Review: Roaring Dan Maple Rum

Rating: ★★★½☆

www.roaringdanrum.com

It’s just a fact – Wisconsin is known for cheese. You want to know two things Wisconsin isn’t known for? Rum and pirates. But surprising as it might be, Wisconsin now has both.

“Roaring” Dan Seavey was indeed the only person ever charged with piracy on the Great Lakes, and it’s for this reason that the Great Lakes Distillery opted to name their very first rum in his honor. A scalliwagg of the early 20th century, Roaring Dan was hardly your typical golden age swashbuckler – but he was mean and cantankerous enough to put even Blackbeard to shame. Indeed, Blackbeard never used his own ship as a floating whorehouse, nor did he dispatch an opponent in a bar brawl by dropping a piano on his head.

Like the seagoing miscreant whose name it bears, Roaring Dan Rum is far from typical. Continue reading

Roaring Dan Rum on the Horizon!

I was able to get a sneak peak (meaning taste. Or two. Or seven.) of Roaring Dan rum this past weekend, and look forward to reviewing it shortly. But meantime, figured you all would enjoy this news article on the subject:

Great Lakes Distillery rum set for release

I don’t know what sort of distribution it will have outside of Wisconsin, but for those who are localish, definitely try it out. A mixer rum, yes. But also a high-quality one with a very unique flavor. The maple-syrup element makes for some truly extraordinary drinks in the right hands.

Oh, and for the record, “Roaring” Dan Seavey isn’t the only person every arrested for piracy on the Great Lakes. But thanks to my influential friends, I was able to keep my name out of the papers.