DISTILLER’S DROP #002

DISTILLED IN COPPER, FINISHED IN BORDEAUX RED WINE CASKS.

Riding the wave of incredible feedback from the debut and after vanishing in under 48 hours, we’ve doubled down for release two, with 900 limited‑edition, hand‑numbered bottles.

This release blends three different marks, matured for 28 months in Bordeaux red wine casks. The wine-infused oak enriches our British-made rum with vibrant notes of wild strawberries, a crackle of black pepper, and the caramelised snap of crème brûlée.

WHY MATURE RUM IN RED WINE CASKS?

Ex-red wine casks may not be new news in the world of whisky, but are almost unheard of in rum. This is exactly why our Founder and Master Distiller, Lewis Hayes, decided to push the boundaries and see just how far we could take flavour development for Distiller’s Drop #002. We sourced the casks through our cooperage and filled them with not one, not two, but three different distillates. 

The Bordeaux red wine casks are an exceptional set of casks that Lewis has been monitoring closely these past couple of years. They are from a wine producer in the region of Fronsac in France and were filled for 5 years with the Merlot wine.

Under watchful eyes, the red wine previously in the casks imparted deep colour and bold flavour quite quickly, but we needed to allow time for the tannins to break down. As they softened, the rum opened up into beautiful spiced notes: cinnamon, tonka bean, winter spices and stewed plums. It even developed a slight menthol character, with a touch of eucalyptus, alongside a wonderful note of winter strawberries. Uniquely bold and delicious.

HOW DID WE MAKE DISTILLER’S DROP #002?

We filled one Bordeaux cask with a double retort distillate made from cane honey rather than molasses. The other two were filled with a super smooth column distillate to lengthen the spirit and bring it to life even more.

The challenge was knowing when to bottle it. The liquid was fun, delicious and constantly evolving throughout maturation. At what point do you decide it’s ready to share with the world?

Once we found ourselves pulling samples more and more often just to ‘try’… Lewis decided it was time. He then chose an ABV of 50.7% for a beautiful, approachable liquid that allows all those flavours to open up.

Drink neat, or over ice, with fresh wild strawberries on the side.

AWARD-WINNING FROM DAY 1

Before we revealed what was inside Distiller’s Drop #002, we sent our “mystery bottle” off to be judged on the world stage. Entered blind into The Spirits Business Rum & Cachaça Masters, it went up against rums from across the globe, and came back with being awarded a Gold medal from some of the most renowned industry judges.