Today I look at rum, especially the Suncamino rum. When I was growing up, rum was something only sailors drank. It was rough and ready, and the quality was poor at best. But this last year or 2, I have noticed more and more local and craft rum brands appearing.
The popularity of gin (and gin-based cocktails) over the last couple of years has allowed the space for a broader spirit exploration and rum is reaping the benefits. There are innovative and rum releases coming through, and quite a few of them are made in South Africa. However, the home base of rum is still the Caribbean Islands.
Stewy van der Berg– a self-proclaimed rum connoisseur – and two friends from Cape Town wanted to create a unique spirit brand and after much exploration decided that rum was the obvious choice. After an extensive search, they found what they were looking for. An 8 yo Barbados rum that was aged in ex-bourbon casks. So the Suncamino was born.
But the friends wanted it to have a uniquely South African flavour and created a floral infusion inspired by the Western Cape. By infusing the 8 yo rum with hibiscus, honeybush and orange blossom natural extracts, they paid homage to the Caribbean Islands and Cape Town in their Suncamino flora infused rum.
The name Suncamino means ‘Journey to the Sun’. It is a sense of pilgrimage that resonated with Stewy van der Berg and two of his friends with a love for adventure, the outdoors and the ocean. It is inspired by a summer lifestyle filled with beach, surf, adventures and café culture.
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It is not often that you get aged rums in South Africa and having the opportunity to taste and experiment with this 8 yo floral-infused rum was great. This rum won a silver at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards 2020.
It is an ideal sipping rum. Just pour a tot or 2 over a block of ice and sip like you would whisky. It is easy drinking with notes of wood, freshly cut flowers, vanilla, honey and orange. Perfect for a before-dinner drink or summer cocktails.
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It does make delicious cocktails as well, and I asked Stewy for some cocktail suggestions:
2 shots Suncamino Rum
200 ml squeezed grapefruit
½ shot Triple Sec
Pop it all in a shaker and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Pour over ice into a short glass.
Garnish with a slice of lime, and add a flower from the garden.
2 shot Suncamino Rum
1 squeeze of fresh lime
Top up with ginger ale and serve in a highball glass with ice.
2 shots Suncamino Rum
1 can of San Pellegrino – Aranciata Rossa
Pour it into a tall glass with lots of ice. Refreshing and delicious!
2 shots Suncamino Rum
1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 splashes of bitters
Add the sugar and bitters to a glass together with lots of ice, Stir well and then add the Suncamino Rum. Garnish with orange zest or a squeeze of orange.
Suncamino rum retails at around R299 for 500ml. It’s available from all good liquor stores, can be found on Yuppiechef.com, and Takealot.com.
For more information on Suncamino floral infused rum, head to their website or follow the journey on Instagram and Facebook.
Disclaimer: I received a Suncamino floral infused rum cocktail kit as part of the promotion. All images courtesy of Suncamino Rum taken by K Groenewald.
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