Michael Protzman, a demolition expert from Washington state, has been largely leading the cult via his Telegram channel in 2021, using a bastardized version of Jewish numerology, gematria, to predict world events. In November of that year, Protzman claimed that the deceased son of the late president would reveal himself to be alive, having fought a secret war against the sex cabal currently running the country’s government from the shadows. JFK, Jr. was supposed to reappear at the spot his father was shot and declare Donald Trump president once more. That obviously didn’t happen, and when Protzman died from injuries sustained from a dirt bike accident in June of 2023, the family and friends of members of his cult hoped the group would disband and their loved ones would come home.
Instead, a pre-teen girl whom Protzman named his protege when he was still alive has taken up his mantle.
“Tiny Teflon” was named as an administrator to Protzman’s Telegram account months before his death but she rarely posted and only appeared in videos with Protzman where the two would use gematria to make wild predictions using everything from Smurf movies to Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2. Following Protzman’s death, the young girl has stepped in, hosting live chats on his channel and broadcasting her “decodes” to his tens of thousands of followers.
“It’s worrying to see this young girl be put on a pedestal by a bunch of adults after the passing of Protzman,” a researcher who goes by the alias Karma and has been closely monitoring the group told VICE.
Tiny Teflon has already stated her intention to recruit more children into the cult saying, “I definitely think I’m gonna have more kids involved in this. I definitely want to help out with kids and teaching gematria, it’d be so much fun. Maybe they could share more code, because I don’t want to be talking the entire time when I do this show in the future. So I’ll definitely think of having kids share codes and teach what they know too.”
Karma says platforming the young girl, and using her to indoctrinate children into the group, is a worrying new development they intend to pay even more attention to. “I believe it’s too early to see where she will fit into the group dynamics right now, it’s definitely something I will be keeping a close eye on,” they told VICE. “For a group who have claimed to be all about ‘saving the children’ using a child to push your own beliefs is disgusting and disturbing.”
Michael Protzman, a demolition expert from Washington state, has been largely leading the cult via his Telegram channel in 2021, using a bastardized version of Jewish numerology, gematria, to predict world events. In November of that year, Protzman claimed that the deceased son of the late president would reveal himself to be alive, having fought a secret war against the sex cabal currently running the country’s government from the shadows. JFK, Jr. was supposed to reappear at the spot his father was shot and declare Donald Trump president once more. That obviously didn’t happen, and when Protzman died from injuries sustained from a dirt bike accident in June of 2023, the family and friends of members of his cult hoped the group would disband and their loved ones would come home.
Instead, a pre-teen girl whom Protzman named his protege when he was still alive has taken up his mantle.
“Tiny Teflon” was named as an administrator to Protzman’s Telegram account months before his death but she rarely posted and only appeared in videos with Protzman where the two would use gematria to make wild predictions using everything from Smurf movies to Trump’s cameo in Home Alone 2. Following Protzman’s death, the young girl has stepped in, hosting live chats on his channel and broadcasting her “decodes” to his tens of thousands of followers.
“It’s worrying to see this young girl be put on a pedestal by a bunch of adults after the passing of Protzman,” a researcher who goes by the alias Karma and has been closely monitoring the group told VICE.
Tiny Teflon has already stated her intention to recruit more children into the cult saying, “I definitely think I’m gonna have more kids involved in this. I definitely want to help out with kids and teaching gematria, it’d be so much fun. Maybe they could share more code, because I don’t want to be talking the entire time when I do this show in the future. So I’ll definitely think of having kids share codes and teach what they know too.”
Karma says platforming the young girl, and using her to indoctrinate children into the group, is a worrying new development they intend to pay even more attention to. “I believe it’s too early to see where she will fit into the group dynamics right now, it’s definitely something I will be keeping a close eye on,” they told VICE. “For a group who have claimed to be all about ‘saving the children’ using a child to push your own beliefs is disgusting and disturbing.”
Rudy Giuliani appears to have officially gone broke for Trump. According to CNN, the former New York City mayor is drowning in legal fees stemming from various lawsuits and federal investigations related to his attempts to help Donald Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Things have gotten so bad that Giuliani’s attorneys have had to beg for mercy in court, telling a judge on Monday that their client “cannot afford to pay” his mounting bills and needs an extension from the court in regard to certain pending civil cases.
“He is having financial difficulties,” Giuliani’s lawyers wrote in a filing earlier this month, adding that he hasn’t been paying his attorney fees on time. “These are a lot of bills that he’s not paying. I think this is very humbling for Mr. Giuliani.”
Those bills include nearly $90,000 in sanctions from a judge in one of his defamation cases, a $20,000 monthly fee to a data hosting site responsible for storing important records related to his federal cases, $57,000 in unpaid phone bills, $89,000 in legal bills for two Georgia election workers who had to litigate in order to clear their names after Giuliani implicated them in his “Stop the Steal” campaign and the standard attorney fees for his legal team. A team that will be even busier in the coming months after Giuliani was named in a 100-page indictment accusing Trump and his inner circle of interfering in Georgia’s state elections.
While Trump’s campaign is financing his own legal bills — and those of some of his co-conspirators — the only financial help Giuliani seems to have received from his former partner in crime came from a Trump Super PAC which footed a $300,000+ bill Giuliani owed to his data hosting company. That company now refuses to give the former mayor any more credit, and he’s so strapped for cash that he’s been forced to put his Manhattan apartment up for sale.
Rudy Giuliani appears to have officially gone broke for Trump. According to CNN, the former New York City mayor is drowning in legal fees stemming from various lawsuits and federal investigations related to his attempts to help Donald Trump overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Things have gotten so bad that Giuliani’s attorneys have had to beg for mercy in court, telling a judge on Monday that their client “cannot afford to pay” his mounting bills and needs an extension from the court in regard to certain pending civil cases.
“He is having financial difficulties,” Giuliani’s lawyers wrote in a filing earlier this month, adding that he hasn’t been paying his attorney fees on time. “These are a lot of bills that he’s not paying. I think this is very humbling for Mr. Giuliani.”
Those bills include nearly $90,000 in sanctions from a judge in one of his defamation cases, a $20,000 monthly fee to a data hosting site responsible for storing important records related to his federal cases, $57,000 in unpaid phone bills, $89,000 in legal bills for two Georgia election workers who had to litigate in order to clear their names after Giuliani implicated them in his “Stop the Steal” campaign and the standard attorney fees for his legal team. A team that will be even busier in the coming months after Giuliani was named in a 100-page indictment accusing Trump and his inner circle of interfering in Georgia’s state elections.
While Trump’s campaign is financing his own legal bills — and those of some of his co-conspirators — the only financial help Giuliani seems to have received from his former partner in crime came from a Trump Super PAC which footed a $300,000+ bill Giuliani owed to his data hosting company. That company now refuses to give the former mayor any more credit, and he’s so strapped for cash that he’s been forced to put his Manhattan apartment up for sale.
Episode three of The Last of Us is arguably the most acclaimed episode of TV to air this year. “Long, Long Time,” a.k.a. the one with Bill and Frank (things would be easier if every show used the same episode titling as Friends) is up for multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, respectively.
It’s also the episode that made Steven Spielberg reach out to showrunner Craig Mazin. “He was so complimentary about the whole show, but that episode in particular,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “It was so lovely, and I shared it with all the folks who worked on the show.”
But it’s another episode from season one that has the scene Mazin is most proud of.
“I have a certain place in my heart for a scene in the last episode that I ended up shooting because our director had gotten COVID. It’s the scene where Joel reveals to Ellie why he has that scar on his head. She says, ‘Time heals all wounds.’ And he says, ‘It wasn’t time that did it.’ I’m particularly proud of that scene because, first, it’s simple — it’s two people talking, which is my favorite.”
Mazin loves “the performance that Pedro [Pascal] and Bella [Ramsey] delivered in that moment.” To be fair, they’re great in every episode, but this scene was on “the third-to-last day of shooting, so it was the culmination of a calendar year of shooting and the culmination of the work that they had done with each other as professionals, but also as human beings.”
Episode three of The Last of Us is arguably the most acclaimed episode of TV to air this year. “Long, Long Time,” a.k.a. the one with Bill and Frank (things would be easier if every show used the same episode titling as Friends) is up for multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, respectively.
It’s also the episode that made Steven Spielberg reach out to showrunner Craig Mazin. “He was so complimentary about the whole show, but that episode in particular,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “It was so lovely, and I shared it with all the folks who worked on the show.”
But it’s another episode from season one that has the scene Mazin is most proud of.
“I have a certain place in my heart for a scene in the last episode that I ended up shooting because our director had gotten COVID. It’s the scene where Joel reveals to Ellie why he has that scar on his head. She says, ‘Time heals all wounds.’ And he says, ‘It wasn’t time that did it.’ I’m particularly proud of that scene because, first, it’s simple — it’s two people talking, which is my favorite.”
Mazin loves “the performance that Pedro [Pascal] and Bella [Ramsey] delivered in that moment.” To be fair, they’re great in every episode, but this scene was on “the third-to-last day of shooting, so it was the culmination of a calendar year of shooting and the culmination of the work that they had done with each other as professionals, but also as human beings.”
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We wouldn’t go as far as saying this week’s roundup is weaker than the last few, but Nike’s absence is definitely felt. For whatever reason Nike is saving all of its best releases until next week and without the brand’s presence our list is looking pretty light.
It’s not that much of a problem. If anything, it incentives people to pick up what the other brands are dropping, which is actually pretty dope. Maybe Nike peeked at the other brands’ launch calendars and decided to sit this one out!
Highlights from this week include a new silhouette debut from New Balance as well as a collaboration with Danish brand GANNI, a Homer Simpson adorned Stan Smith from Adidas, and a new Pollex Clog colorway from Salehe Bembury and Crocs. Let’s dive into the best sneaker drops of the week!
It’s not every week that New Balance drops a brand new silhouette so the release of the WRPD Runner deserves celebration, especially because it looks pretty damn awesome — giving big Yeezy meets dad shoe energy.
The design features highly sculpted and sleek contours that suggest motion with a mixed upper of knit, synthetic, and wool over a full-length FuelCell midsole and a large-style embroidered ’N’ logo. The colorway matches the minimal design ethos of the sneaker with a simple mix of sea salt, sandstone, and black.
Welcome to the NB family WRPD!
The New Balance WRPD Runner is out now for a retail price of $149.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
Danish womenswear brand GANNI has teamed up with New Balance for a second time for a new take on the 1906R. Featuring an all-mesh upper for ultimate breathability, this 1906R features synthetic overlays, a speckled outsole, ACTEVA LITE cushioning, and co-branded details.
The sneaker drops in two colorways, a bright yellow and black model, and an off-white edition with yellow and black accents.
The GANNI x New Balance 1906R is set to drop on August 18th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $169.99. Pick up a pair via New Balance.
The latest James Harden signature sneaker from Adidas bathes the design in a beautiful all-over Flash Aqua colorway that looks made for the summer season. Featuring a textile upper with Lightstrike cushioning and a BOOST midsole, the Harden 7 comes across as looking like a very luxurious puffer jacket, which was apparently the inspiration behind the design.
Ridiculous source of inspiration aside, we like this sneaker, it’s easily the best puffer jacket-inspired sneaker ever. The only puffer jacket-inspired sneaker, sure, but still, the best!
The Adidas Harden Vol 7 is set to drop on August 17th at 12AM PDT for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas webstore.
Here we are at our pick of the week, the Homer Simpson-adorned Stan Smith. It’s easy to love this sneaker, it takes one of Adidas’ most beloved silhouettes and combines it with one of the world’s most beloved cartoon characters, making reference to a scene that has become one of the most prominent memes — Homer receding into some bushes.
It’s a home(r) run design! The sneaker features a leather upper, leather lining, Homer branding at the tongue (in place of the Stan Smith portrait), and a fuzzy green heel tab with a fully-colored Homer graphic.
The Adidas Stan Smith Homer Simpson is set to drop on August 18th at 8:00 AM PDT for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair via the Adidas webstore.
It’s been a minute since we’ve shown some love for Reebok, but the brand is back in our rotation this week with the latest Question Mid colorway. Featuring a colorway that recalls the Blue Toe Question, this take on the iconic shoe features a full grain tumbled leather upper in sleek Core Black with a suede Vector Blue toe piece, blue accents on the heel, and an EVA midsole.
It’s sleek, flashy, and oozes luxury.
The Reebok Question Md Core Black/Vector Blue is set to drop on Thursday, August 17th at 9:00 PM PDT. Pick up a pair at Reebok.
Salehe Bembury has steadily been rolling out new Pollex Clog colorways this summer which makes sense, this sneaker (if you want to call it that) is the ultimate summer footwear. It’s waterproof, airy, light, and comfortable, seriously if you haven’t owned or worn a pair of Pollex Clogs yet and you like the whole foam footwear trend, get yourself a pair of these, they’re incredibly comfortable.
The latest colorway, dubbed “Como” takes Italy’s Lake Como as a source of inspiration, offering a dark aqueous navy blue color.
The Salehe Bembury Pollex Clog Como is set to drop on August 17th at the Beapunge webstore.
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We wouldn’t go as far as saying this week’s roundup is weaker than the last few, but Nike’s absence is definitely felt. For whatever reason Nike is saving all of its best releases until next week and without the brand’s presence our list is looking pretty light.
It’s not that much of a problem. If anything, it incentives people to pick up what the other brands are dropping, which is actually pretty dope. Maybe Nike peeked at the other brands’ launch calendars and decided to sit this one out!
Highlights from this week include a new silhouette debut from New Balance as well as a collaboration with Danish brand GANNI, a Homer Simpson adorned Stan Smith from Adidas, and a new Pollex Clog colorway from Salehe Bembury and Crocs. Let’s dive into the best sneaker drops of the week!
It’s not every week that New Balance drops a brand new silhouette so the release of the WRPD Runner deserves celebration, especially because it looks pretty damn awesome — giving big Yeezy meets dad shoe energy.
The design features highly sculpted and sleek contours that suggest motion with a mixed upper of knit, synthetic, and wool over a full-length FuelCell midsole and a large-style embroidered ’N’ logo. The colorway matches the minimal design ethos of the sneaker with a simple mix of sea salt, sandstone, and black.
Welcome to the NB family WRPD!
The New Balance WRPD Runner is out now for a retail price of $149.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
Danish womenswear brand GANNI has teamed up with New Balance for a second time for a new take on the 1906R. Featuring an all-mesh upper for ultimate breathability, this 1906R features synthetic overlays, a speckled outsole, ACTEVA LITE cushioning, and co-branded details.
The sneaker drops in two colorways, a bright yellow and black model, and an off-white edition with yellow and black accents.
The GANNI x New Balance 1906R is set to drop on August 18th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $169.99. Pick up a pair via New Balance.
The latest James Harden signature sneaker from Adidas bathes the design in a beautiful all-over Flash Aqua colorway that looks made for the summer season. Featuring a textile upper with Lightstrike cushioning and a BOOST midsole, the Harden 7 comes across as looking like a very luxurious puffer jacket, which was apparently the inspiration behind the design.
Ridiculous source of inspiration aside, we like this sneaker, it’s easily the best puffer jacket-inspired sneaker ever. The only puffer jacket-inspired sneaker, sure, but still, the best!
The Adidas Harden Vol 7 is set to drop on August 17th at 12AM PDT for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas webstore.
Here we are at our pick of the week, the Homer Simpson-adorned Stan Smith. It’s easy to love this sneaker, it takes one of Adidas’ most beloved silhouettes and combines it with one of the world’s most beloved cartoon characters, making reference to a scene that has become one of the most prominent memes — Homer receding into some bushes.
It’s a home(r) run design! The sneaker features a leather upper, leather lining, Homer branding at the tongue (in place of the Stan Smith portrait), and a fuzzy green heel tab with a fully-colored Homer graphic.
The Adidas Stan Smith Homer Simpson is set to drop on August 18th at 8:00 AM PDT for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair via the Adidas webstore.
It’s been a minute since we’ve shown some love for Reebok, but the brand is back in our rotation this week with the latest Question Mid colorway. Featuring a colorway that recalls the Blue Toe Question, this take on the iconic shoe features a full grain tumbled leather upper in sleek Core Black with a suede Vector Blue toe piece, blue accents on the heel, and an EVA midsole.
It’s sleek, flashy, and oozes luxury.
The Reebok Question Md Core Black/Vector Blue is set to drop on Thursday, August 17th at 9:00 PM PDT. Pick up a pair at Reebok.
Salehe Bembury has steadily been rolling out new Pollex Clog colorways this summer which makes sense, this sneaker (if you want to call it that) is the ultimate summer footwear. It’s waterproof, airy, light, and comfortable, seriously if you haven’t owned or worn a pair of Pollex Clogs yet and you like the whole foam footwear trend, get yourself a pair of these, they’re incredibly comfortable.
The latest colorway, dubbed “Como” takes Italy’s Lake Como as a source of inspiration, offering a dark aqueous navy blue color.
The Salehe Bembury Pollex Clog Como is set to drop on August 17th at the Beapunge webstore.
There’s a common misconception with white rum that the popular sugarcane-based spirit is un-aged and goes from the still directly into the bottle. While this is sometimes true, it’s not a guarantee. Many white rums are matured between one and two years with a few matured even longer.
Regardless of its age, there are countless bargain white rums on the market. While some lower quality rums more resemble rubbing alcohol than drinkable alcohol, there are a surprising number of mixable and (sometimes) sippable, value rums on the market. A well-made white rum might have flavors like coconut, tropical fruits, vanilla, banana, gentle spices, and even sugarcane itself. All with a gentle, warm, dry finish.
The best part? There are many white rums that fit this criterion for less than $25.
To prove it, I once again turned to the tried and true blind taste test. I picked eight bargain-priced white rums and nosed, tasted, and ranked each based on the total flavor profile, balance, and drinkability. Keep scrolling to see how everything turned out.
Today’s Rums:
Havana Club Anejo Blanco
Captain Morgan White Rum
The Real McCoy Three Year
Bayou White Rum
George Ocean White Rum
Don Q Cristal Rum
Wray & Nephew White
Bacardi Superior
Part 1: White Rums Under $25 Blind Tasting
Taste 1
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla, dried fruits, toffee, and light spices are notable on the nose. The palate has a lot of vanilla, banana, and some fruits. It has a decent palate and a good amount of warming heat at the finish.
Not the most exciting rum, but not the least either.
Taste 2
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose has some vanilla and fruit, but not much else. The palate has a little more tropical fruit, but it’s very muted. Overall, there aren’t many discernable flavors as it has a lot of mineral flavors and almost harsh heat.
Definitely not a rum I’d prefer to drink neat ever again.
Taste 3
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of vanilla beans, pineapple, butterscotch, and floral notes make for an inviting nose. On the palate, you’ll find hints of toffee, vanilla, caramelized pineapple, and light spices.
The finish is dry, warming, and leaves you wanting more.
Taste 4
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose is very sweet with a ton of vanilla and tropical fruit scents. Sipping it reveals that it’s a bit of a one (or two) trick pony. There’s more Vanilla, pineapple, and not much else. Fairly one-dimensional and unexciting. The ending is also fairly harsh with the burn.
Taste 5
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
This rum smells more like vodka than rum. There are light aromas of coconut and vanilla. Otherwise, the nose is pretty boring and unexciting. The palate continues this trend. There are some light spices, more vanilla, and tropical fruit. Overall, any notable flavors are squashed by the uncomfortable heat at the finish.
Taste 6
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose is filled with vanilla, light spices, grass, and floral aromas. Drinking it reveals notes of toasted vanilla beans, light smoke, pepper, caramel, chocolate, and Cinnamon. The finish is warming, dry, and gently spicy.
Overall, a surprisingly complex white rum.
Taste 7
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
There’s a lot of booze on the nose. But there are still notes of molasses cookies, banana, coconut, and vanilla. The palate is very hot, but still has flavors like pineapple, coconut, vanilla, bananas, molasses, and spices. It ends even more warming. This is a complex rum that’s a great choice for the base of your favorite mixed drink. The only downfall is the massive, burning heat throughout.
Taste 8
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
A lot is going on with this rum’s nose. There are a ton of tropical fruit, vanilla, and floral notes. The palate continues this trend with notes of ripe berries, vanilla, pineapple, banana, and gentle spices. The finish is long, sweet, and warm. It’s definitely a rum that will bring your mixed drinks to new dimensions.
There are very few names in the rum world more famous than Bacardi. Its Bacardi Superior is one of the best bargains. First released in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó introduced, this favorite of bartenders is known for its fruity, mixable flavor profile.
Bottom Line:
Bacardi Superior is a rum made for mixing. I strongly suggest that’s the only thing you use it for. Sipping it neat isn’t a great idea.
We all know Captain Morgan, the rum is adorned with an elegantly-dressed pirate with his one leg resting on a treasure chest. Its white rum is known for its crisp, clean flavor profile. It’s not meant to be a full-flavored sipping rum. It’s supposed to be mixed with.
Bottom Line:
Not surprisingly, Captain Morgan White Rum doesn’t rate well plain. It’s not the kind of bottle you’d see in a store and want to pick up to sip so… why would you? Buy it for mixing or don’t buy it at all.
This white rum from the West Indies is a great value rum. It’s known for its clean, crisp, mellow, sweet flavor profile. It’s not overly complex, but it’s balanced and perfect for mixing.
Bottom Line:
This is the kind of very cheap white rum that you buy exclusively for mixing. It’s not an abrasively harsh rum, just not one you’d want to taste on its own.
While many of the rums selected for this blind taste test are 80 proof, Wray & Nephew clocks in at a ridiculous 126 proof. This high-proof rum is known for its complex palate that stands up well in the most flavorful cocktails. It’s definitely not known as a sipping rum though.
Bottom Line:
For such a high-proof rum, it was surprising to find so many aromas and flavors. Still, this rum should be mixed exclusively because of its high alcohol content. It’s pretty harsh.
You might not think of the US when you think of rum, but Bayou Rum was made in Louisiana. Made with locally grown and sourced sugarcane, this pot still distilled rum rested for as long as forty days. This creates a clean, smooth, very mixable spirit.
Bottom Line:
This white rum from Bayou Rum is surprisingly complex and flavorful. It’s not the most exciting rum in the world, but one that hits the mark for less than $25.
Produced at Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, The Real McCoy Three Year is named for prohibition-era rum runner Bill McCoy. It’s matured for three years and then filtered through charcoal to remove the color. It doesn’t remove any of the flavor imparted by the wood though.
Bottom Line:
As white rums go, The Real McCoy Three Year is not only a great mixing rum, but also a great sipper as well. It’s complex and balanced enough to enjoy on the rocks on a cool evening.
This clean, clear, flavorful rum was matured between one and a half and five years in American oak barrels. It’s then filtered through charcoal to remove the color. This doesn’t remove any of the smooth, easy-drinking flavor though. It’s sweet, fruity, and memorable.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a bargain rum to always have on hand for mixing, you can do much worse than Don Q Cristal Rum. It was cheaper than it has any right to be.
It might be confusing since there are two different Havana Club rum brands. This version is made in Puerto Rico and “aged in exile” using the original recipe from 1934. It’s double-aged to create a mellow, sippable, mixable white rum. First for one year in oak before it’s blended and filtered and then aged for two more months.
Bottom Line:
While this isn’t an ideal sipping rum. That’s not the point of this exercise. It has the flavors that make it a decent sipper and it shines as a mixing rum.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
It’s clear from this blind taste test that, when it comes to sipping white rum mellow is key. While I enjoyed rums with complex, balanced flavor profiles, the rums that fared poorly were harsh and had too much heat. Rums that were smooth, warming, but not too aggressively hot won the day.
There’s a common misconception with white rum that the popular sugarcane-based spirit is un-aged and goes from the still directly into the bottle. While this is sometimes true, it’s not a guarantee. Many white rums are matured between one and two years with a few matured even longer.
Regardless of its age, there are countless bargain white rums on the market. While some lower quality rums more resemble rubbing alcohol than drinkable alcohol, there are a surprising number of mixable and (sometimes) sippable, value rums on the market. A well-made white rum might have flavors like coconut, tropical fruits, vanilla, banana, gentle spices, and even sugarcane itself. All with a gentle, warm, dry finish.
The best part? There are many white rums that fit this criterion for less than $25.
To prove it, I once again turned to the tried and true blind taste test. I picked eight bargain-priced white rums and nosed, tasted, and ranked each based on the total flavor profile, balance, and drinkability. Keep scrolling to see how everything turned out.
Today’s Rums:
Havana Club Anejo Blanco
Captain Morgan White Rum
The Real McCoy Three Year
Bayou White Rum
George Ocean White Rum
Don Q Cristal Rum
Wray & Nephew White
Bacardi Superior
Part 1: White Rums Under $25 Blind Tasting
Taste 1
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
Vanilla, dried fruits, toffee, and light spices are notable on the nose. The palate has a lot of vanilla, banana, and some fruits. It has a decent palate and a good amount of warming heat at the finish.
Not the most exciting rum, but not the least either.
Taste 2
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose has some vanilla and fruit, but not much else. The palate has a little more tropical fruit, but it’s very muted. Overall, there aren’t many discernable flavors as it has a lot of mineral flavors and almost harsh heat.
Definitely not a rum I’d prefer to drink neat ever again.
Taste 3
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
Complex aromas of vanilla beans, pineapple, butterscotch, and floral notes make for an inviting nose. On the palate, you’ll find hints of toffee, vanilla, caramelized pineapple, and light spices.
The finish is dry, warming, and leaves you wanting more.
Taste 4
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose is very sweet with a ton of vanilla and tropical fruit scents. Sipping it reveals that it’s a bit of a one (or two) trick pony. There’s more Vanilla, pineapple, and not much else. Fairly one-dimensional and unexciting. The ending is also fairly harsh with the burn.
Taste 5
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
This rum smells more like vodka than rum. There are light aromas of coconut and vanilla. Otherwise, the nose is pretty boring and unexciting. The palate continues this trend. There are some light spices, more vanilla, and tropical fruit. Overall, any notable flavors are squashed by the uncomfortable heat at the finish.
Taste 6
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
The nose is filled with vanilla, light spices, grass, and floral aromas. Drinking it reveals notes of toasted vanilla beans, light smoke, pepper, caramel, chocolate, and Cinnamon. The finish is warming, dry, and gently spicy.
Overall, a surprisingly complex white rum.
Taste 7
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
There’s a lot of booze on the nose. But there are still notes of molasses cookies, banana, coconut, and vanilla. The palate is very hot, but still has flavors like pineapple, coconut, vanilla, bananas, molasses, and spices. It ends even more warming. This is a complex rum that’s a great choice for the base of your favorite mixed drink. The only downfall is the massive, burning heat throughout.
Taste 8
Christopher Osburn
Tasting Notes:
A lot is going on with this rum’s nose. There are a ton of tropical fruit, vanilla, and floral notes. The palate continues this trend with notes of ripe berries, vanilla, pineapple, banana, and gentle spices. The finish is long, sweet, and warm. It’s definitely a rum that will bring your mixed drinks to new dimensions.
There are very few names in the rum world more famous than Bacardi. Its Bacardi Superior is one of the best bargains. First released in 1862 by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó introduced, this favorite of bartenders is known for its fruity, mixable flavor profile.
Bottom Line:
Bacardi Superior is a rum made for mixing. I strongly suggest that’s the only thing you use it for. Sipping it neat isn’t a great idea.
We all know Captain Morgan, the rum is adorned with an elegantly-dressed pirate with his one leg resting on a treasure chest. Its white rum is known for its crisp, clean flavor profile. It’s not meant to be a full-flavored sipping rum. It’s supposed to be mixed with.
Bottom Line:
Not surprisingly, Captain Morgan White Rum doesn’t rate well plain. It’s not the kind of bottle you’d see in a store and want to pick up to sip so… why would you? Buy it for mixing or don’t buy it at all.
This white rum from the West Indies is a great value rum. It’s known for its clean, crisp, mellow, sweet flavor profile. It’s not overly complex, but it’s balanced and perfect for mixing.
Bottom Line:
This is the kind of very cheap white rum that you buy exclusively for mixing. It’s not an abrasively harsh rum, just not one you’d want to taste on its own.
While many of the rums selected for this blind taste test are 80 proof, Wray & Nephew clocks in at a ridiculous 126 proof. This high-proof rum is known for its complex palate that stands up well in the most flavorful cocktails. It’s definitely not known as a sipping rum though.
Bottom Line:
For such a high-proof rum, it was surprising to find so many aromas and flavors. Still, this rum should be mixed exclusively because of its high alcohol content. It’s pretty harsh.
You might not think of the US when you think of rum, but Bayou Rum was made in Louisiana. Made with locally grown and sourced sugarcane, this pot still distilled rum rested for as long as forty days. This creates a clean, smooth, very mixable spirit.
Bottom Line:
This white rum from Bayou Rum is surprisingly complex and flavorful. It’s not the most exciting rum in the world, but one that hits the mark for less than $25.
Produced at Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, The Real McCoy Three Year is named for prohibition-era rum runner Bill McCoy. It’s matured for three years and then filtered through charcoal to remove the color. It doesn’t remove any of the flavor imparted by the wood though.
Bottom Line:
As white rums go, The Real McCoy Three Year is not only a great mixing rum, but also a great sipper as well. It’s complex and balanced enough to enjoy on the rocks on a cool evening.
This clean, clear, flavorful rum was matured between one and a half and five years in American oak barrels. It’s then filtered through charcoal to remove the color. This doesn’t remove any of the smooth, easy-drinking flavor though. It’s sweet, fruity, and memorable.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a bargain rum to always have on hand for mixing, you can do much worse than Don Q Cristal Rum. It was cheaper than it has any right to be.
It might be confusing since there are two different Havana Club rum brands. This version is made in Puerto Rico and “aged in exile” using the original recipe from 1934. It’s double-aged to create a mellow, sippable, mixable white rum. First for one year in oak before it’s blended and filtered and then aged for two more months.
Bottom Line:
While this isn’t an ideal sipping rum. That’s not the point of this exercise. It has the flavors that make it a decent sipper and it shines as a mixing rum.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
It’s clear from this blind taste test that, when it comes to sipping white rum mellow is key. While I enjoyed rums with complex, balanced flavor profiles, the rums that fared poorly were harsh and had too much heat. Rums that were smooth, warming, but not too aggressively hot won the day.
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