First Impressions
Rhythm & Booze Records is one of those bottlers that immediately catches your eye — each release is paired with a musical act, and the label art is as vibrant as the spirits inside. This second release features Feli y Los Malos, a Latin quartet, and the rum itself is a four-year-old Trinidadian bottled at a punchy 50% ABV. It's a concept that could easily feel gimmicky, but the liquid inside tells a different story.
Tasting
The nose opens with an inviting wave of tropical fruit — ripe banana, mango, and a hint of pineapple. Beneath that fruity top layer, there's caramelised sugar and light oak spice that signals the four years of maturation. A faint floral lift keeps things interesting.
On the palate, the 50% ABV carries the flavours beautifully without overwhelming. Ripe mango and baking spice lead, followed by toffee sweetness and vanilla oak. There's a touch of cocoa nib bitterness in the mid-palate that adds welcome depth. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and well-textured for a relatively young rum.
The finish is medium in length, with warm spice, lingering tropical fruit, and toasted oak. It's satisfying without being demanding.
How to Drink It
At 50% this works beautifully neat with a few drops of water to open up the fruit. It also makes a robust Old Fashioned, where the tropical fruit character plays beautifully against a demerara sugar cube and Angostura bitters. For something lighter, try it in a Ti' Punch with fresh lime and cane syrup.
The Bottom Line
Rhythm & Booze delivers substance behind the style. At £41.25 for a 50cl bottle, it's not cheap, but the quality justifies the price. A genuinely enjoyable indie bottling that proves small labels can deliver big flavour.
