Ship’s log.
Welcome to the new John Paul Jones Rum blog!
This is the place where you can keep up to speed with our quest to revolutionise the way we think about rum. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re pleased to say we’re now in a position to start our own rum diary. We’re prepared for an adventure into uncharted territory and we’re ready to set sail. We dare you to come along…
Hearty thanks.
Before we set out on our new journey, we’d like to start by saying a massive thank you to every single one of you who has supported us so far. Starting your own small batch premium rum company is not for the faint hearted, and we wouldn’t have got as far as we have without the kind words, custom and encouragement of our loyal crew. Thank you.
All in the same boat.
As for this blog, we’d love for it be as interactive as possible. The more feedback we get, the more emboldened we become, so please do tell us what you think. If you have any ideas you’d like us to write about, or if you’ve discovered something you think John Paul Jones Rum fans ought to know, we’re all ears. Just drop us a line on Facebook or Instagram and we’ll be sure to get back to you.
What’s in a name?
We didn’t start this blog off to give history lessons, but it’s probably worth taking a moment to explain our name. Most people in the UK are familiar with John Paul Jones through the influence of the Led Zeppelin bassist but, as great as he is, our brand is not a tribute to a titan of 1970s rock n roll. We (and John Baldwin) took inspiration from the original John Paul Jones, a Scottish sailor who fled the land of his birth to become perhaps the most famous sea captain in US history—a revolutionary who became known as the ‘Father of the American Navy’. After his death in 1792, JPJ was interred in a rum-filled coffin, embalming a renegade hero in a legendary spirit.
Kindred spirits.
John Paul Jones is our brand, our ethos, and our inspiration. It’s not just a name to us. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that one of our co-founders, Ollie, happened to grow up in the same place as JPJ was born. The second is that this fearless captain (JPJ, that is) exemplifies the spirit of adventure that we share. OK, we might not be risking life and limb in sea battles, but when Covid redundancy beckoned, we were faced with a choice: see out furlough and start interviewing, or have a go at starting something special. After years of listening to the fabled adventures of the hero whose spirit we share, we chose the second option. As JPJ himself said, ‘Those who will not risk, cannot win.’
What sets our rum apart.
Rum is the oldest spirit in the world; it is said to have originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century. So the key for us was to create something new and exciting while still respecting the legacy and traditions of this magnificent drink. That’s why we choose to flavour all of our exceptional rums with spiral wrack seaweed. And not just any spiral wrack seaweed. We pick ours from a specific beach, just a stone’s throw from where the legendary naval captain himself was born. This gives our rums a truly exceptional and unique flavour, as well as creating a lifelong link between us and our heroic namesake.
What is rum made from?
In a word, sugar. More specifically, rum is made from molasses, which is the residue left after the sugar in the sugarcane juice has crystallised. In the 17th century, sugar was grown in abundance in the West Indies, which is why the area remains synonymous with the world’s best rums.
Is John Paul Jones rum from the Caribbean?
Originally, yes. All of our rums begin their life as a white Caribbean rum. We bring this specially selected rum to Scotland, where we infuse it with our secret ingredient, Scottish spiral wrack seaweed.
To create our ‘Lowland’ Rum, we age the spirit in charred American oak, the very timber from which John Paul Jones’ ships were decked. This gives the rum a golden colour which, when combined with fresh ginger and food-grade black peppercorns, creates our signature Lowland Rum—a spirit like no other.
What does the future hold for JPJ rum?
Quite simply, we want to revolutionise the way people perceive flavoured rums. The days of poor-quality spirit made using artificial flavours and drowned in Coca-Cola must be put behind us: our bold future is one in which rum is revered in the same way as a fine Scotch whisky. Our white rum—Ranger—the first and only spirit of its type to be seaweed-infused—is flavoured using fresh apple, lime and rosemary and is destined to be enjoyed with tonic water. Gin has become a bit ‘pipe and slippers’; Ranger Rum is rounded, exciting and goes hand-in-hand with a great time. There’s a new sheriff in town.
In short, our ship of ideas is heavy with cargo and our crew is champing at the bit of discovery.
We hope you enjoy the ride.
Team JPJ