By most calendars, Black Tot Day doesn’t come until July 31st. But this year things are different as I’ve just confirmed that Sea Wynde Rum has indeed been discontinued.

My own relationship with Sea Wynde has been tumultuous. I first tried it shortly before starting Bilgemunky.com and indeed loved it. I tried a bottle some years later and found it over-charred and foul. But in recent years they must have perfected the formula – indeed, my love of it has only grown since last reviewing it in 2007. In recent years Sea Wynde has almost perfectly captured what I feel a “real” rum should be: a powerhouse of rumminess – smooth enough to sip, but still full of life and gunpowder. Much better to my tastes than many of today’s cognac-wannabe “top shelf” sissy rums.

But sadly Castle Brands has deemed it necessary to give up on this fine product, as I’ve personally confirmed with their Marketing Department – I guess there just aren’t enough of us out there with the stones to enjoy a true rum. But the good news is that, depending on your location, you might still be able to score a few bottles to benefit future generations. But act fast – Bilgemunky.com reader Mad L, who alerted me to this sad state of affairs, has reported a distinct scarcity of Sea Wynde in his own neck of the woods, with some locations selling their few remaining bottles at steep markups.

So if you’re a Sea Wynde fan, good luck in your quest for a last stash of this extraordinary rum. And whether you’re a fan or not, tip your hats and raise a glass to the demise of one of the more admirable, truly piratey rums to come our way.