The revival of Indonesian rum is here
If there’s one drink that made its revival last year, it’s rum. And if you ask me, it’s a classic case of ‘it was about time’. Because white rum, dark rum, neat or in a cocktail, rum can do it all. And that trend is set to continue for a while, as recently a new white rum from Indonesia (Batavia Arrack) by By the Dutch was also launched.
More expensive than cognac
Indonesian Batavia Arrack rum has been around for a very long time; it is one of the oldest distillates in the world, with a rich Dutch history. Around 1700, it was even the most expensive (distilled) drink on the menu, twice the price of cognac. At the time, all Batavia Arrack was imported into the Netherlands, blended, aged and exported to other countries.
The recently launched white Batavia Arrack from Indonesia stands out, among other things, because of its higher alcohol content and the short period of wood ageing, to which it owes its light colour. It is a wonderful rum for cocktails.
Devilishly delicious daiquiri
For example, make a daiquiri with it, the cocktail classic made with white rum, sugar syrup and lime juice. Wonderfully fresh and tart, and super easy to make at home. Besides the ingredients below, the only things you need are a shaker and a strainer.
Here’s what you need (for 1 cocktail):
60 ml By the Dutch White Batavia Arrack
30 ml fresh lime juice
30 ml sugar syrup
a round lime slice for garnish
Here’s how to make it:
Put all the ingredients in a shaker. Shake vigorously. Double-strain into a coupe and garnish with a slice of lime. (When double-straining, in addition to a strainer—the tool you place on the open part of your shaker to prevent ice from being poured out when serving your cocktail—you also use a fine-mesh sieve when pouring).
Neat, if you dare
Rum is made from the leftovers of sugar cane, such as sugar-cane juice or molasses. This is diluted with water, then fermented and distilled. According to the EU, the distillate, which contains 96% alcohol, may be diluted to 37.5% alcohol, but not lower. The white Indonesian rum contains 48% alcohol. If you dare, it’s also delicious to sip it just like that, neat.
Starting next month, better liquor stores throughout the country will stock By the Dutch White Batavia Arrack. Already curious about an Indonesian rum cocktail? Order one at The Flying Dutchmen, Door74 and Feijoa in Amsterdam, or at Syndicaat and Barlow in The Hague.
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