Project 173 Chocolate Rum

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Grown ups and Easter don’t normally mix, but if you throw in some rum, and a Chocolate Rum at that, you are probably going to enjoy this time of year more!

Project 173 from Atom Lab is a rum-based ‘Rumbow’ with a range of flavoured rums. There’s Black Cherry, Pineapple, Coconut, Banana, Mango, Watermelon and now the Chocolate Rum for Easter.

Sold in a stylish 50cl brown glass bottle (reminiscent of a medicine bottle, which I don’t think is a mistake) the 42% proof rum has a distinct chocolate taste. It’s for chocolate lovers more than rum lovers as it’s a departure from the usual but you can really smell the sweetness of the chocolate as soon as you open the bottle.  The rum itself is rich and doesn’t have an aftertaste. The finish is definitely chocolatey though with a smooth taste too.  It can be consumed on its own or with a mixer. A particularly good idea is to drink it out of an Easter egg, or as my colleague has just noted, you could add it to a tiramisu to give both chocolate and rum vibes. Perhaps a good Easter Sunday dessert?

The rest of the Rumbow from Project 173 looks just as interesting with flavours which you could easily add to cocktails and seem fitting for a rum.  They also have a new Hot Buttered Popcorn flavour which looks just as delicious!

Available from £20.95 at: https://www.masterofmalt.com/rum/project-173/project-173-chocolate-rum/

Clean Co Non-Alcoholic Rum Alternative

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Clean Co are the specialists in creating non-alcoholic spirits, starting with their famous Clean Gin and Clean Rhubarb Gin. Now, they have ventured into other spirits including this Clean Co Rum – a spiced spirit which is also non-alcoholic but with the Caribbean flavour of rum.

Clean Co Rum Alternative has won the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) bronze award in 2021 for its vanilla on the palate and pineapple and raisin on the tastebuds. It’s certainly a welcome alternative to the other non-alcoholic spirits that don’t have much depth, taste or mix very well with other drinks to make cocktails.

Clean Co Rum Alternative has a dry, vanilla taste with smokey fruitiness that’s. typical of rum.  There’s a slight sugar taste in there too which gives it the fuller flavour of a spirit and it’s delicious with a cola drink or mixed into a cocktail thanks to the added Jamaican spices.  You can also try it with ginger ale and lime to give a different skew on its tropical flavours.

The good news is that Clean Co Rum Alternative is also vegan, has no sugar at all and is only 12 calories per 50ml serving. It has less than 0.5% ABV which classifies as non-alcoholic and is lactose free too. 

This is a great gift for anyone who is into spirits but doesn’t necessarily like rum yet, so that they can try it and supplement cocktails at home with an authentic rum flavour.  Rum lovers, especially those doing Dry January, will love having the rum flavours and none of the alcohol to feel guilty over! 

Available online for £16 at: https://clean.co/collections/frontpage/products/cleanr-non-alcoholic