Your rum and cokes are about to get the best glow-ups! Indian rums are bringing finesse, intention, and stories to the table. These Indian rums nominated at the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards bring nuance to your glass and superior taste to your palate. Read on to discover how these rums are changing the way India drinks their favourite spirit.
Camikara 12 Year Old
The Sanskrit term "camikara" means "liquid gold" in English. In the rolling hills of northern India, this rum is slowly fermented for twelve years in casks made of American oak. Bottled at 50% alcohol by volume (ABV), Camikara has no artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours, or spices. A pure Indian cane spirit aged in oak barrels in the scorching heat of the northern plains of India is what this word stands for. An ode to the past, present, and future of our nation, Camikara Rum was an early trailblazer in a cultural shift. As you taste each sip, you'll discover new flavours—charred wood, ripe bananas, orange peel, bitter chocolate, and honey—married with vanilla and bittersweet chocolate. Putting down the glass will leave you with a taste of mouthwatering fruitcake that will have you craving more. You should definitely drink this complex sipping rum neat.
Eekh
Eekh is changing people's minds about rum, and it exemplifies the art of making a pure and outstanding spirit from sugarcane. Every bottle of Eekh is more than just a drink; it is a taste of a heritage rich in history, dedication, and genuine craftsmanship. Eekh is a joyous celebration of sugarcane juice in every bottle. The juice is distilled until it reaches the highest possible standard, preserving its essence. A delicate blend of sweet, flowery overtones with hints of vanilla and caramel creates an aroma that is both enticing and subtle. You can create balanced and interesting drink options by combining its unique flavours with different ingredients. This rum is perfect for a wide range of cocktail recipes thanks to its ability to play with distinct flavours, whether they're delicate sweetness or strong bitterness.
Maka Zai Gud Rum
A lot of young people are taking risks in the boutique alcohol sector in India, and Kasturi Banerjee is just one of them. A year ago, 200 cases were produced by the young company Mazakai Gud, which is based in Goa. In honour of the unsung heroes among us who work as bartenders and have tales to tell for generations, here is a medium-bodied white rum that is crystalline clear, intricate, lively, and bursting with funky tropical characteristics. It is part of the Bartender's Edition. A harmonious blend of praline, honey, caramel, cinnamon, figs, and dried dates gives this spirit its distinctive flavour. A delightful dessert or sipping rum, it has a creamy mouthfeel and a balanced vanilla accent. The air is filled with the carefree elegance of a late afternoon stroll, thanks to its smooth texture and friendly demeanour.
Idaaya
Using a 12-year-old Panamanian rum and a Jammu-made Indian molasses spirit, Idaaya (a portmanteau of the ancient Sanskrit word "ida" meaning mystical energy, and the final three letters of the word "Himalaya") is created. The amber beverage has hints of jaggery, roasted wood, and spice on the nose. Sweeter rum aromas of jaggery and caramel greet the palate. As the rum ages for 12 years, it unveils flavours of dark chocolate, tropical fruits, dried fruit, and toasted oak. The velvety beverage coats the tongue with its rich, long-lasting flavour and soothes the throat instead of burning it as it goes down. Drink it neat over ice if you're a fan of single malt.
Pipa Rum
Named after the Portuguese word for barrel, Pipa, encapsulates perfectly, the colonial-era Goan flavours. The main ingredient of this Goan rum is jaggery spirit, matured for a full year in Ruby Port Wine casks imported from Portugal. The Malabar Coast was initially discovered by Portuguese explorers because of its abundance of black pepper, cinnamon, and clove, the three primary spices that make up this rum. Whether sipped neat or mixed into cocktails, Pipa delivers a perfect balance of subtle sweetness and warming spice.
Old Monk Gold Reserve
Aged for at least twelve years in oak barrels, Old Monk Dark Rum is a molasses-distilled rum that has been mixed to create a more refined and velvety variant of Old Monk Very Old Vatted Rum. The 12-year-old starts to stand out from its younger sibling with a drier and spicier profile. Molasses tastes take center stage in the rum, but peppery wood spices have stepped in to give the spirit more depth and personality. You may taste hints of cinnamon, clove, dry tobacco, and spicy black pepper in the wood spices. For the discriminating palate, there's black tea, robust chocolate flavours, and a blend of dark brown sugar, baking spices, and vanilla. Subtle liquorice and walnut flavours complement the smooth, slightly dry finish, creating an enticing aroma as you lower the glass. On the nose, cinnamon and wood spices create a pleasant warmth. Brown sugar, vanilla, and tobacco notes dominate the palate, leaving an enduring warmth as it goes down.