Equiano Ominira

ABV: 52%

Country: Barbados & Mauritius

Age: 11 years

Cask: Matured in Bourbon and Cognac casks with a touch of Sherry cask rum

Still: Pot & Column still

Price: £180

Distillery: Foursquare & Gray’s Distilleries

I first tried Equiano Ominira at Manchester Rum Festival during the rum ramble with Ian Burrell, and it left a strong impression. I really enjoy the level of detail in the storytelling narrative for this brand and specifically this release. I recommend checking out the Equiano website or socials for the full story, as I’m sure I won’t be able to do it justice – but for some context in a sentence, Equiano was a boy kidnapped and sold into slavery before later achieving freedom and standing up as a visionary, a freedom fighter, and a man whose work changed history.

In Yoruba, a language spoken by many in West Africa where Equiano was born, OMINIRA means “Freedom” – and the nods towards this incredible man don’t stop there. An 11 year aged rum is a subtle nod to the age that Olaudah Equiano was when he was kidnapped, while the 52% ABV pays homage to the age he was when he died.

I love how the facts of this rum tie back into the story behind it, just as I love this rum itself. Beyond the narrative, Equiano Ominira is a blend of Caribbean rums carefully selected to reflect both character and provenance, and it demonstrates the brand’s commitment to ethically sourced, traceable spirits. It’s a bottle that works beautifully as both a sipping rum and a conversation starter about history, culture, and craftsmanship.

Nose

Walnuts or possibly macadamia nuts. An old leather saddle that has recently been polished and a dry warmth with very little sweetness. There’s some smoke from a bonfire a safe distance away and a gentle breeze is carrying it further away. There’s some mossy wet wood that really sticks around – think of it as walking through a wood a few days after heavy rainfall and climbing over a moss covered fallen tree that blocks your path.

Palate

Dark chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg with warm mid-aged wood influence. This drinks really well for the higher ABV with a creamy and slightly peppery mouthfeel, dense and chewy with a comforting warmth. Some tropical fruit high notes and red fruit lingering in the background. Pineapple liquorice isn’t a thing but if it was that’s what I’m tasting, and it’s delicious!

Long finish with tannins and developing fruits, that seems to never end.

9/10 – This is rich with a fantastic depth of flavour.