I tried Rumbullion sloe spiced rum - and it might be a new Christmas favourite

15 November 2023 , 17:00

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Rumbullion sloe rum is an absolute delight when drank straight (Image: Daily Mirror)

Rum isn't my favourite spirit and it's very rare that I find a rum that I would happily go back and drink a second time.

The good - and the bad depending how you look at it - is that rum can come in a wide spectrum of flavours. Flavours that I've never been able to agree with personally but when I was offered a chance to taste Ableforth's Rumbullion sloe rum, I thought I had to take the chance.

One thing that immediately caught my eye is how it was called a "game-changer" for rum - and I must say when I tasted Rumbullion, a game-changer it certainly was.

The bottle itself is extremely eye-catching with black wax on the bottle top along with brown, stained paper - a bottle that Captain Jack Sparrow himself would adore.

Rumbullion is a blend of Caribbean rums along with "literal heaps" of sloes as well as cane sugar included into the bottle - and if you have a sweet tooth then Rumbullion sloe is definitely for you.

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Rumbullion looks like a bottle Captain Jack Sparrow would be happy to own

But don't be fooled - the rum has a surprising complexity to it when you drink it straight. You're immediately giving a spicy and bold kick from the rum but it soon settles into a sweet and satisfying sip.

One thing I noticed about Rumbullion sloe rum is how much depth the drink has to it. It reminded me of a high quality port wine but with a spiced edge that gives you a sharp kick but followed with a sweet ending.

I can imagine Rumbullion would also be brilliant slightly warmed up but I don't think it needs it. It already provides a very satisfying warmth when drank straight.

And if you fancy something different, Rumbullion sloe rum would be perfect for cloudy lemonade but personally, I think it would completely get rid of the great taste and complexity of the drink.

Rumbullion sloe rum has become one of my favourites especially during the Christmas period and it might replace the bottle of Graham port I had stored for the festive season.

You can purchase Rumbullion sloe rum from Master of Malt for £38.95. If you fancy an alternative, you can read about our review of Hawksbill Pineapple Spiced Rum that we also recently rated.

Here are more recommendations for flavoured rums, spiced rums, white rums and golden rums if you want something a little less fruity. Please remember to drink responsibly.

Christopher Harper