Review #747; Rum #186: Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum

This is a rum distilled on the Island of Grenada at the Rivers Antoine estate distillery. This is one of the oldest rum producing distilleries in the Caribbean, having produced rum almost unchanged since 1785. The newest piece of technology at the distillery is a water wheel used for crushing cane installed in 1840. The rum is made from locally grown hand cut sugar cane, which has the juice crushed out of it; the juice is then fermented for up to 10 days in the open air using wild yeast. It is then distilled on the distilleries two copper pot stills before being bottled with no additives. They have a saying on Grenada when it comes to this drink “Don’t say Rum, say Rivers!”

ABV: 69%

Nose: Wild raw vegetalness, Lemon Pledge Wipes, Chlorine, Nuttiness, Cement Glue, allspice, River Rock, faint banana.

Palate: Thick oily mouthfeel, Raw Vegetals, Cement Glue, River Rock, Lemon Pledge Wipes, Nuttiness, Figs, Hay.

Finish: Long Finish, Lemon Pledge Wipes, River Rock, Banana, Cement Glue, Industrial Funk, Nuttiness, Hay, faint campfire.

Rating: 9/10

This is an incredible rum. This is raw and wild around the edges. It has supreme savory funkiness going on, but with the green fresh notes of sugar cane juice rum. The faint fruits help hold it in check but this is one wild ride from start to finish. This is a very unique cane juice rum, and one I am quite glad finally made it to the U.S. in 2021.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect