The Original Rum Bum® grew from Kevin “Snooky” Snook’s years living and working in the Caribbean, where rum became part of both the place and the stories around it. Its first release, Rum Bum No.1 Signature Rum, was a small-batch blend of premium Caribbean white rums. Only 250 bottles were produced, and the limited edition is now sold out.
Kevin was interviewed by Marlow FM’s James Winter about his journey through the culinary world, island life and creating The Original Rum Bum®. This article shares the story from that conversation, originally broadcast on 23 October 2025.
From Sand Between My Toes to a Rum Bottle on the Bar
My love of rum began in Saint Lucia, running a beach bar and restaurant with sand between my toes and music in the air. Many moons later, I decided to do it and make my own rum. I thought, why not! The aim was simple to say and hard to do. Create a rum with real personality that works in the glass, plays well in cocktails and brings a bit of island life to the UK.
What Is Rum Made From?
Rum is a distilled spirit made from sugarcane. If it does not contain sugarcane, it is not rum. You will meet white rums, dark rums and spiced rums. Each style starts with sugarcane, then takes its own path through fermentation, distillation and, for many rums, time in wood.
Agricole vs Molasses Rum
Across the Caribbean, you will find two broad approaches. In the French islands, many producers make rhum agricole from fresh sugarcane juice. Elsewhere, most rums are made from molasses, a by-product of sugar production. Agricole often tastes grassy and fresh. Molasses-based rums tend to be richer and darker. Neither is better. They are simply different traditions that grew up island by island.
If you would like to learn more, read How Is Rum Made: The Basics of Rum Production.
Why Is Dark Rum Dark?
Rum can become darker through ageing in casks. Wood and time change the spirit. Barrels lend colour and flavour, while the cask type, its previous contents and the length of ageing all influence the result.
Why I Bottled at 37.5% ABV
Rum Bum No.1 Signature Rum was a curated blend of Jamaican white rum and Dominican Republic white rum, redistilled and bottled at 37.5% ABV rather than the usual 40%. I chose this strength on purpose. It mellows into the drink nicely without taking away the nuances of the other ingredients, making it welcoming for people new to rum.
Created for Craft Rum Cocktails
Good rum is the starting point. Fresh preparation matters and lifts everything. If a recipe calls for pineapple juice or grapefruit juice, I freshly squeeze it. With good mise en place, you can still do that in a busy bar. A Rum Lover’s Journal even includes a clarified Piña Colada recipe that does not need a special kit. Serve it over a big, clear cube and let the flavour do the talking.
Caribbean Music, Mood and Premium Craft Rum
Rum and music are tied together for me. The playlist shared through A Rum Lover’s Journal moves from reggae to soca, calypso and afrobeats. It sets a mood that pairs with what is in the glass. Think Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds playing while a premium rum cocktail sits in your hand.
Where Rum Bum No.1 Signature Rum Was Served
At the time of the interview, Rum Bum No.1 Signature Rum was served by the glass at Ginger Wings in Marlow, The Hind’s Head in Bray, Caldesi in Campagna and Monkey Island Estate.
The limited edition is now sold out, but the story continues through the current Rum Bum range.
A Rum Lover’s Journal
Alongside the bottle sits A Rum Lover’s Journal. It is printed on stone paper, wipe-resistant and made to travel. Inside you will find a map of Caribbean rum styles, a rum chart and the fundamentals of cocktail making. It also covers batch preparation, shrubs and milk punches, with 52 recipes accompanied by full-colour images. There are blank pages for your own notes and comments. It was written with yacht crews and curious drinkers in mind, but it lives just as well on a kitchen counter or restaurant bar.
What Comes Next for The Original Rum Bum®
Rum Bum No.1 Signature Rum was the beginning. The story now continues through the Rum Bum core range and the recipes shared across the site.
Final Thoughts on Premium Craft Rum
Thank you for reading this summary of my conversation with Marlow FM. We spoke about what craft rum means to me and the journey to our first Signature rum. We also talked about creating A Rum Lover’s Journal.
Rum Bum No.1 was limited to 250 bottles and is now sold out. You can explore the current range using the links below, then discover more rum stories and cocktail recipes across the site.
Thank you again, Snooky.
