Rum Sixty Six Family Reserve: A Toast to Barbados’ Independence
Could there be a more special day in the Caribbean than Independence Day? Answer: no. Could there be a more ideal spirit to celebrate Independence Day with than rum? Answer: also, no. This, of course, is especially true in Barbados, aka: The Birthplace of Rum. There, the rum of choice to toast Independence Day is Rum Sixty Six Family Reserve.
A beautifully-packaged and carefully-aged beauty, Rum Sixty Six is another fine product of the famed Foursquare Distillery.
The amazing Seale family track record of exceptional rum production, though, isn’t the only thing that makes Rum Sixty Six perfect for Barbados Independence Day. Reason #2 is rooted in Barbados history. History reflected in the rum’s very name.
You see, the “Sixty Six” in Rum Sixty Six Family Reserve is a nod to 1966. That was the year when Barbados gained its independence from the UK.
History aside, though, Rum Sixty Six is ideal for most any day you feel like treating yourself to something exceptional.
My First Taste of Rum Sixty Six Family Reserve
I enjoyed my first taste of Sixty Six with Patrick in Barbados several February’s ago. We were liming by the bar at Daphne’s, a happening fine dining spot located right next to The House in the heart of St James.
With one sip, it was readily apparent that this particular rum more than matched Daphne’s chops. You might even say that it elevated the place a few notches on its own accord.
What makes Rum Sixty Six so special? Two things: history and the tremendous care that goes into its craftsmanship.
A True Family Reserve
Let’s start with history… Notice the words “Family Reserve” artfully printed in cursive on the label? They’re not just there for show. Rum Sixty Six was really and truly reserved just for the Seale family back in the day.
Five generations of Seales have been involved in the Barbados rum biz since as early as 1820. Over the centuries, they developed a large local and international following with such popular brands as Doorly’s, Old Brigand, and Foursquare.
The Seale’s were stingy with Rum Sixty Six, however, keeping it all to themselves for years. From the Rum Sixty Six website:
RUM SIXTY SIX Family Reserve is genuinely reserved for family; it is an allocation given exclusively to the British branch of the family which emigrated in the 1960s.
It’s only been a few years that those of us outside the family could get a taste! Realizing all the extra-special effort that goes into making Rum Sixty Six may explain why…
Doubly-Doubly Extra-Special
Whereas most rums are the product of distillation in one type of still, the Seale’s blend rums from both column and copper pot stills to make Rum Sixty Six. The combination is electric, bringing together the softer, nuanced flavors typical of column stills with the more robust character you get from copper pot stills. The result is something altogether amazing and fabulously unique.
The extra-special touches don’t stop with the stills either. The Seale’s employ a two-stage process to the aging of Rum Sixty Six that absolutely ensures the optimal quality of the finished product.
Rum Sixty Six is initially aged for a period of eight years in small American white oak barrels formerly used to age Bourbon. After eight years, the Seale’s give a taste and separate out the casks with the very best product. These “elite” casks then sit for another four years before being filtered at low temperature, bottled, and made available to the world.
Well, the luckiest parts of the world, anyway…
Still Somewhat Exclusive
The Seale’s only produce about 112 barrels of Rum Sixty Six each year, a small batch that speaks to this fine blend’s formerly full exclusivity.
Still, getting your hands on a bottle is as easy as clicking here and placing an order. All the online retailers listed here ship worldwide, making it easy for just about anyone to join the first family of Bajan rum, at least in their finest spirit…
Cheers!
Related Posts
The Cane Mill Rum – Nice Rum from Barbados at an Even Nicer Price
Friday Happy Hour: Cockspur 130, The Sweet Overproof Rum
