Our Japanese rum

The Complete Guide to Japanese Rum

In the Land of the Rising Sun, sake and Japanese whisky are particularly well-known. However, in recent years, another spirit has been making headlines: Japanese rum. This sugarcane-based spirit is producing rums of exceptional quality. So, what is Japanese rum? In this article, we will explore the specifics, production, and flavors of this type of rum.

A Unique Craftsmanship for Exceptional Rums

Japanese rum is made following rigorous production methods and perpetuating a unique craftsmanship. Japanese producers manage to obtain high-quality rums by focusing on different aspects:

• • The selection of ingredients: the sugarcane used to produce Japanese rum generally comes from the southern islands of Japan. The climatic conditions there are favorable for the growth of this plant, which offers delicate and refined aromas.
• • The fermentation process: some distilleries use yeast from sake in their fermentation process, thus adding a characteristic Japanese touch to their rums.
• • The distillation techniques: these vary between distilleries, but all aim to extract the best possible flavors from the sugarcane. Japanese rums are often distilled in Charentais stills, a French technique recognized for its ability to produce quality spirits.
• • The aging process: Japanese rums are generally aged in oak barrels, which give them woody and spicy aromas. The aging period can vary from a few years to several decades, depending on the producer's intent.

How is Japanese Rum Made?

Thanks to the latitudinal extent of the Japanese archipelago, which includes subtropical regions ideal for sugarcane cultivation, Japanese rum is mainly produced in these areas, notably in Okinawa, Ogasawara, Miyako, Minami Daito, and Iejima.

However, although the sugarcane comes from these southern islands, some rum distilleries are located in more central places, like near Kyoto (Nine Leaves) or on the island of Shikoku (Kikusui / Ryoma).

The manufacturing methods of Japanese rum are divided as follows:

• • 50% of Japanese rums are made from molasses or cane honey.
• • 50% are made from fresh sugarcane juice.

What Distillation Equipment is Used to Make Japanese Rum?

It's worth noting that the main element of a distillery is its distillation equipment. Known are the Creole column in the West Indies or the Charentais still for making Cognac. The most used equipment for the production of Japanese rum is the pot still, or rather the Charentais still.

Passionate and Innovative Master Distillers

Rum production in Japan is still relatively new, but it has quickly distinguished itself thanks to the expertise and passion of local master distillers. They do not hesitate to innovate and experiment with new techniques to create ever more surprising and flavorful rums. Some of them also draw inspiration from local traditions, such as sake making or aging in Japanese whisky barrels, to add a unique touch to their creations.

A Palette of Varied and Authentic Flavors

Japanese rums present a wide diversity of flavors, resulting from the different production processes and choices of the producers. One can find:

• White rums: these unaged rums are often light and fruity, with notes of fresh sugarcane and sometimes floral touches.
• Amber rums: aged in oak barrels, these rums develop woody and spicy aromas, with a nice roundness in the mouth.
• Old rums: these rums benefit from extended aging, which gives them remarkable aromatic complexity. They can present notes of dried fruits, cocoa, vanilla, or even tobacco.

Rums to Enjoy According to Your Preferences: How to Drink Japanese Rum?

Japanese rums lend themselves to different tastings:

1. Neat: to fully appreciate the flavors and aromas of the rum, it is recommended to enjoy it at room temperature, in a glass suitable for rum tasting.
2. In cocktails: white and amber rums are perfect for making refreshing cocktails, such as the mojito or the ti' punch. Old rums, on the other hand, pair well with more indulgent ingredients, like chocolate or cream.

A Still Confidential but Promising Production

The production of rum in Japan remains limited, with only a few distilleries active across the country. Among them, we can mention:

• The Nine Leaves distillery, located on the island of Honshū, known for its authentic and artisanal rums.
• The Helios distillery, located on the island of Okinawa, which offers rums with exotic and sunny flavors.

Although Japanese rum does not yet enjoy the same renown as sake or the country's whisky, it is gradually gaining popularity among spirit enthusiasts. Local producers, supported by the passion of those discovering their creations, have all the cards in hand to shine the light on Japanese rum on the international stage.

The Different Brands of Japanese Rum

At Excellence Rhum, the specialist in rums from around the world and of course Japanese rums, we have all the brands available to date: Ryoma, Teeda, Kiyomi, CorCor, Taragaya, Nine Leaves…

• Our opinion on Ryoma: Ryoma rum may surprise at first tasting with its distinctness and unique character. Indeed, during the fermentation stage, Ryoma rum uses sake ferments to convert sugar into alcohol. This step is crucial and greatly influences the taste of the rum after distillation. This can be quite disconcerting if you are used to pure cane juice rums fermented from custom or baker's yeast strains. Nevertheless, Ryoma rum remains a best-seller in its category, a rum that must be tasted at least once in a lifetime!

• Our opinion on Kiyomi from Helios distillery: With this white Kiyomi rum, we have a Japanese pure sugarcane juice rum and, exceptionally for this white Japanese rum, it is made in a column similar to the Creole columns found in the French West Indies.

Your Questions About Japanese Rums

What is the Price of a Japanese Rum?

Japanese rum is often the result of meticulous production and the Japanese attention to detail, which justifies a certain price. We have seen this for years with Japanese whisky, which excels in specialized bars. Japanese rums are often a bit more expensive than rums from the French West Indies, although the production method remains similar. This additional cost is also explained by the fact that Japan is not just around the corner and that production is moderate compared to other countries and other alcohols: sake, Japanese whisky.

What is the Best Japanese Rum?

Japanese rums are generally of very high quality; they are all excellent. Some Japanese rums may be more suited to your tastes for drier pure cane juice rums, as opposed to Japanese rums made from cane honey (cooked cane juice) or molasses, which will be sweeter, lighter, and rounder in the mouth and may seem better for lovers of sweet rums. You have the option to filter pure cane juice rums (agricultural method) and rums from molasses (traditional method) using the filter located higher up on this page.