109: Rolling Fork Rum and the Complexities of Barrel Aging
In this episode, we talked to Turner Wathen and Jordan Morris, the co-founders of Rolling Fork Rum, and went DEEP on everything the Kentucky-based independent bottler has learned about cask aging (and more) since getting started in 2017. We discussed:
Rolling Fork's focus on utilizing an array of ex-bourbon and ex-whiskey casks for secondary maturation
How much of a difference do different types of ex-whiskey casks REALLY make on a spirit that is primarily already aged in ex-bourbon casks?
Why they just launched a rum blend designed for cocktails after their first cocktail rum failed
How they work through disagreements as co-founders
What it's like selling rum deep in the heart of bourbon country
How different types of casks — from ex-fortified wine barrels to ex-whiskey barrels — react to the wild temperature swings in their aging warehouse
Matching the right type of cask to the right rum
How the independent bottler landscape has changed since they got started in 2017
And a whole lot more!
A few links to stuff mentioned in the episode:
Check out The Rum Revival's blind tasting of Rolling Fork rums finished in five different cask types
This episode is sponsored by Nossa Cachaça — Get 10% off any order at NossaCachaca.com with promo code RUMCAST.
P.S. Did you know you can support The Rumcast on Patreon now and get bonus episodes, happy hours, and more? You can! Head to patreon.com/therumcast to check it out.
