Objective Notes
Very Smooth (on the RnD scale of Harsh-Smooth-Very Smooth-Extremely Smooth)

A pale straw-blonde best describes the color of Rogue Hazelnut Spice Rum. On the nose the aroma of toasted hazelnut or even cashew is very pronounced. Your first sip reveals a light bodied mildly complex rum with flavors of hazelnuts, vanilla, cinnamon, and alcohol. A medium-length finish begins a little spicy, followed by tapering warmth that never strays from its namesake flavor.

Anecdotal Notes
Roger decided to stop into the Rogue Distillery in Newport, Oregon while on a trip to the Oregon Coast. Rogue is best known for their handcrafted unique award winning ales. They got into distilling a few years ago – and we’re glad they did. A facility tour hosted by Master Distiller John Couchot showed Rogue’s commitment to the art and science of distillation. The secret for their Hazelnut Spice Rum, he says, is in the distillation and flavoring processes. The toasted cracked Oregon Hazelnuts, along with cloves, orange peel, cinnamon, dried ginger, and vanilla beans aren’t put into the wash but rather used in a unique process developed by John. As the alcohol is evaporated in the distilling process it picks up the unique flavors. Using only Hawaiian cane sugar, the rum is double distilled ensuring all impurities and lower grade alcohols are removed. It’s stored in charred oak barrels purchased from Jack Daniels for 8 months, which sounds like a short time in oak to refine and mellow the rum, but it’s actually aged at a lower strength versus full strength out of the still. In addition the greater seasonal temperature variations and only using the barrels a few times allows for the aging process to be much shorter.

The bottle is finely presented with the Rogue logo and rum title. Prominently displayed above the logo is silk screened picture of the rogue Edward Teach, better known as the pirate Black Beard. His story is silk screened on the back of the bottle. The clear bottle is sealed with a synthetic cork and covered with plastic foil. Recently it picked up the 3rd place award for best new product packaging at the 23rd Annual Beverage Dynamics Advertising and Promotion Awards.

Taster’s Opinion
Roger - This finely produced distinctive spirit epitomizes the company who strives for unusual and excellent products. That’s a reason this rum won the 2007 American Distilling Institute Rum Competition – Best of Show and Best American Rum. You can enjoy it neat or in a rum based drink where the unique flavors can be revealed.

Dave - Rogue Hazelnut rum delivers exactly what its name portends: a nutty flavored, smooth rum that doesn’t require sophistication to appreciate its flavors, and strikes a nice balance between sipping and mixing rums. Either way, it’s an enjoyable drink, its quality is a welcome step up from the imitation flavored chemical stews that characterize most commercial spiced rums. I would certainly recommend serving this at a tasting of spiced rums, or with an audience who wants to identify flavors.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Roger - 8 Flasks; Dave - 8 Flasks

Most recently reviewed by: Roger and Dave in January, 2008 in RnD’s North and South Tasting Rooms USA.

*750ml unless otherwise stated.