Di Bumbu dun to Bumbo

If you know anything about the Jamaican culture as a non-native, outside of Bob Marley, Usain Bolt & Jerk food, it possibly the uniqueness of the curse words we have.

Now imagine how I was shocked & intrigued when I discovered a rum that sounded close to one of my countries curse words. The rum which is the handmade product of the neighboring Caribbean Island of Barbados was introduced to the 'Fortheloveoffood' family by the resident rum connoisseur.

What They Say About It

There was never an instance in the past that just three of us from the team have ever finished a bottle of liquor.

But Bumbu rum made us do it. As always when one does their research through the official company website there are always lavish love stories written about the product that on many occasions fail to match the performance of the rum in question. The rum which is made from a recipe dating as far back as the 16th century is an ode to a mix of rum & local Caribbean spices that became the signature drink of sailors of these high seas that they dubbed 'Bumbu'. The Original which is made in small batches, hand-crafted and aged for 15 years is reminiscent of what daily ship fair for the sailors of old. The Bumbu XO is portrayed to be a thing of beauty distilled and aged in Panama in bourbon barrels and finished in Spanish White Oak Sherry casks a process of which takes all of 18 years before it's bottled in its signature black frosted bottle.

Putting It To The Test

As always, the first proof of the pudding was approaching this dark aromatic rum was to try it neat. Bumbu has a bold, warm presence in your mouth that is littered with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves & a gently breeze of citrus on the exhale. Just a superb example of what one would expect from a spice rum. No wonder is the most decorated rum in the world in the past two years. When had on the rocks the complexity of this rum is not diluted but, however morphed into a cooler version of the bold balanced rum it is when just poured from the bottle. In a cocktail is where it truly shines, as the spices of Bumbu are willing partners in the dance of cooperation that results in a balanced cocktail that satisfies and leaves you wanting more.

Wanting more is what got the best of us for sure as three people guzzled the rum in no time wanting re-enforcement of the flavour when the bottle was done.

Man Down

Is definitely the look the table portrayed as the empty Bumbu bottle laid on its side surrounded by three people who were close to praying for a miracle to make a second bottle appear. No sign of stupid intoxication in sight soon, the glasses half empty and the sorrowful look we gave each other that there was nothing else in close proximity that could fill the void the last sip of Bumbu would leave. Only to have the whole situation to be punctuated by the statement " Di Bumbu really done? Bumbo". Laughter ensued and we all agreed this wasn't a one bottle rum on any occasion and was now a new favourite of the group. I hope the next time you spot the bottle on a shelf who will be moved to buy a bottle to firm your opinion of this rum. As usual bottoms up as we do it For The Love Of Food!