There’s something delightfully transportive about fine rum – a sense that in a single sip, you might glimpse the Caribbean sun or the dark, musky depths of an old wooden stillhouse.
That’s precisely the kind of escape offered by Drinks by the Dram’s six or twelve-dram Premium Rum Tasting Set, specially selected by rum expert Sam Simmons. I recently had the pleasure of tasting through it, and what followed was nothing short of a spirited adventure.
Drinks by the Dram was launched with a deceptively simple idea – sample, don’t commit. Since 2010, the brand has elevated miniature tasting into an artform, sourcing thousands of spirits (over 6,000 and counting) and presenting them in 30ml wax-dipped bottles very elegant, tactile, and quietly luxurious. Their approach makes the global drinks world not just accessible, but eminently giftable.
This particular set is a compact masterclass in both heritage and hedonism. From the spice-laced depths of Pusser’s Gunpowder Proof to the sun-drenched elegance of Planteray XO Barbados 2oth Anniversary, each dram offers a distinctive take on rum tradition. El Dorado 21 brings the gravitas of Guyana’s aged richness, while Appleton Estate anchors the line-up with Jamaican warmth and polish. Rumbullion adds a playful flourish with its festive, spiced character – all rounded off with an effortless sense of discovery.
Tasting at home, it felt less like a sampler and more like a one-on-one with a private drink’s consultant. There’s no prescriptive order, no pressure just the freedom to pour, reflect, and taste as mood dictates. And in a corporate gifting context, that’s precisely its strength. It’s not a flashy hamper or a predictable wine duo; it’s thoughtful, refined, and wonderfully intimate.
If the aim is to leave a lasting impression on clients or colleagues, this set delivers with quiet confidence. Not just a gift, but a gesture that says: I wanted to give you something worth savouring.