First Impressions
Wild Oxen's Maple Cask Aged Rum follows an unconventional production journey. Fermented from Colombian panela — dried sugarcane juice — and distilled in a column still at Abingdon Distillery in Oxfordshire, it's then aged in casks that previously held Canadian maple syrup. The result is a rum with a distinctive sweet character that comes entirely from the cask rather than added sugar.
Tasting
The nose features maple syrup prominently. Vanilla and warm oak support it, with caramel and a hint of dried fruit adding depth. The maple cask influence is unmistakable and genuine.
The palate is smooth and sweet. Maple syrup provides the lead flavour, with vanilla, caramel, and gentle oak spice supporting. The distinctive maple-cask sweetness gives this rum a character you won't find anywhere else. At 42%, it's approachable and easy-drinking.
The finish is medium with maple, vanilla, and a clean woody close.
The Bottom Line
At £37.95, Wild Oxen Maple Cask delivers genuine novelty with genuine quality. The maple syrup cask maturation is not a gimmick — it produces a distinctive, naturally sweet rum that works beautifully neat, in an Old Fashioned, or over vanilla ice cream. Points for originality and execution.
