MARIENBURG 81 RUM

An intriguing rum from the small South American nation of Suriname. This incredibly powerful 81% ABV rum is produced by a company called Suriname Alcoholic Beverages, or SAB, which was first founded in 1966. Yet the history of this rum goes back a long way further. Mariënburg, from which the rum takes its name, was a sugar factory founded in 1882 by a Dutch company called the Netherlands Trading Society (during their ownership they built the first railway in Suriname at the plantation). The land for the venture came from the Marienburg plantation, first established in 1745 by Maria de la Jaille, the wife of David de Hoy, another plantation owner in Suriname. Ownership changed many times in the 19th century, and for a time it was a coffee farm. The plantation became famous for a strike by the workers due to low wages, during which the army opened fire on the workers, killing 17. The plantation permanently closed in 1986 and the rusting buildings became a tourist attraction.

This rum is actually produced in Paramaribo, the nation’s capital, where SAB is based. The bottling is an extraordinarily powerful white rum, with intense powdered sugar flavours, a slight floral note and heat. We would not advise drinking this neat, instead this rum should be used to mix up Tiki cocktails and add a little strength to punches. An excellent value option for those looking for an overproof addition to their bar.