Rum of the day 19

Kakira: True African Spirit
It is very rare that you come across an entirely new spirits producer. Sure, there are many new brands out there, even new products, but seldom is there an entirely new producer on the scene.
Kakira is just that. An entirely new producer – 100% grass to glass. Or at least new to the world of rum and spirits, but perhaps not an entirely new company.
Founded in the 1930s in the village of Kakira on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda, Kakira Sugar has been the largest grower-producer of sugar in East Africa for nearly a century.

Around 12 years ago, the two managing directors of Kakira Sugar, Mayur and Kamlesh Madhvani (uncle and nephew respectively), embarked on ambitious project to create a new spirits brand with their sugar cane at its heart.
For some time Kakira had been fermenting and distilling their molasses by-product in one of Africa’s largest continuous stills and selling the 96.6% ‘Extra Neutral Alcohol’ to well known international drinks and pharmaceutical companies.
As a big fan of single malt whiskies, Mayur and Kamlesh were intrigued by the potential of the Kakira Estate to produce hand-crafted, cask aged spirits and they set about designing a bespoke distillery.

They brought together a team of industry experts, headed by Master Distiller Brent Stephens, a native of Charleston in South Carolina, who set about all the technical aspects of producing amazing quality rums. From Germany, a 7,000 litre Kothe hybrid pot still and a top-of-the-range Krones bottle filler; from the USA, Bourbon casks from Heaven Hills and Buffalo Trace; and from Spain, Sherry casks of Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenes wines and all of it housed in an entirely new distillery building.
However there is so much more to great spirits than equipment alone – the place, the people and the craft all have to come together to make something as extraordinary as Kakira.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Shimmering rich golden colour with a sparkling clarity
Aroma: Vanilla, coconut and ripe banana
Taste: Honey, almond, over-ripe fruits and warm earthy flavours
Finish: Very long, dry, aromatic finish with notes of leather and cigar-box