Since we’re temporarily between boats, we’ve had to combine our boat rum stock with our home stock. To make room, Clint touched every single bottle of rum we had and discovered, to his shock and amazement, we had an unopened bottle of Cane Mill 8-year old. What?!? When did we get this rum and why was it unopened? Who cares now. Let the tasting begin.
Our local South Florida liquor store is Total Wine & More, a chain of more than 100 stores scattered throughout Florida and the Mid-Atlantic. As part of their Spirit Direct program, Total Wine travels the world searching for new and exciting spirits, creating relationships with producers from start-ups to multi-generational distilleries. These relationships provide customers world-class products at incredible prices. Cane Mill rum is one of 900 such Spirit Direct buys. At a price point of $15/bottle, it is worth exploring.
Unfortunately the only thing we know about Cane Mill is that it’s made in Barbados/West Indies and is aged in white oak barrels. Total Wine offers both a 5-year old and 8-year old. The extra three years is quite noticeable in the deep amber color of the 8-year old which provides slight lacing on the glass.
He Said
The nose is filled with oak, vanilla and molasses with a slight alcohol burn. There are also floral notes lingering behind the sweet nose. Once on the palate the rum is buttery and creamy leaning more towards toffee with a soft spice finish. From the nose, I truly expected a harsher taste. The oak notes from the nose find their way to the finish however, it doesn’t hang around long enough for me to ponder more. For a younger rum this is quite enjoyable. At first I thought this should be mixed but there is something there I keep going back to try to discover.
She Said
Even before I bring this rum to my nose the alcohol burns my eyes leaving me apprehensive about the tasting. Once at the nose though, a sweetness from vanilla, brown sugar and orange peel combine to help subdue the strong alcohol presence. I agree with Clint that there is a creamy texture on the palate but I lose the sweet vanilla from the nose. It is replaced with spices of cinnamon and cloves. The finish is completely uneventful. As if the rum just vanishes. This rum is very different at every stage of the tasting. Very strange for me.
Overall
Cane Mill is a pleasant surprise for a $15/bottle of rum. While Clint would give it a strong 4 of 5, Terry leans more towards a 3.5. Either way, it’s worth sipping in your cockpit, with or without friends, any time of the year.
3.75 of 5
Sipping Rum Scale
1 – An expensive mixer
2 – A quick celebratory shot
3 – Wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with friends
4 – Are my friends worthy of a sip
5 – Special moments rum
My favorite rum was Columbus found in the Dominican Republic.