Deep in the rolling hills of Scotland, a revolutionary idea was born between two brothers, Jim and John Ewen. What if they could create a high-quality rum, not in the tropical islands of the Caribbean, but right here in Scotland? With a firm determination to challenge the norm and a relentless pursuit of perfection, the Ewen brothers set out on a daring journey to establish Scotland's first rum distillery in 2015.
Located in Banchory, their purpose-built distillery is a testament to their unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. Every step of the process is done by hand, using only the freshest ingredients to ensure the highest quality product. What sets Dark Matter Distillers apart from the rest is their unique recipe, void of the common ingredient, vanilla. Instead, they focus on creating a serious and brooding rum, perfect for those days when you need a comforting warmth to envelop you.
The secret to Dark Matter's exceptional taste lies in their use of the highest purity, refiner's grade molasses, a rarity in the rum distillation world. Their custom-made pot/column hybrid still, crafted by the renowned John Dore & Co, produces a pure and refined spirit. But the Ewen brothers don't stop there. They add a twist to the traditional 'sour mashing' technique, incorporating spent ale into the molasses at the beginning of distillation, adding yet another layer of complexity to their spirit.
After distillation, the spirit goes through a week-long infusion process, where a blend of fresh ginger, green peppercorns, hand-crushed allspice berries, and Indian long pepper are added. To achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, they add 60 g/l of refiner's grade molasses, which also imparts the deep, rich color to the rum. Dark Matter Distillers' spiced rum is a truly unique experience, satisfying even the most curious of palates. Whether enjoyed on its own over ice, mixed with ginger beer or cola, or used in your favorite dark spirit cocktails, such as the classic Old Fashioned, Dark Matter is sure to impress.
