Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

In this episode, we sat down with the founder of the only independent rum bottler exclusively focused on sourcing rums from the United States, Seth Benhaim of Mainland Rum.

Since launching a little over a year ago, Mainland Rum has released some of the longest aged American rums to hit the market in recent years, including a 10-year-old Louisiana and a 9-year-old California to go along with releases sourced from Georgia and Florida.

With their first unaged release from a Minnesota distillery set to hit the market soon, we figured it was a good time to catch up and learn more about Mainland's vision. We discussed:

Arriving at the idea to focus solely on American rum

The challenge of sourcing longer aged rums from craft distilleries

Negative perceptions associated with the category

The double-edged sword of releasing rums from closed distilleries

First impressions of Mainland's unaged "S. Pombe" release sourced from Black Frost Distilling

The future of the American rum category

And more

Have a listen and let us know your thoughts or questions!

Learn more about Mainland Rum on their website.

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

This episode is the first entry in our ongoing Daiquiri Bracket series. Join us for a head-to-head showdown between 8 rums to see which one makes the best daiquiri in the classic category — the crisp, clean, refreshing style of daiquiri that made the drink famous worldwide.

Can anything top the beloved Cuban Havana Club? Are Bacardi rums as bland as their reputation among rum nerds would imply? Should multicountry blends belong in this category? Do pot stills have a place if we stretch our definition of "classic" a bit?

We tackled all these questions and more as we tasted our way through daiquiris made with the following rums:

Havana Club 3

Don Q Cristal

Bacardi Heritage

Bacardi Superior

Hamilton White 'Stache

Diplomatico Planas

Flor de Caña Extra Seco

Ron Barceló Blanco

Have a listen to find out which rums reigned supreme! And let us know...do you have a favorite among these?

Note: As a reminder, Rumcast Reserve bottles are officially available in stores and shipping from our online retailer! You can grab your bottles here.

You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube.

We've got something totally different for you today — a new series of episodes to determine the ultimate daiquiri rums currently available in the (mostly U.S.) market! We're calling it the Rumcast Daiquiri Bracket, AKA The Daiq Braiq™.

32 rums will compete across 4 different categories of daiquiri rum styles. This episode is all about determining which 32 rums make the cut, and we need your help! During the episode we select our 28 top picks, leaving 1 open slot remaining in each category. Your job after listening is to vote on each category’s final rum.

Here's the link to make your voice heard (it includes spoilers of the rums we selected, so be sure to listen first!): Submit Your People's Choice Votes

Be sure to listen and send in your picks by Wednesday, May 27!

Excited for all your thoughts and hot takes on this one. Cheers!