The Worth Park 109 is a smoky rum with notes of burnt caramel, and fruit flavors of banana, raisin, pineapple, dried apple and fig. There are also some cappuccino coffee notes. Siddiqui was the gift of relaxation the oil workers all made for themselves,” declared the colourful press release that accompanied the brand launch. Siddiqui is inspired by the moonshine produced by Texan and Californian oil workers during their time in Saudi Arabia.

The Overproof Dark Rum Category had three Master Award winners. Worthy Park Estate, Worthy Park 109 Proof, 54.5% ABV; Vok Beverages, Inner Circle Cask Strength Rum, 75.9% ABV and Navy Strength Rum, 57.2% ABV.Simon has the insight and the passion to really push Penderyn to the next stage of our export plan. Our recent awards successes show that people all over the world are still thirsty for authentic Welsh whisky. Therefore, we look forward to working with him to develop wider export initiatives which will help us reach further corners of the global market.” This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.

The see-through bottle reveals an oil field. It all looks good but I just can’t get past having “Brown Rum” emblazoned across the front. It just sounds so unappetising. Siddiqui Brown Rum. Doesn’t sound to inviting does it? There have been a lot of “objections” recently about labelling rum by its colour. Some of it has been a bit over the top, I have to say. That said “Brown” rum is a new descriptor for me in terms of actually going out there and putting it on the label. I love the stuff, but let's be real - dunking wood/whiskey chips in it (how they made it in Saudi) doesn't make it a whiskey As a mixer its not going to win any awards from me either. Mixed with cola and ginger beer it just gives a smoky flavour and little else. Maybe a touch of wood. It just turns your cola into a smoky woody cola.

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Dom Tápparo Engenho Desde 1970 swept all the Master awards in the cachaça category for its Cachaca Duas Madeiras Extra Premium, 38% ABV; Cachaça Carvalho Americana 10 Anos, 38% ABV and Cachaça Cabaré, 38% ABV. It was hard to resist such a compelling story which many people will relate to, along with a recipe that has been perfected over a long period of time.’ Penderyn will distribute these rums worldwide, but for retail customers in the UK, Siddiqui Brown Rum can be bought online here. Being illegal, as Saudi has prohibited alcohol since the 1950s, it was allegedly secretly distilled and enjoyed for decades, and codenamed ‘siddiqui’ – Arabic for ‘my friend’ – to avoid detection. As a result of all the wood and smoke it’s not a particularly complex nose. It’s not really very rummy either. It’s not an awful nose but it isn’t really drawing me in.

Penderyn Distillery are delighted to announce that they have partnered with the California-based, Siddiqui Rums Corporation. This exciting new partnership means that Penderyn will produce Siddiqui Rums for international markets.

Siddiqui Rums From Penderyn Distillery

The much respected and highly popular Simon Roffe is Penderyn Distillery’s new Director of Business Development. Roffe said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Penderyn Distillery brand. Penderyn is already making huge leaps and bounds on the global spirits markets. They are a brand-driven by enormous ambition. It’s exciting to be working with such an innovative team delivering success after success.” The Merser Double barrel is a blend of rums sourced from Jamaica, Barbados and Dominican Republic. The rums are produced from a combination of pot, single column and multi-column stills. They are aged for up to 12 years before blending and then left to marry for another six months in 250-liter ex-Scotch casks. The Siddiqui brand was founded by ‘two good old Texan Oil boys’ Aaron Hees and Rich Chimblo, with help from ‘entrepreneur and builder of brands’ Nigel Brown and ‘passionate desert moonshiner’ Theresa Huisman. Siddiqui – the name is Arabic for ‘my friend’ – is unique. It is a spirit that was originally created to reflect a period of industrial and cultural history, and exists as a response to the widespread ban of alcohol imports and sales in the Middle East which occurred in 1952.

Siddiqui is inspired by the moonshine produced by western oil workers during their time in Saudi Arabia. Highly illegal, as Saudi has prohibited alcohol since the 1950s, it was allegedly secretly distilled and enjoyed for decades, and codenamed ‘siddiqui’ – Arabic for ‘my friend’ – to avoid detection. The Ron Añejo Carúpano 21 Private Reserve is a Venezuelan rum that is difficult to find in the US. That’s a pity because it is an outstanding rum. This is a no age statement, solera-based rum. The reference to 21 is the age of the solera. This a very aromatic rum. It offers up notes of fruit, along with caramel, vanilla and white chocolate. Although it's produced by Penderyn, it's the brainchild of guys who lived in Saudi and drank the real deal growing up. It's commercialised and made more acceptable to the Western palate, it's something new and interesting, or reminiscent of home to those of us fortunate enough to have grown up with Sid. Siddiqui was the gift of relaxation the oil workers all made for themselves,” according to Nigel Brown, CEO and Co-founder of Siddiqui Rum. It continues: “Being parched after a long hot day, there wasn’t a lot to do in the compound so they let loose. Boy did they party. The parties are legendary, never to be repeated.”

Welsh whisky company Penderyn Distillery has appointed Simon Roffe as new Director of Business Development. Siddiqui Brown Rum is distinctive and some people may enjoy this profile. However, I would expect this to be largely people not to familiar with rum.