Siddiqui Brown Rum, 40 percent ABV, 70 cl

Product Information

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. So in the absence of any other information I may as well reach for my glass and see if this does live up to the “hype”. 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. To me, it's "a hint of home, with some much more mature (and less lighter-fluid-esque), refined, spiced-rum-like flavours". It's a flavoured white or gold rum. Nothing Whiskey about it imho. Also, it doesn't reflect the few genuine brown siddiquis I've had (which, being honest, were horrible) The much respected and highly popular Simon Roffe is Penderyn Distillery’s new Director of Business Development.

I sometimes wonder how influential Siddiqui has been over the last half century,’ says brand owner Nigel Brown, who is about to oversee the global launch of the spirit drinks.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. 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’s certainly distinctive and unusual. I wouldn’t nose this and think “oh its a bit like whisky” its more like a Smoked 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.”

Siddiqui Rums From Penderyn Distillery

Siddiqui is inspired by the moonshine produced by Texan and Californian oil workers during their time in Saudi Arabia. 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. Most recently, he played a key role in launching Halewood’s travel retail business and was instrumental in the rise of Whitley Neill Gin. 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.”

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 new Siddiqui rums, both brown and white, are being produced by Penderyn Distillery in Wales, but are said to have been inspired by the original illicit recipes from the ‘Blue Flame’ instruction book that circulated amongst the oil industry workforce. Nigel Brown of Arabia, one of the entrepreneurs behind the Siddiqui brand 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. The hydrometer bobbed just below 40% at 39% so there is perhaps something “added” to this rum, though to be fair not a lot.The new Siddiqui rums, both brown and white, are being produced more openly by Penderyn Distillery in Wales, but are said to have been inspired by the original illicit recipes from the ‘Blue Flame’ instruction book that circulated amongst the oil industry workforce.