Mad City Botanical Rum

Previously known for its gins, which have been picking up gold and silver medals in competitions, Foxhole Spirits has now come up with a totally unique drink: a botanical rum called Mad City.

Some spirits claim to be unique, and then turn out to be merely a twist on vodka, gin or rum, say, but Mad City really is different. It is a white rum, but like nothing you’ve ever tasted before as it’s been infused with botanicals, just as you would infuse a gin, except that there’s no juniper involved. The result is a spirit that tastes both like a rum and a gin, which you could have with either tonic or with cola, and enjoy them both equally. I was skeptical before I tasted it, but was immediately won over by its unique taste and its versatility.

Blend of Four Rums

Mad City starts off as a blend of four rums from four great rum-producing nations: Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados and the Dominican Republic (all of which I’ve been lucky enough to visit, and rum was definitely consumed!) Three are produced on column stills, and the Jamaican rum on a pot still.

The Botanicals

It seems odd to be referring to botanicals when talking about rum, but Mad City has 25 different botanicals, some of which go into almost all gins on the market: Coffee, Coconut, Papaya, Cherry, Lime Peel, Sweet Orange, Bitter Orange, Rosemary, Coriander Seed, Allspice, Cassia Bark, Green Cardamom, Black Cardamom, Cloves, Nutmeg, Vanilla Pods, Cacao Nibs, Ginger Root, Tonka Bean, Molasses, Liquorice Root, Lapsang Souchong, Cubeb, Hibiscus Tea, and Vetiver Root.

The Artwork

The bottle and the artwork on it are as different as the spirit that’s inside it. In fact there are two limited-edition bottles, with different artwork on each but the same botanical rum inside. They’re designed by the Bristol-based urban artist Sled One, whose bold style somehow manages to combine graffiti, the surreal and Art Deco. It’s as different as Mad City Botanical Rum and is inspired by the vibrancy of Bristol’s Stokes Croft and St Paul’s areas.

The Ethos

All four of the rums are 100% Fairtrade sourced, and as many of the botanicals as possible are from sustainable sources.

Tasting Mad City Botanical Rum

Good stories and ethics are all very well, and I love both of them, but it all comes down to – what’s it like? The bottle is short and squat and undoubtedly stunning, and with its fantastic artwork is definitely a keeper.

On the nose it has some of those aromas you expect from a rum, like raisins, spices and tropical fruits, but also has the freshness you’d expect from a gin, with orange and lemon – although there’s no lemon in there, but there is lime.

On the palate it’s equally unusual, like a rum/gin hybrid, but with a harmonious balance of the best qualities of both. There’s a coffee and chocolate taste, some sweet vanilla, both tropical fruits and citrus fruits, with spices and a nuttiness too. After sipping it neat we tried it with both Fever-Tree Tonic and Fever-Tree Madagascan Cola, and it was equally delicious with both. They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but I’ve certainly never tasted a spirit like this. The only problem Foxhole Spirits will have is deciding what category it qualifies for in order to win the medals it deserves in competitions.

Botanical Rum Cocktails

To try to show Mad City’s versatility, Foxhole Spirits has suggested three cocktail recipes for their botanical rum, including their take on the classic Dark and Stormy, which adds vermouth to the recipe.

Mad City Hard Seltzer • 50ml Rum • 50ml Coconut Water • 100ml Sparkling Mineral Water • Orange Zest

Add two large pieces of orange zest to glass and muddle, squeeze and press to extract the citrus flavour and oils. Fill the glass with ice. Add 50ml of Mad City and 50ml of Coconut Water. Top with 100ml Sparkling Mineral Water. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary. 

Mad City Daiquiri • 50ml Rum • 20ml Lime Juice • 15ml Acacia Honey • Basil leaf • Orange Twist

Add ice to cocktail shaker. Add 15ml of Acacia Honey and 15ml of warm water to measure and stir. Add the honey syrup, 50ml of Mad City and 20ml of  lime juice to the shaker. Shake until chilled. Serve over ice. Garnish with a basil leaf and orange twist.

Mad City Solstice • 40ml Rum • 10ml Rosso Vermouth • Top with Ginger Ale

Add 10ml of Rosso Vermouth to glass. Fill glass with ice. Pour 40ml Mad City Rum over the ice. Top with Ginger Ale. Garnish with lime wheel/wedge.

Buying Mad City

You can buy Mad City Botanical Rum on the Foxhole Spirits website, and if you like the artwork you can also buy a limited edition print of Sled One’s work alongside your bottle. Signed prints are also available. In the UK you can find it on Amazon, where it’s been picking up mostly 5-star reviews. You can also buy it at Master of Malt, which offers international shipping. In the USA you can find a wide range of rums at Caskers.