Unique Dark Rum from Northern Ireland’s Killowen Distillery

Killowen Distillery in Northern Ireland has launched a unique Solera Dark Rum, the outcome of extensive research and product development.

The rum is the first to be produced by the small batch distillery located in the Mourne Mountains and known for its series of distinctive cask-finished Irish whiskey blends. The distillery, run by master distiller Brendan Carty, also produces gin and poitin.

Mr Carty, explaining the new spirit release, says: “Unlike many other Irish rums, Killowen dark rum is Irish born and bred. It is not a spiced rum or a bought-in liquid. Instead, it is fermented on-site at Killowen from 50 percent blackstrap molasses and 50 percent sugar only. 

“The wash is distilled by Killowen's flame-fed copper pot stills and worm-tubs, the first still uses a copper thumper keg which acts as another half distillation, hence the bottle stating, 2.5 times distilled. 

“The Solera method cask ageing was chosen for this dark rum using a range of casks. The distillate was first laid down in a series of six ex-bourbon 50-liter firkins, then a PX Sherry Cask, and finally in heavily charred Cabernet Sauvignon casks. 

“Like all Killowen spirits, this distillate is a cut above all other quality rums. The focus on pot still distillation and cask aging is evident in a viscous, well-balanced, spicy, heavy, and molasses-led flavour that acknowledges its raw ingredients and cask aging method,” Mr Carty adds.

Killowen has pledged a charity donation of £1 for every bottle of the new dark rum  sold to  the Joint Council for The Welfare of Immigrants' Windrush Justice Fund. “It’s our way of paying respect to those who created one of the world's greatest spirits, recognising Afro-Caribbean people within the rum industry and acknowledging the dark legacy of slavery that bore its creation,” he adds.