and as a folklore and mythology geek, I’m forever on the look out for drink brands that tap into an old legend or mythological creature.

On my adventures so far, I’ve encountered rum from Norfolk that channels the spirit of Black Shuck, a rum from Manchester infused with the story of a Caribbean seductress and much more. 

The next port of call on my drunken odyssey is investigating the story of a brand that evokes Greek mythology, Sairen Rum. 

Rum Champions: Bruce And Louis Goddard-Watts

It feels like rum has never been hotter as a spirit. New brands are popping up on a yearly basis and of all the categories, spiced rum is experiencing a tremendous boom in sales and attention. This spiced rum trend is particularly strong in the UK and one of the newest brands to put their own stamp on the category is SLY DOG.

Founded by brothers Bruce and Louis Goddard-Watts, SLY DOG is on a mission to do things differently and continue to change the perception that rum isn’t a premium spirit. 

The Rum Ration caught up with the brothers about the making of SLY DOG, why they think spiced rum is having its moment and where the future of the category can go. 

SLY DOG Spiced Rum Review: Whisky-Like, Wonderful And Damn Easy Drinking

Spiced rum continues to be a rising star in the spirits world, standing out for being sessionable and smooth. Many upcoming rum brands have been eager to put their own mark on the spiced rum category and one of the latest to emerge in the UK is SLY DOG. 

A rum with an interesting backstory and big plans behind the brand, check out the full review of SLY DOG spiced rum.

Rum Haiku 44

Reach for a bottle
St Nicholas Abbey 22-year
I’m drunk on desire

Black Shuck Spiced Rum Review: A Highly Sessionable Rum That Taps Into English Folklore

When viewed through the prism of folklore, rum can take on the connotations of local history or feel a part of a wider community. This has proved to be a popular marketing tactic with rum brands who also want to share a culture from another part of the world.

As a folklore nerd, I love coming across spirits that take inspiration from an obscure legend or tall tale and there’s definitely a lot of that mixed into the story of Black Shuck spiced rum.

Rum Haiku 43

A tot of Chairman’s
Reserve 1931 rum a day keeps the
doctor seeing stars

Rum Haiku 42

Family recipe
Booze that bites like a snake
A bushmaster’s rum

Going To The Dogs: The Legend Of Black Shuck And Reimagination Through Rum

English folklore is made up of countless stories of monsters, beasts and fantastical creatures who roam the land, with one of the most infamous being Black Shuck. Tales of sinister, black dogs have been recorded throughout various places, yet the legend of Black Shuck has a particularly strong connection to East Anglia.

Read on to learn more about this devil hound and which distillery has reimagined the story through the lens of rum.

Appreciating The World Of Japanese Rum (Japan Distilled Podcast Review)

With each passing year, rum is becoming more popular, with different countries leaving their own mark on the category and infusing unique characteristics. Japan is also getting in on the rum boom and several brands have popped up to champion the Land of The Rising Sun.

But what exactly is Japanese rum and how does it stand out from rum produced in other parts of the world? This question is answered in Japan Distilled, a podcast dedicated to the exploration of spirits in Japan.

A Pirate’s Life: Grace O’Malley

A Pirate’s Life tells the stories of history’s most infamous buccaneers and imagines the kind of rum they’d stash if they were alive today. Over the years, Ireland has had its fair share of pirates and Grace O’Malley is remembered as one of the fiercest of them all.

Famous for her defiance of English rule and dedication to her homeland, O’Malley was a scourge of the Atlantic and truly a pirate queen. Let’s examine her rum collection to see what she’d be drinking while she was plundering.