A taste of Africa – Kakira Spirits
When you think of rum, it’s pretty normal to think of the Caribbean – but as you probably already know, rum is being made all over the world: Scotland, Thailand… and Uganda!
I first discovered Kakira Spirits at the TWE Rum Show, and they very kindly sent me a tasting flight so I could revisit the range with a fresh palate. Kakira is built on the Kakira Sugar Estate in Uganda’s Jinja region, where sugar-cane is grown on tens of thousands of acres, then crushed, processed and distilled into spirits (along with actual sugar production, sweets and a whole lot more). The water source is drawn from the Lake Victoria region and the distillery is integrated with the sugar operation, turning by-products such as molasses into rum and ethanol.
In this post I’ll take a look at four expressions from their range: spiced, silver, dark and gold and reflect on how this East African producer is carving out a place of its own in the rum world.
All of the rums featured in todays post are pot distilled and matured in a solera system of bourbon and sherry casks.
It is clear that alongside the brands commitment to sustainability and the local community the terroir is of equal significance to both their production and the resulting flavour profile.
So let’s get stuck in…
African Spiced
Nose: Cinnamon forward with pineapple sitting underneath. Brown sugar adds sweetness alongside ginger and star anise that offer depth to the bouquet.
Palate: This is definitely on the sweeter side for my palate with grilled pineapple and citrus adding acidity that nicely compliments notes of ginger and nutmeg.
6/10 (on my spiced rum scale)
Silver
Nose: This is very floral with mint, nettles, green apples and a touch of white pepper sitting underneath. There’s a rather unusual profile to this with a note I’m struggling to identify – perhaps toffee, spices, banana?
Palate: This is exceptionally minty upfront (iced peppermint tea). Once the mint has faded into the background a bit, it makes space for creamy vanilla, ripe blueberries and almonds to develop. (like a deconstructed blueberry pie, with each flavour following one after another)
7/10 – It’s unusual and not going to be an everyday sipper for me but very enjoyable to sip. I can’t wait to try this in a daiquiri.
Dark
Nose: This has a nice depth to it that seems to build upon the minty profile of the silver whilst bringing a whole new profile into the mix. Caramel, hazelnuts, foam banana sweets, digestive biscuits and some red fruits are all jumping out at me.
Palate: This has a maple syrup sweetness that is very prominent up front. This fades, temporarily, into the background before making it’s come back in the finish. Strong black tea, pepper, cardamon and other spices. This is quite biscuity in a way that makes me think of baking at christmas.
2/10 – This one isn’t for me. It’s a bit too sweet and floral for me. I will be trying this in a cocktail though!
Gold
Nose: This has a very dry, almost sandy warmth. Ginger, cinnamon, raisins and a subtle wood are all present. There’s a muskiness to the nose that is very pleasant accompanied by cherries, burnt orange and some caramel sweetness.
Palate: This feels very balanced and much less sweet than the previous. Lots of nutty notes, crunchy cereal and dried fruits (cherry, raisin and cranberry) that make me think of granola or a trail mix. Ginger and honey add both depth and an element of sweetness. A lot of red/dried fruitiness to this that makes for a very pleasant sip.
7/10 – A very affordable, pleasant sipper. Excellent value for money!
In addition to these 4 rums, Kakira Spirits have very kindly sent me samples of their vodka and coffee vodka (they also do a gin but you’ll never see me drinking a gin 😉) which I’ll be sitting down with very soon.
After today’s tasting I’m very excited to see what future releases might have in store! Personally I’ve got my fingers crossed for a higher ABV or longer ageing…
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