Country: Scotland
ABV: Various%
Cost at Time of Purchase: £Various
Type of Rum: Pure Single Rum
* P
Hydrometer Test: N/A
“The quality and age of Scottish rums is improving perpetually.
Time to have a tasting session from two distilleries”
In the last ten years, a new country has started producing fine quality rums. Not from a location you would usually associate with rum such as the Caribbean. But much closer to home, within the UK, specifically Scotland.
Two distilleries in particular have been consistently turning out pure single rums. Their rums are produced in a traditional way using a batch distillation and are free from additives and artificial ingredients.
J. Gow
“From Scotland’s Smallest Rum Island – Bold, Untamed, Scottish Rum”.
Quoting directly from J. Gow’s web site.
“Named after Orkney’s very own 18th-century pirate, John Gow, J. Gow Rum distillery sits just metres from the sea on Lamb Holm – a 0.15-square-mile uninhabited island.
This makes it arguably the smallest rum-producing island in the world and a truly unique part of Scotland’s growing Scottish rum scene.”
Distilling began here in 2017 allowing Collin van Schayk to boast rums aged up to eight years.
Ninefold
“Copper pot distilled Scottish rum, crafted by hand on Dormont Estate”.
Quoting directly from Ninefold’s web site.
“Ninefold Rum Distillery is nestled between woodlands on Dormont Home Farm at the heart of Dormont Estate, Dumfries & Galloway. A quiet rural setting in southwest Scotland, this is not an obvious location for a rum distillery!”
Distilling began in 2019. Currently Kit Carruthers’ released rums have been aged for over four years, but he has many casks laid down ageing for the future.
How Did It Happen?
As usual, my wingman, Kevin Brooks was involved. Between us, we have many rums from the Scottish distilleries. He kindly shared some with me during one of our weekly online tasting sessions. As is always the case for our sessions, fine rums are combined with informal inappropriate chat.
We sampled nine rums in total, five from J. Gow and four from Ninefold.
We tasted the rums [mostly] in order of ABV, from the lowest to the highest. But we reserved the newest Ninefold until last. Here are our tastings and findings.
ONE
Ninefold Pure Single Rum
40%
£35
September 2020
Ninefold’s inaugural release came in at 40%, it has since been beefed up to 46%. It is very easy drinking and over-performs for an un-aged rum. It is dry and astringent in the mouth. Some tropical fruits and sweet cream soda on the palate.
TWO
J. Gow Revenge
43%
£38.99
April 2021
A pure single rum, aged for three years in ex-Bourbon and ex-virgin oak casks. This tasted very Whisky-esque. Smokey, bitter plums, citrus and fiery ginger spice. A couple of drops of water revealed some underlying fruit notes. This was a challenge to sip and savour!
THREE
J. Gow Hidden Depths Vol. 3
50.1%
£90
2025
Is this the oldest Scottish rum to date? This pure single rum has had eight years of ageing in ex Orkney bere whisky/port style wine casks. This rum really wowed us, especially compared to J. Gow Revenge. Those eight long years of very slow maturation in the cold Orkney Islands has been time well spent. Sweet and spicy at the same time. A hint of ginger, caramelised raisins, cherries and black pepper.
FOUR
J. Gow Hidden Depths Vol. 1
53.2%
£59.99
October 2020
A three year old pure single rum and first edition of the Hidden Depths range. Once again, the haunting Whisky-esque taste reappeared. Very spicy, ladened with ginger and black pepper making this taste very fiery. Some dark chocolate nibs and a hint of caramel. With hindsight, we should have tasted this ahead of the eight year old.
FIVE
J. Gow Fading Light XO
53.5%
£39.99
2021
A three year old pure single rum aged in chestnut casks. I have not previously encountered a rum aged in chestnut casks, although I have tried chestnut cask aged Cachaça. Kudos to J. Gow for this unique barrel-aged offering. But once again, it tastes Whisky-esque. Bitter dried fruits, cream soda, peppery spice.
SIX
J. Gow Reserve 2 (Distillery only)
58.8%
£60
2025
Kevin was fortunate to have one of his friends visiting the remote J. Gow distillery. The result was obtaining a unique bottle of rum aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks for three years. It is limited to just 88 bottles.
In a recurring theme, once again, we felt the rum tasted Whisky-esque. Some black pepper spice, bitter treacle, ginger and nuts on the palate.
SEVEN
Ninefold Edition #1
59.6%
£45
September 2020
The first of Ninefold’s Experimental Cask Editions (ECE). It was aged for 12 months in a virgin oak cask. 246 bottles were produced. This young rum has plenty of spicy pepper and a dry astringent mouthfeel. A hint of chocolate covered toffee and smokiness.
EIGHT
Ninefold Edition #4
62.3%
£75
October 2024
As I am writing this (January 2026), this is the most recent edition. It is aged in 60 litre ex-Sherry Oloroso casks for a very precise 2 years 9 months. It is limited to 238 bottles. This tasted pretty sublime. We were impressed with the depth of flavours. The character of the rum was remarkable, especially given such a short amount of ageing. There is a spiciness that builds, black pepper and ginger, which leads to dried fruits, marmalade and cacao.
NINE
Ninefold Scottish Oak 3yo
59.1%
£150
October 2025
The woody influence is evident yielding black pepper and spicy notes. it is a little whisky-esque on the palate as a result. Dark chocolate, marmalade and ginger.
Overall:
So, what did we discover?
Fundamentally, Scottish rum is now a serious offering. Batch distillation using copper pot stills, no artificial flavours, transparency, increasing and genuine age statements and passionate distillers. It is always a pleasure to speak to these guys at rum events.
With each passing year of maturity the flavour profiles are developing and improving. This was demonstrated clearly with J. Gow’s Hidden Depths Volume 3. Eight years and counting!
Further innovations are coming about through special editions such as unique casks. Chestnut and Scottish oak married with high ABVs are yielding interesting flavour profiles.
But such iterations come at a hefty price. I understand the reasons why, but these Scottish rums are pricey. Not to say they are not worth buying but there are better rums at much lower prices. But, that said, you are paying for something artisanal and unique.
Whilst we did not specifically pick a favourite rum or distillery, we did both choose the J. Gow Hidden Depths Vol. 3 and Ninefold Edition #4 as the best of the bunch.
NOTE: The image at the start of this page was generated by AI.
Review No: 186
Here is a link to all of my hydrometer tests:
RumShopBoy Hydrometer Tests
Why are rums marked out of 100? Click HERE to read about how I mark a rum.
*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.
Single Blended Rum: A blend of pot still and traditional column still from a single distillery.
Pure Single Rum: 100% Pot Still from a single distillery
Pure Single Agricole Rum: 100% Pot Still from cane juice
Single Blended Rum – A blend of pot still and traditional column still from a single distillery.
Traditional Rum: From a traditional column still.
Modern Rum: From a modern multi column still.
RumShopBoy.com 