HELMUT Rum 3-Piece Mini Tasting Box. Rum tasting set with three 50 ml bottles – aged for eight years, three finishes, ranging from smooth to herbal to sweet.

HELMUT Rum 3-Piece Mini Tasting Box is a rum tasting set from Helmut Wermut in Hamburg. It contains 50 ml each of Rum Barrel Aged, Rum Vermouth Finish, and Rum Liqueur, totaling 150 ml with 35 to 40% ABV. Not vermouth, not an aperitif – three spirits from the same Caribbean rum base.

The Rum 3-Piece Mini Tasting Box from Helmut Wermut shows what a rum can become. All three bottles start the same way: with a blend of Caribbean rums from the Dominican Republic, aged for eight years in American oak. Then, their paths diverge. One receives only a bourbon cask finish, one additionally receives a finish in a vermouth cask, and one becomes a liqueur with added sweetness. It is an evening after dinner, three small glasses are on the table, and you can taste how the cask and sugar change the very same rum.

Taste

The box ranges from smooth and fruity to intensely herbal and pleasantly sweet. Each bottle shows a different side of the same rum.

The Rum Barrel Aged is the smooth entry point at 40% ABV. After six months in an ex-bourbon cask, it tastes slightly spicy, with delicate fruity notes of apricot, raisin, and vanilla. The finish adds caramel and subtle peppery tones. The manufacturer calls it a harmonious rum with a long finish.

The HELMUT Rum Vermouth Finish also has 40% ABV, but was additionally aged for three months in casks that previously held HELMUT Vermouth. It is intensely spicy and complex, with herbs, wood, and tannins, plus chamomile, caramel, and vanilla. Its finish is caramel-herbal.

The HELMUT Rum Liqueur has 35% ABV and, with 103 g of residual sugar per liter, is significantly sweeter. For balance, the producer adds a touch of HELMUT Wermut Barrel Aged. It tastes smooth and sweet like vanilla, caramel, and dried fruits, with hidden notes of chocolate and red berries.

Use

The box is intended for tasting neat, in the order of Barrel Aged, Vermouth Finish, then Liqueur. This way, the sweet liqueur comes last and does not overpower the drier rums before it.

Pour a small sip from each bottle into a glass and take your time. With what's left in the box, you can also mix drinks. For a HELMUT Rum Airmail, shake 3 cl of Rum Barrel Aged with 1.5 cl of lime juice and 1.5 cl of honey syrup and top with sparkling wine in a champagne glass. For a HELMUT Rum Sour, shake 4 cl of Rum Liqueur with 2 cl of lime juice, 1 cl of sugar syrup, and ice, and garnish with an orange zest.

Our tip: Try the Barrel Aged and the Vermouth Finish right after each other. Both have 40% ABV and 11 g of residual sugar per liter; the difference comes primarily from the vermouth cask.

Origin

HELMUT primarily stands for vermouth from Hamburg, founded in late 2017 by Markus Weiß, now joined by Olina Kladensky. The rum was created as an experiment: empty casks from the HELMUT Wermut Barrel Aged were intended to be reused.

The rums come from the Dominican Republic, all from the same distillery. They are distilled from molasses in a column still and aged for eight years in American oak. This is followed by six months in an ex-bourbon cask, and for the Vermouth Finish, an additional three months in a HELMUT vermouth cask in Germany. The liqueur is also composed in Germany.

For whom

A note on labeling: The box is labeled "contains sulfites."

The box is for rum enthusiasts who want to taste the varieties before committing to a large bottle. It makes a great gift for friends who enjoy tasting spirits and serves as a small tasting for two after dinner.

If you are looking for a light aperitif instead of rum, reach for the HELMUT 3-Piece Mini Tasting Box with three vermouths. You can find all bottles on our Helmut-Wermut page. Sales are restricted to ages 18 and up. The box is not suitable for those expecting a mild long-drink rum – the focus here is on aged rums for tasting neat.

Barrel Aged, Vermouth Finish, and Liqueur in 50 ml each – the rum tasting set from Helmut Wermut for post-dinner enjoyment and as a gift.