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If a bottle of rum is on your list of must-buys as we approach the festive season, then let us introduce you to Cornish Rock Gin’s growing portfolio of spirits…

One classic gin is how it all started for Cornish Rock Gin, but now, with eight Cornish Rock Gins on sale and a very special variant to come next year, company founders George and Angie have turned their attention to rum. This new venture started with just three rums early last year, increasing to six rums by Christmas. “We now have nine glorious rums,” says Angie, “all very unique, with a new edition due to be released by mid-November ready for Christmas.

“We started with a conventional spiced rum, which is a serious peppery rum that’s delicious served with ginger ale. The real professional rum drinkers drink this neat! We then progressed to our White Espresso. This is a coffee lover’s delight, being a white rum made with espresso coffee from our nephews’ farm in Kenya. This makes the best espresso martini; simply mix it with our Cornish Golden Vanilla and then add espresso coffee. Either shaken or stirred, it’s just perfect!”

Next came the pair’s Cornish Red, which Angie explains is enhanced with plump red cherries. This, she says, is delicious served with ice and a shot of Cornish Red, then topped up with cranberry juice and garnished with a sprig of mint. This was followed by the Cornish Saffron, made with saffron grown here in Cornwall, on the Roseland peninsula. This is definitely an acquired taste, says Angie, but for those it appeals to, nothing else will do.

“The fifth rum was the start of our sweeter rums, all of which make amazing instant cocktails. Cornish Dark Spiced Pineapple, for example, is perfect mixed with either ginger ale, or to make a Dark and Stormy just mix Cornish Dark Spiced Pineapple with ginger beer. Very refreshing! This was swiftly followed by our Cornish Golden Vanilla, which is served simply over ice. Another trick with this one is to make a spectacular dessert by pouring it over vanilla ice cream.”

After this came the Cornish Coconut Paradise, which is fabulous served over ice or in a cocktail glass with sparkling water and a sprig of rosemary. Cornish Coconut Paradise also makes an instant Pinacolada; in a cocktail glass, pour a shot of Cornish Coconut Paradise, a big splash of creamed coconut milk, and top with pineapple juice. Garnish with fresh pineapple, then sit back and enjoy!

“To follow this,” says Angie, “we made our Cornish Tropics Mango & Passionfruit. This fabulous rum has so many uses, from cooking – adding to trifles or sponge puddings – to drinking neat over ice. It also makes the perfect porn star martini; put into a chilled cocktail glass a large shot of Cornish Tropics Mango & Passionfruit, add lime juice and passionfruit juice, then top with Champagne or Prosecco.”

The latest release from the ever-expanding family of Cornish Rock rums, is Cornish Devine Lime with Salted Caramel. “If you like salted caramel,” explains Angie, “then you’ll love this! Again, it’s lovely served neat over ice, however, if you’re in need of an instant margarita, you can simply add a large shot into a chilled cocktail glass – with a salted rim, of course – and top up with Fever Tree Mexican Lime Soda.”

Having already achieved so much and released such a dazzling portfolio of spirits, it would be very easy for Angie and George to sit back and reap the rewards of their hard work. But it seems that they’re not finished yet, in fact, even as we go to press, we learn that there are more rums to come! “There’s one under production now,” says Angie, “which will be released in November, and then the possibility of an extra special one in time for Christmas.” Add to this a new special gin due for release early next year, and it’s fair to say that the Cornish Rock Distillery is determined not to rest on its laurels.

Cornish Rock Gin

www.rockgincornish.com