The Finest Issues We Drank This January

My landlord is from Grenada, and we’ve received a fairly good relationship the place he comes over to my place with a bottle of Rivers at any time when he wants a break from his youngsters. This month, after a visit to the island, he introduced again a bottle of the 75% ABV Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum for me, which isn’t obtainable within the U.S. and is at all times a deal with.

 He additionally had an armful of different bottles with him this time. Grenada, the “Island of Spice,” is residence to some superb and funky rums, whether or not from established distilleries like River Antoine, Clarke’s Court docket and Westerhall, or a few of the extra hyperlocal stuff that’s distilled, bottled, and/or flavored at native bars. The Woodman Bois Bande was one fairly fascinating choice—principally a wild fermented cane spirit that’s been infused with bark from the bois bande tree, creating one thing that, for lack of a greater solution to phrase it, comes throughout virtually like a potent, earthy rum tea. (My landlord additionally swears bois bande rum will work wonders for bettering one’s intercourse life, however I’m not comfy vouching for the ingredient’s supposed medicinal properties but.)

When it appears like so many fancy new mass market expressions preserve following the identical sample of “fashionable cask aged rum doing its greatest to mimic whiskey,” it’s actually enjoyable to take a break with one thing totally different. I simply should hope my neighbor’s youngsters act up once more earlier than I have to replenish my stash.

–Dylan Garret, Editorial Director