I’ve been writing professionally about alcohol for almost twenty years. In those years, I have been lucky enough to drink a lot of alcohol. On top of all the rums, gins, bourbons, and random liqueurs, I’ve sampled countless drams of single malt Scotch whisky. I’ve imbibed sherry-matured and finished whiskies, ex-bourbon matured whiskies, and all manner of unique wood aging. Of all the exciting barrels, ex-rum casks are one of my favorites for maturing single malt whisky.
If you didn’t guess it already, ex-rum casks are precisely as they seem. They’re barrels that were either used for aging rum or were seasoned with rum so that they would carry some of the nuanced flavors when single malt whisky is added for maturation or finishing,
Aging and finishing in ex-rum barrels, primarily from the Caribbean, impart enticing aromas and flavors. In addition to the expected single malt whisky palate—think candied orange peels, honey, vanilla, toffee, and oak—rum barrels add notes of pineapple, bananas, coconut, vanilla, toffee, and island spices.
Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.
I get it. The worlds of rum drinkers and single malt Scotch drinkers don’t necessarily overlap. One is made with sugarcane juice or molasses, and the other is made with malted barley. They have different flavor profiles and different fans. But when they're aged, they both carry complex and memorable aromas and flavors.
So, if you are a fan of both but lean more heavily toward whisky, rum-centric single malt Scotch whisky options are available from The Glenlivet, Lagavulin, and The Balvenie. The latter might be the most well-known for good reason.
In the pantheon of highly regarded rum-centric single malt Scotch whiskies, none has the same following as The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Courtesy Image
This famous whisky was made with a mash bill of 100 percent malted barley. It first matured in traditional oak barrels for a full fourteen years. It was then finished in American oak casks filled with a blend of hand-selected rums from the West Indies.
The result is a sublime sipping whisky that begins with a nose of sticky toffee pudding, ripe pineapple, vanilla, and oaky wood. Sipping it reveals a melodic symphony of orchard fruits, ripe tropical fruits, toasted vanilla beans, and light spices. The finish is warming and lingering and ends with a final flourish of toasted vanilla beans. This 86-proof single malt Scotch whisky is best enjoyed neat in a traditional Glencairn glass with a splash or two of water to open up the aromas and flavors.
There’s no better rum-finished single malt Scotch whisky on the market for the price. You can find a bottle for around $65, depending on where you purchase it. But it'll never cost you over $100. In a world of countless $100-plus bottles, The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 is an absolute steal.
I always stock this bottle in my home bar. There're few bottles of single malt Scotch whisky more versatile than The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14.
If I’m mixing up Scotch-based cocktails, I’ll grab this expression for the base because, with so many nuanced, intriguing flavors, it won’t get lost in the background.
If I’m looking for an everyday sipper, I’ll crack open this expression because its balanced, layered, and knock-your-proverbial-socks-off flavor profile is the perfect way to mellow out after a long day.
If I’m entertaining, I’ll bring out this bottle to show newcomers to single malt Scotch what they can look forward to. It’s a must-have bottle—one that I’m never without.
Related: 7 Best Dark Rums of 2024 to Drink Neat or Mix in a Cocktail
