Objective Notes

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

Siesta Key Spiced Rum is a rich caramel color likely from the addition of honey to the rum for added sweetness. Pleasant aromas of vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, tropical fruits, and coconut are discovered and along with light brown sugar and hint of alcohol. The initial taste delivers a velvety warm entry with a little spiciness and a medium body.  A blend of flavors of cinnamon, tropical fruit, vanilla, allspice, anise, cardamom, and white pepper are noted. The finish is sweet and spicy from the vanilla and cinnamon notes and pleasingly fades to memory.

Anecdotal Notes

Siesta Key Spiced Rum is distilled in Sarasota, Florida by Drum Circle Distilling. They start with molasses from 100% Florida grown sugar cane. Prior to fermentation, the molasses based wash is rested for a few days,  allowing sediment and particulate matter to settle to the bottom of a funnel-shaped stainless steel tank.  The sediment is extracted, as Siesta Key Founder Troy Roberts claims this results in a cleaner tasting distillate.  He is also very particular about the strains of yeast used for fermentation, claiming that choosing the right yeast “is one of the most critical steps in making the final flavor.”  Drum Circle uses a blend of several yeasts chosen from over 40 samples to get the flavor they desire. The mash is double distilled in their artisinal custom-crafted copper pot still produced by Christian Carl in Germany, to about 180 Proof or 90% alcohol by volume.  From there it goes into stainless steel tanks where they use bubblers for about two weeks to smooth it out.  Then the  the spices can be infused and added.

See the Coastlines and Tan Lines video episode featuring Drum Circle Distilling and Siesta Key rums on YouTube at:  YouTube - Siesta Key Rum

Taster’s Opinion

Roger – Siesta Key Spiced Rum is a nice rum that can be enjoyed neat or in a cocktail like their Spiced Siesta Sunset cocktail recipe that is on the back of their bottle. The added honey and lower proof make it an easy sipper for spiced rum fans and the presentation and quality ingredients would make this a good bottle to take to a party. It’s widely available in Florida and online. I met the founder and distiller, Troy Roberts, in Miami in April and was impressed with his story and passion for creating a local quality product. He was happy to receive feedback to make his product better but I think it’s pretty good as is.

Dave – Siesta Key Spiced Rum shows a slightly occluded yellow-gold color (hopefully the clarity is diminished by added spices and flavors).  Vanilla and butterscotch aromas are most prevalent, closely followed by lemon citrus, cinnamon and pineapple.  The initial taste is pleasantly  dramatic, with warm cinnamon and vanilla almost balanced by tart citrus, resulting in a substantial flavored/spiced sipping rum that tastes  less chemically doped than the current mass-produced, tarted-up, formulated “rums” shot out of marketing cannons on hyperbolic trajectories.  A medium-to-heavyweight body add character to a lingering finish of sweet vanilla and lemon.

Taster's Rating (10 is best):  Roger - 8 Flasks; Dave – 7.5 Flasks.

 

Most recently tasted by:  Roger and Dave, April 2011 in Miami at Rum Renaissance Festival, and again in September 2011 at RnD’s North and South Tasting Rooms, USA.