Premium Spirit of the Month Ragged Mountain Rum by Paul Artrip, The Rum Daddy
June 8, 2009Berkshire Mountain Distilleries
‘Think globally. Drink locally.’ That’s the succinct business statement for the distillery’s founder and Master Distiller, Chris Weld. His Berkshire Mountain Distillers is a producer of spirits located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Their distillery utilizes many local farm products when possible, and they create their own spirits blends.
The Berkshire Mountain Distillers’ Ragged Mountain Rum is a pot still rum produced in small batches. Casked as an overproof, they age in Kentucky bourbon oak barrels, and use a famous local historic pure-water spring for their blending water when they bottle.
This rum is designed as a sipping rum. Ragged Mountain has a very nice golden amber color. The nose is wonderfully redolent of quality molasses without being overpowering. Yeast, bread, and butter notes flow through on a vaporous trail. The front taste is oaky and burnt sugar, with a light palate coat and an initial gentle warmth. The finish is crisp, with the oak maintained throughout. A small splash of water or an ice chip opens this rum up, with leafy and light vegetal notes making their appearance. A very, very nice rum; kudos to Chris Weld!
If it’s mixology you’re after, try this rum in an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, or with tonic and lime. Sparkling soda brings out some amazing butter and dairy notes, which shine! All worked very well, and provide impressive, quality results.
Currently, Ragged Mountain Rum is available in Massachusetts and Connecticut. They are soon expanding into New York, followed by the rest of New England. This is not the limit of their plans, so more states may soon be able to sample this great product.
