Dead Man’s Fingers Hemp Rum Review
This is the second CBD-infused rum to come my way in the last few weeks. What’s going on?
Well, there is a bit of a thing with CBD happening in the drinks world. I’ve a CBD-infused gin sitting on the shelves waiting to be tasted too.
What is CBD?
I’ll repeat what I said in my previous review, of a spiced rum infused with CBD:
CBD is the abbreviated name for cannabidiol, which is a chemical found in the cannabis plant. It can be extracted and turned in to an oil, and is believed to have medicinal properties. You can find out more about CBD and its possible effects on the body here.
So there. You’re not getting a drink with cannabis in it, otherwise it wouldn’t be on sale in supermarkets up and down the UK. So what are you getting?
Dead Man’s Fingers
Dead Man’s Fingers is the brand name of spirits being produced by the Rum and Crab Shack in St Ives, in Cornwall, England. I’ve previously reviewed their Spiced Rum, which was delicious, and their other spirits include a coffee rum and a coconut rum. If you’re a fan of rum, the Rum and Crab Shack is a great place to know about as they have an impressive list of rums from all over the world, including such places as Guyana, Venezuela, Jamaica, Cuba, and the Canary Islands.
Dead Man’s Fingers Hemp Rum Review
The hemp rum comes in a similar chunky and solid bottle to their other spirits, with a skull very prominent in the design, though this time the bottle is purple. The rum, by the way, is the standard 40% ABV.
Fun Fact
Pirates in the Caribbean, or anywhere else for that matter, never said “Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” That’s a phrase which was invented by the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson in his pirate adventure book, Treasure Island.
When I get a drink like this, I do worry that it’s being sold on its novelty value so tend to be more critical. I needn’t have worried here. The nose is quite sophisticated. There is that distinctive hemp aroma, not strong, but it’s there. It’s like when you walk along the street and you get that unmistakable smell – hello, who’s been smoking? There are floral elements too, with citrus and chocolaty-caramel notes as well.
On the palate it’s really interesting. The floral elements definitely stand out, reminding me of a perfume my grandmother used to like: violets. The CBD flavour also stands out, not that this will get you high, and there’s nothing illegal in there, but it’s a very strong element of the taste. It’s a bizarre combination, cannabis and violets, but that’s what comes through for me and it’s very enjoyable.
I’ve only tried it neat, but I can see it livening up even a simple Rum and Coke, and on the Dead Man’s Fingers website you’ll find some cocktail suggestions, like a Dead Mule, which is basically a Moscow Mule but using this hemp rum as the base spirit.
You’ll either love it or think – meh. It’s OK. But if you like it, you’ll really like it, and at only £22 for a 70cl bottle in the UK, it won’t cost much to find out if you do or you don’t. It would also make a good novelty present for someone.
More Information
You can find out more on the Dead Man’s Fingers website – which is a pretty cool website, so do take a look. You can also buy the rum there, or if you’re in the UK pop along to your nearest Sainsbury’s or ASDA as Dead Man’s Fingers Hemp Rum is the first alcoholic CBD infusion to be stocked by either of them, at a recommended price of £22. You can also buy it with international shipping at Master of Malt.