5 Minutes of Rum Kevin Upthegrove

5 Minutes of Rum was my crash course as a tiki enthusiast and amateur mixologist Listening to Kevin is like discussing rum and cocktails with a buddy; talking about rum types, substitutions, recipes, etc… without going to the expense of trying rum, one at a time.

This podcast is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in learning more about rum—both for mixing as well as sipping. Mr. Upthegrove is straightforward, humble (almost to a fault), and well-versed in all things rum and Tiki. He drills in the basics of tropical drink-making (fresh citrus only!), but also covers the finer points, such as the differences between El Dorado 5, 8, 12, 15, and 21. Each episode usually covers a style of rum, a standout in that style, a cocktail featuring that rum, and perhaps one extra ingredient of the cocktail, and how to procure or make it. The show notes, available on the website, are very thorough, demonstrating that this guy goes the extra mile for his listeners :).

And now that the podcast has been around for a while, it serves as a great reference point for anyone seeking information on a specific stylle or brand of rum. I've enjoyed going through the edisodes in order, sampling along with Kevin if I have the same rums or cocktail ingredients.

My only complaints are very minor ones. Mr. Upthegrove occasionally miscommunicates the ages of certain rums, usually due to a misunderstanding of labels (Appleton V/X) and regulations (eg interpreting average age as minimum age); age statements are super confusing, and rum companies are usually little help, but a little extra research couldn't hurt. He also struggles with pronunciation of French and Spanish rum vocabulary (again, no biggie). And in general, it often takes him some time to make a point. I have no problem with the length of the podcast, but do feel the presentation could be tighter.

All in all, this podcast is highly recommended, and I hope to run into Mr. Upthegrove someday! Thanks for all your hard work.

Mr. Upthegrove is a man of few words, he appears to speak from the heart about the wonderful spirit known as rum, his podcasts are on point and will leave you wanting more. To paraphrase an ad campaign from the past, “try to listen to just one.”

If you want to learn more about rums, tiki, and a fair dose of cocktail history, you will not be disappointed!