The Spirit of Adventure: Why Dead Man's Fingers Rum Stands Out

If you’re looking for a rum that plays by the rules... keep walking. But if you’re into bold flavours, wild ideas, and a brand that gives tradition the finger (literally), then pull up a barstool and let us introduce you to Dead Man’s Fingers.

This is rum - but not as you know it.

Where is Dead Man’s Fingers Rum Made?

Dead Man’s Fingers was born in 2015 at the Rum & Crab Shack in the vibrant seaside town of St Ives, Cornwall. Inspired by the rebellious spirit of the coast, the team set out to create a spiced rum that broke away from the old-school, stuffy rum rules - and nailed it. The result? A fusion of Caribbean rum and Cornish soul, bursting with flavour and unapologetic attitude.

Today, the brand’s home is the Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery - a creative playground for rum lovers, cocktail enthusiasts, and anyone curious enough to try something different. Not only is this where the magic happens, but it’s also a fully-fledged bar and experience space where you can even blend your own version of Dead Man’s Fingers Spiced Rum. How’s that for hands-on?

At The Three Drinkers, we’ve always had a soft spot for Dead Man’s Fingers. Their fearless, flavour-first approach fits perfectly with our own ethos - make great drinks, don’t take yourself too seriously, and always keep things fresh. Whether we’re sipping their Vanilla rum in a variation of a Daiquiri or adding a dash of Pineapple Rum to a party punch, Dead Man’s Fingers never fails to surprise us - in the best way.

What Does Dead Man’s Fingers Rum Taste Like?

In a word? Fun. This isn’t your granddad’s dusty bottle of rum. Each expression is packed with bold, punchy flavour, designed to stand out in cocktails - or straight up over ice. From tropical fruits to rich desserts, there’s a Dead Man’s Fingers for everyone. So, without further ado, let’s get to it; here’s an introduction to some of those stunning bottles:

Spiced Rum

The icon. This is the rum that started it all - warm, smooth, and just the right amount of cheeky. With flavours of saffron cake, caramel, and orange peel, it’s a versatile base for just about any cocktail. But honestly? It’s just as satisfying sipped slowly over ice while plotting your next big adventure.

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £28

Coconut Rum

Like sunshine in a bottle, think creamy coconut, a buttery vanilla finish, and enough tropical attitude to convince you it’s summer all year-round. It’s the ultimate go-to for a Coconut Mojito, but we also love it shaken into a tropical Espresso Martini for a playful twist.

ABV: 35%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £22.75

Pineapple Rum

Grilled pineapple with a caramel glaze - that’s the flavour vibe here. This rum has a smoky-sweet edge that works wonders in tiki-style cocktails or even splashed into ginger beer for a tangy surprise. It's also a crowd favourite for brunch pitchers (yes, really).

ABV: 35%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £25

Mango Rum

Bright and bursting with exotic fruit, this rum is an instant mood booster. The mango hits first, followed by a gentle citrus zing and whisper of spice. Try it in a Mango Mojito with fresh mint and chilli or simply mix with soda and lime for something effortlessly refreshing.

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £25.75

Passionfruit Rum

A certified party starter. Tangy, tropical, and impossible not to like, this one is your wingman for fruity cocktails. It practically begs to be shaken into a Passion Star Martini or served with lemonade and a slice of orange for a fizzy afternoon lift.

ABV: 35%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £23.73

Cherry Rum

Deep, dark, and a little bit daring. With juicy cherry and a subtle tartness, this one shines in a Cherry Rum Sour or even a twist on a Negroni. It also makes a mean boozy cherry cola - perfect for a low-effort, high-impact serve.

ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: Currently £20.99 on offer

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, Dead Man’s Fingers frequently drops limited editions like Hemp and coffee. Because why play it safe when you can keep everyone guessing?

If you’re looking for a rum that dares to be different, here you have it. With a home steeped in creativity, a flavour range that covers everything from coconut to coffee, and an ethos that throws the rulebook out the window, it’s not just a drink - it’s an adventure. So, go on. Mix something wild. Give convention the finger. And let your spirit run free. Cheers to rum that doesn’t follow the rules - and tastes all the better for it.

Fancy discovering a stunning British whisky? Read more here!

Rum's The Word: 6 Quality Rums You Need To Try

Words by Colin Hampden-White

In the last few years, the world of rum has exploded. The easiest way to tell how popular rum is becoming is to look at the supermarket shelves, the independent spirits specialists, and duty-free. As with whisky, when wine no longer dominated the duty-free (travel retail) shelves, some of that space whisky took over has now been taken over by rum. In the specialist rum world, auction prices have been rising. As rare whiskies like Port Ellen and Brora from closed distilleries used to be found at retail for a couple of hundred pounds, rums like Caroni like their whisky equivalents are now reaching into the thousands.

What does all this mean for the consumer? It means more choice, and good quality at the supermarket and specialist retail end. It’s the specialist retail side of the rum market that I find the most interesting. What would be known as premium rums are great value and there are big differences in style, but the quality is really shining through. I have found a few favourites over the last couple of months and thought you might like to know about them and maybe try a few that sound like rums you’d like. Unusually for me, there is no Hampden in this list, but then I can’t really say it’s a new discovery!

Bumbu

The first offering of Bumbu was a little weaker, but now the rum is at 40% it makes a big difference. It is still extremely smooth having been aged in the Caribbean and traditional spices which would have been used in the 16th and 17th centuries. These spices give lots of tropical fruits like caramelised banana and there are touches of ginger and chocolate. Overall it is rich, smooth and has a sweet edge without being sweetened.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £35.99 // US $34.99

MacNair’s Exploration Rum Jamaica - Unpeated

The rums under the MacNair’s Exploration collection are all blended by Billy Walker of GlenAllachie fame. The un-peated Jamaican expression was distilled at Clarendon distillery in Jamaica. This pot still rum was sourced by Master Blender Billy Walker from Southern Jamaica’s Clarendon Distillery and transferred to the cool Scottish climate for full maturation at The GlenAllachie Distillery. Initially filled with a mixture of American and French oak at 86% ABV, the rum was left to mature for 30 months at high, medium and low ester levels. After being expertly blended and reduced to 69% ABV, the spirit was re-filled to similar casks to complete its maturation journey. Even with two different wood types the rum still shines through with its unmistakable fruity tropical and slightly high estery funk. This is a great introduction to the rums of Jamaica.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £44

Mezan Chiriqui Moscatel Cask

This expression from Mezan comes from Panama and is named after the Chiriqui province in western Panama. The distillery uses sugar cane from its own plantations and even its own strain of yeast for fermentation giving the rum a unique flavour. The rum is also “untouched” as they call it, meaning no sweeteners or colouring has been added. These are small batch rums so will change, coming from different distilleries or having different styles. So, if you like this one, it’s a good idea not to buy just one bottle!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £32.50

Spirited Union Queen Pineapple & Spice

This is by far the most natural flavoured pineapple rum I have come across. With the slightly lower than normal abv it is very drinkable and also makes a brilliant Daiquiri. The pineapples used, Queen Victoria pineapples, are much smaller than normal pineapples, being about the size of a large lemon. These give fresh pineapple flavours and the spices added give waves of cinnamon, and there are nutty flavours and touches of brown sugar. Rich and comforting, and very mixable.

ABV: 38%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £24.59

Appleton Estate 12 Years Old 

This isn’t exactly a new discovery for me, and I have listed it before. But if you haven’t yet discovered it, then it’s about time. One of my all-time favourites for under £40. From Jamaica, it is fruity, but it also has lots of complexity with nutty flavours and crème caramel. The spices come through on a creamy plate along with brown sugar and fresh guava. The finish is very long, and this rum is great to be sipped or mixed.

ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £42.99 // US $45.99

Caroni 1996 21 Year Old 100% Imperial Proof

For the collectors or sippers of rare, exquisite rums, this Caroni is one of the best I’ve tried. It originally came to market at a little under £200 and just a couple of years later can be found for around double that if you’re lucky, and I’ve seen it sell for £500. It was aged for 21 years in Trinidad which created a huge 86% loss of liquid to the angles. It was then shipped to France and bottled in 2017. The style of the label is a reproduction of a 1940’s classic label and was created in homage to a golden period in Trinidadian rum.

ABV: 57.18%
Size: 700ml
Find here: Find at Auction for £350 - £500 (as of August 2022)

The above rums should give every rum fan something to explore and if you are at the beginning of your rum journey, a couple to start with which should whet your appetite for further exploration are the Bumbu, and if that wasn’t a new one for you, the MacNair’s. Both are very different, but both are delicious.

Enjoyed reading this? Then how about checking out The Best Rums to Elevate Your Cocktails or why not check out The Best Rum for under £30