Siddiqui Brown Rum, 40 percent ABV, 70 cl

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I sometimes wonder how influential Siddiqui has been over the last half century,’ says brand owner Nigel Brown, who is about to oversee the global launch of the spirit drinks. So it’s fair to say that Penderyn do a decent job of whisky. So what can they do with rum. Well aside from labelling this “Brown” rum they have went with the tagline “Sips like a whisky parties like a rum”. You can probably hear the groans from here (non sexual groans I must add I don’t want to be proclaimed as the Jim Murray of rum). They also add this little nugget of information “and tastes like no other spirit. It has a distinctive whisky-like smoky and oaky note, but it is rounded with a short finish as you’d expect from a quality rum.” Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Rhum Agricole are sugarcane juice-based rums produced primarily in the French West Indies. Less than 5% of the world’s rums are made with sugarcane juice. These rums offer up pronounced fruity and herbaceous flavors that is often accompanied by a hint of wet stone minerality. They are very different from molasses-based rums and are almost Tequila like in their aroma and flavor profile. Welsh whisky company Penderyn Distillery has appointed Simon Roffe as new Director of Business Development.

Simon’s exceptional work in the global travel retail market and developing international markets, in particular, will support the plans we have in place for Penderyn over the next five years.” For millions of expatriate contractors including oilmen, doctors, teachers, engineers and construction workers, the word “Siddiqui” will conjure up images of that cool relaxing drink that welcomed you at the end of your grueling, hot day in the desert . Siddiqui (sid-E-key), the code word for moonshine, means “my friend”. To those who know about Siddiqui, have drank Siddiqui or have discretely made Siddiqui at home, many will recall it as a whiskey, others a vodka, but Siddiqui is a rum like no other. Builders and Engineers often work in conditions, sometime illicitly, where there is limited access to the tools and tech others have on tap, so they innovate, get creative, collaborate and become tenacious with materials they have around them. Siddiqui is from this world and is the friend, and often catalyst, to these memorable moments. The Siddiqui brand was founded by ‘two good old Texan Oil boys’ Aaron Hees and Rich Chimblo, with help from ‘entrepreneur and builder of brands’ Nigel Brown and ‘passionate desert moonshiner’ Theresa Huisman. Siddiqui is inspired by the moonshine produced by western oil workers during their time in Saudi Arabia. Highly illegal, as Saudi has prohibited alcohol since the 1950s, it was allegedly secretly distilled and enjoyed for decades, and codenamed ‘siddiqui’ – Arabic for ‘my friend’ – to avoid detection.

The Overproof Dark Rum Category had three Master Award winners. Worthy Park Estate, Worthy Park 109 Proof, 54.5% ABV; Vok Beverages, Inner Circle Cask Strength Rum, 75.9% ABV and Navy Strength Rum, 57.2% ABV. I love the stuff, but let's be real - dunking wood/whiskey chips in it (how they made it in Saudi) doesn't make it a whiskey To be clear, this tastes absolutely nothing like Whisk(e)y. I dislike Whiskey, but love this stuff. I grew up partially in the Middle East and Siddiqui was the only spirit I could get (most of the time). We generally had the white stuff, whereas I've only tried Penderyn's brown. Being illegal, as Saudi has prohibited alcohol since the 1950s, it was allegedly secretly distilled and enjoyed for decades, and codenamed ‘siddiqui’ – Arabic for ‘my friend’ – to avoid detection.

The new Siddiqui rums, both brown and white, are being produced more openly by Penderyn Distillery in Wales, but are said to have been inspired by the original illicit recipes from the ‘Blue Flame’ instruction book that circulated amongst the oil industry workforce. SAUDI Arabia isn’t a country that jumps to mind when considering the world’s great spirits producers, but it does have an association with a new rum brand.Vok is one of Australia’s largest beverage companies. The Inner Circle Cask Strength rum weighs in at an incredible 75.9% ABV. It offers up powerful aromas of caramel and molasses, along with dried fruit notes of raisins, apples and prunes, stone fruit and orange zest. There are spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, along with some dark chocolate and walnut. Siddiqui Brown Rum is distinctive and some people may enjoy this profile. However, I would expect this to be largely people not to familiar with rum. The recipe originated in The Blue Flame manual that everyone followed, and the recipes have been perfected ever since.’ Dom Tápparo Engenho Desde 1970 swept all the Master awards in the cachaça category for its Cachaca Duas Madeiras Extra Premium, 38% ABV; Cachaça Carvalho Americana 10 Anos, 38% ABV and Cachaça Cabaré, 38% ABV. So in the absence of any other information I may as well reach for my glass and see if this does live up to the “hype”.

Saudi Arabia isn’t a country that jumps to mind when thinking about spirits producers, but it does have an association with a new rum brand.

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Penderyn will distribute these rums worldwide, but for retail customers in the UK, Siddiqui Brown Rum can be bought online here. The much respected and highly popular Simon Roffe is Penderyn Distillery’s new Director of Business Development.