REVIEW: DON PAPA RUM RARE CASK LAUNCH

On 17th October, TT Liquor held a series of Don Papa rum tastings during a press event at our multi-faceted Shoreditch studios for the Philippine premium small-batch rum distillery.

The occasion was to mark the UK launch of the latest addition to their portfolio, Don Papa Rare Cask.

Named after the 19th century Philippine revolutionary leader, Papa Isio, Don Papa’s tagline is ‘The spirit of Don Papa lives on in us all’. This event certainly lived up to their motto as guests imbibed vast quantities of the premium liquid.

Attendees were invited through the doors of our specialist off-licence on Kingsland Road and into our first-floor West Wing, where they could sample tastings of Don Papa’s limited edition Rare Cask rum, as well as two of their other staples – Don Papa 10 and Don Papa 7.

On top of this, but also paradoxically down below in our intimate subterranean cellar bar, our expert bartenders served a plethora of Papa-based cocktails for guests to enjoy – including a Papa Negroni, Papa Punch, and their limited edition Rare Cask neat over ice.

Distilled from Noble sugarcane, aged in over-toasted casks and bottled at 50.5% abc, the Rare Cask certainly packed a punch, and each cask – from which there were produced a mere 6,000 bottles globally – is hand-selected by Don Papa’s master distiller, and has been made unfiltered and unblended.

The expression has been described as “rich and powerful” on the nose, “smooth and fruity” on the mouth, with a “long and fresh” finish. It offers “rich, complex flavours of oak, cacao, and fruitcake”, with a hint of fresh mint on the finish.

To compliment the robust flavours of the liquids, there was food on the go too. Glen Ramaekers from Humphrey, a Belgian caterers who specialise in food inspired by the Philippines, took over our kitchen and provided the platters.

There was no doubt over the visual centrepiece of the launch, however, as Don Papa commissioned renowned wood sculptor Dave Johnson to recreate the bottle and its label in a stunning one-off live wood sculpting demonstration.

Rare Cask joins the Don Papa portfolio, which includes the original Don Papa and the Don Papa 10-year-old limited edition.

TT Liquor’s multi-faceted Shoreditch studios are the perfect venue for a wide range of events, be they tastings of all descriptions, dining experiences, cocktail classes, press launches or private hires.

Book online using our website, or alternatively call 02031 312 706 and our event organisers will be happy to run you through what we can offer.

Photo Credit: Jolly Thompson