Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

It's time once again for our annual lookback at our favorite rums of the year! This time, we both select favorites from the following categories for 2025:

Value rum

"New to me" rum

Unaged rum

Aged rum

Blend

Single cask

"Am I the asshole?" rum

Overall rum

Bottler of the year

Distillery of the year

As mentioned during the show, you can donate to the American Friends of Jamaica's Hurricane Melissa relief fund here: https://theafj.app.neoncrm.com/forms/afj-disaster-relief-fund

Tune in and let us know your own favorites from 2025!

Thanks, as always, for listening and supporting the show throughout the year. We're looking forward to running it back with you in 2026.

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode we sat down with Trudiann Branker to go inside her role as master blender at one of the rum world's iconic distilleries, Mount Gay. After taking over for former master blender Allen Smith, Trudiann has played a huge role in shaping the current era of Mount Gay and Barbados rum, from reformulating traditional blends to charting a new course with the estate rum program.

We discussed:

The surprise conversation that led to her becoming master blender

What it was like to create new blends for XO, Black Barrel, and more

The making of a Master Blender Collection rum

The balance between tradition and trying new things

Her philosophy as a blender

Mount Gay's production process

The future of the estate rum program

Her table tennis skills

And much more!

This was one of our favorite conversations of the year, so we're excited for you to hear it!

You can get more details on the rums discussed in this episode on Mount Gay's website.

Catch up on our past episodes with others from the Mount Gay universe:

Dr. Frank Ward Talks Barbados Rum, Mount Gay, and More

Inside Mount Gay's Estate Rum & Agricultural Program with Jacklyn Broomes and Maggie Campbell

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode, we sat down with Pedro Ferreira, founder and distiller of O Reizinho, one of the jewels of Madeira's fascinating rum scene. While O Reizinho is one of the island's smallest distilleries, it's quickly earning a great reputation among enthusiasts for its distinctive cane juice rums.

We talked to Pedro about:

What sets Madeira rums apart

Evolving his father's small distillery from a clandestine "friends and family" operation to a commercial producer

The unique challenges of cane cultivation in Madeira

What it's like to send your rums through the tasting panel that certifies Madeira rum

The pros and cons of operating a distillery from your own garage

The direct-fire Portuguese stills that craft O Reizinho's rum

Madeira's quirky age statement rules

Local rum culture

And more!

If you're interested in learning more about Madeira rum, be sure to check out our Guide to Madeira Rum episode.