OUR RUM PROCESS

Of all the spirits, Rum is certainly one of the most flexible not only behind the bar, but also in the production process. There are only two rules when it comes to rum. Rule #1 - the wash must be made from fermented sugar cane. The use of different sugars and other forms of sugarcane are a closely held secret amongst rum producers, however our research and development department worked over time testing many different forms, flavors, origins, and styles of sugarcane to create our Deadman Pass Rum. Each form of sugarcane from white sugar, to cane juice, to molasses yields an impact on flavor in the final product.

After deciding on a Raw Panela Sugar from Bogota, Columbia, we mix the sugar with hot water to create an intense sugar wash for fermentation. To ensure the quality of the Panela was not lost in fermentation, we used a special strain yeast designed to ferment sugar and maintain the beautiful character of the Panela. We then kept this fermentation at a high temperature (thank you summer heat in Eastern Oregon) to emulate the caribbean climate where the rum industry originates.

Once fermentation is complete, we move the wash to our pot still for distillation. This is where Rule #2 comes into practice: the rum spirit must come off the still at or below 160 proof. Our rum spirit comes of the still just under this limit at roughly 150 proof.

Now that the rules are out of the way, we can proof down the spirit to 133 proof for our Overproof Rum, 125 for barrel aging, or all the way down to 80 proof for our SIlver Rum. We add our 125 Proof spirit to charred american oak barrels to provide color and flavor from which we will eventually create our Aged, Spiced, and Dark rums.

Keep an eye, or an “aye”, out on our social media for their release in the near future. Rule #3, more of a suggestion than rule: pirate jokes are 100% required, according to tradition.

DISTILLER’S NOTES

Raw Panela sugar from Bogota, Columbia provides the backbone of this clean flavored spirit. 800 pounds of sugar per batch is fermented with specially designed rum yeast to give this spirit a sweet aroma with subtle hints of banana and vanilla.

Our Deadman Pass Silver is another workhorse of our bar. The Silver provides a smooth and clean base that makes tropical fruits like pineapple and coconut standout amongst cocktails.

Specifically designed for Tiki aficionados and the pirate in each of us, our Overproof Rum comes in at 133 Proof. Historically, overproof rum was a way to save storage space on ships crossing the ocean. Shippers would simply dilute the overproof once it reached its destination down to the typical 80 Proof. However, drinkers eventually developed a taste for the “uncut” product and overproof rum has been a staple on beaches around the world ever since.

Our Deadman Pass Overproof Rum is used to balance high volume tropical cocktails and is perfect for mixing with juices from your favorite island.