ShakespeareDistillery
It’s not every day you get to say your rum is one of the best in the world — but today, I’m thrilled to do just that.
We’re absolutely delighted that our Jester Aged British Rum – Sherry Expression has won a Bronze Medal at the 2025 World Rum Awards, placing it proudly among the top rums on the global stage. It’s a huge moment for us, especially as this is our very first aged rum blend.
Behind the Scenes
The World Rum Awards are a pretty big deal in the spirits world, judged by industry experts with seriously sharp palates. This year’s event was held in early April at The Great Hospital in Norwich, and I had the absolute honour of taking part in round two of the tasting. It was a full day of tasting, talking, and learning alongside some of the most passionate and knowledgeable people in the industry.
To be honest, I was nervous walking in. I had no idea if our rum had won anything. For all I knew, I was about to step into a room where my knowledge would be completely outclassed. Most of the panel were much older than me, with decades of experience under their belts. Some of them sit on multiple prestigious judging panels. And there I was, seated right next to them! But my taste buds were ready, eager to find out if what I thought I knew about rum actually held up.
The judging process was exactly what you’d expect: blind, detailed, and absolutely rigorous. Each of the five rounds featured lineups of what were essentially the best rums in the world. Every spirit was judged on aroma, flavour, balance, and overall character.
The standard of entries was incredibly high, with producers from across the globe bringing their best. As the rounds progressed, my confidence grew. Tasting and sharing thoughts with the other judges reassured me that our rum was not just holding its own, but truly belonged on that table.
To see Jester Rum stand out in such a talented line-up – one of only four to receive a medal in its category – was both humbling and exhilarating.
From White Rum to World Stage
We don’t believe in shortcuts. Every drop of our rum is the result of in-house graft, good old-fashioned trial and error, and a whole lot of patience. No consultants, just passion.
This award-winning expression kicked off back in April 2021 when we filled handpicked ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks with our Jester White Rum, made entirely from scratch right here at our distillery.
Our casks aren’t stored in a temperature-controlled environment, they are propped up in the corner of our bottling room. What does that mean? The wood’s breathing the liquid in and out, making it age faster! After four flavour-packed years, the rum has developed a rich, complex character, evolving into something truly special and unique. The result? Something we are seriously proud of, full-flavour aged rum bottled at 48% ABV for maximum impact.
But wait, it gets better. We’re not just about bold flavour — we’re about bold choices. Our distillery is carbon neutral, powered by renewable energy, and situated on Warwickshire’s biggest solar farm. From day one, we’ve been mixing sustainability with serious style, using energy-efficient gear and eco-friendly smarts to keep things green without ever skimping on quality.
Deliciously smooth. Seriously sustainable. Proudly made with passion.
A Nod to Shakespeare
Jester characters stole the show back in the day. Now our award-winning rum is doing the same as its namesake on the world stage. Poetic, right? We are inspired by the Jester’s colourful characteristics found in Shakespeare’s works — bold, mischievous, and always memorable. Our rum shares that spirit: a little cheeky, and guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
This recognition is a huge testament to our brilliant distillery team, who put so much care and craftsmanship into everything we create. We couldn’t be prouder.
Big Flavour + Small Batches = Limited Bottles
Jester Aged British Rum – Sherry Expression is officially up for grabs… well, almost! You can pre-order it now before the big launch on 30th April — but fair warning, there are only 120 bottles up for grabs. Yep, just 120.
So if you fancy joining me and raising a glass of small-batch, award-winning British rum with a cheeky sherry twist, now’s your moment. Once it’s gone, it’s really gone. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Cheers,
Sam
