I recently had the opportunity to meet Steve Jefferson, the founder and CEO of Kuleana Rum Works, on the Big Island of Hawaii. In fact, I've been a fan of Kuleana Rum for a while now, and we even have a bottle at home. Traditionally, rum is made from sugarcane juice, but nowadays, it is more commonly made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining. Last year, Kuleana's aged rum was named one of the world's best rums by The Beverage Tasting Institute and was also featured in Forbes magazine. It's exciting to see a local business gaining international attention!
(with Steve, Kuleana Rum Works and Chiaki, Islander Sake Brewery)
Founded in 2013 on the Big Island, Kuleana is dedicated to honoring Hawaiian culture while producing world-class rum. They use only the finest ingredients, with no added sweeteners, flavors, or colors.
When Steve invited me to visit the distillery, I took the opportunity to taste the rum firsthand, and the attention to quality is genuine. Kuleana values the Hawaiian land (ʻāina) and culture, and they use fresh sugarcane juice to make their rum. Most rums are made from molasses, but rum made from sugarcane juice is known as rum agricole, and it is highly prized. At Kuleana, they craft this agricole rum and blend it to create their unique offerings.
I'm also happy to share that I've made a small investment in the company, and I'm thrilled to be part of such an amazing endeavor.
If you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting the Rum Shack Restaurant at Waikoloa Queens' Market. The food is great, so even if you're not a drinker, you'll enjoy it. They also offer rum tasting flights, including agricole rum, so definitely give it a try!
In other exciting news, it looks like Kuleana Rum will be collaborating with Islander Sake. Here are the latest happenings at Isander Sake Brewery.
Stay tuned for more details later this year!