Why I love blind Rum tastings

As a rum enthusiast, I’ve come to realise that one of the best ways to explore the spirit is through blind tastings. For those who aren’t familiar, a blind tasting is exactly what it sounds like: you taste and evaluate rum without any prior knowledge of what’s in your glass. No labels, no distillery names, no marketing hype; just you and the rum. In this post, I’ll share the top three reasons why I love blind tastings and how they’ve deepened my appreciation for the spirit.

Benefit #1: Test Your Knowledge

Blind tastings are an incredible way to test your palate and rum knowledge. Without knowing what you’re tasting, you rely solely on your senses to pick up on the subtleties of the rum’s profile. You’ll find yourself identifying aromas, flavours, and textures that you might miss otherwise. Is that hint of banana from a Jamaican rum? Or perhaps a certain funkiness signalling agricole? The more blind tastings you do, the sharper your senses become.

For me, there’s always a thrill in guessing the rum’s origin, age, or even distillery based purely on taste and smell. It’s like putting yourself to the test—seeing how well you know rum without any visual or contextual clues. And even when I get it wrong, it’s still an exciting learning experience.

Benefit #2: Remove the Power of Suggestion

When you taste a rum without knowing what it is, you eliminate the power of suggestion. Think about it, if you know you’re sipping on an expensive, highly rated bottle, you might expect it to taste exceptional before you even take a sip. Conversely, if it’s a budget-friendly bottle, you might subconsciously downplay its quality. Expectations can lead you down the wrong path.

In a blind tasting, there are no preconceived notions to colour your judgment. You judge the rum purely on its merits – its aroma, flavour, and finish. I’ve often been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed rums I wasn’t expecting to love, and other times, I’ve been underwhelmed by rums with big reputations. It’s a great way to ensure that what’s in your glass speaks for itself.

Benefit #3: Remove Bias

We all have biases when it comes to rum, whether we are aware of it or not. These biases can come from previous experiences with a particular bottle, the reputation of a distillery, or even a specific style of rum. Whether it’s a brand we admire or a distillery known for producing stellar bottles, these biases inevitably shape our expectations and judgments.

Blind tastings strip away these biases. When you don’t know the bottle, you’re forced to approach the rum with a completely open mind. You may end up loving a bottle you’d typically overlook, or be less impressed by one you thought was a favourite. It’s a humbling experience, and it helps you develop a more honest and authentic appreciation for the spirit.

This bias can extend beyond individual bottles to entire rum categories. You may have preconceived ideas about, say, a spiced rum versus a pot-still rum, or Spanish vs French styles. By tasting blindly, you allow yourself to appreciate each rum for what it truly offers, rather than what you expect it to.

Now it’s your turn!

So, there you have it! My top three reasons why I love blind tastings. They’re an exciting way to challenge your rum knowledge, remove the influence of suggestion, and eliminate bias, allowing you to experience rum in its purest form. Whether you’re a seasoned rum drinker or just starting your rum journey, I highly recommend giving blind tastings a try. You never know what you might discover.