Hello, you SLY DOGs. If you're reading this, you're probably wondering what's going on in that shifty black bottle of ours. Spoiler alert: you're not about to read our top-secret recipe. In fact, our recipe is so ferociously guarded, only our founders and manufacturers know what it is. Sorry about that.

What we will be taking you through is a little bit about our spiced rum, what it tastes like and how we like to drink it (including some very devious cocktails). And for rum newbies, there's a rundown on what spiced rum actually is. Let's get into it.

What is SLY DOG rum?

SLY DOG Spiced Rum is crafted from a blend of premium Caribbean rums, with a complex kick from our top-secret tropical spice blend. Unlike many spiced rums, we only use 100% natural ingredients of the highest quality. Compared to artificial spice, the difference in flavour is like night and day.

We responsibly source our rums from amazing distilleries in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. These top-quality spirits are what give our rum its exceptional warm smoothness. Add that to our exotic spice blend, and it's an unrivalled combination.

Most people aren't too familiar with the notion of a premium spiced rum. Our founders (brothers Louis and Bruce) were pretty unsatisfied drinking the same few 'seafaring' spiced rum brands. Not only was there little variety, these brands failed to showcase what spiced rum could really offer. So the brothers decided to develop their own.

What does SLY DOG taste like?

To make their dream spiced rum, Louis and Bruce had some help. They got hold of some of the UK's leading rum and flavour experts, and collaborated with them to develop an unrivalled recipe. They carefully selected each top-notch Caribbean rum distillery, and the spices that would make the blend sing.

The result? A rum full of complex character, with an exceptionally smooth delivery. You'll notice notes of tropical fruit, salted caramel and a unique parade of exotic spices, all working in perfect harmony.

SLY DOG is softly sweet, but not too sweet. It's artfully spiced, but not overpowering. Basically, it's the best Caribbean spiced rum we've ever tasted - and we've won a few awards to show that it's not just us.

A quick guide to rum types

If you're not clued up on the world of rum, the different varieties can be a little confusing. First up, rum is made of fermented and distilled sugar cane. It's not inherently sweet, but it can evoke the taste of sugar, caramel or molasses, depending on how it's made.

Here's a quick guide to dark, white, gold and spiced rums:

• Dark rum is usually made of caramelised sugar or molasses. It's aged in wooden barrels, which are often made of oak, and sometimes charred for an even stronger flavour. Dark rum is deep brown in colour, and has the strongest flavour of all rums.
• White rum, also known as light or silver rum, is clear and colourless. These rums have very little flavour aside from a general sweetness, which is why they're favoured for light cocktails such as mojitos and piña coladas.
• Golden rum, also known as amber rum, is somewhere in between - it's medium-bodied and generally aged in ex bourbon barrels. Gold rum is more flavourful than white rum, but not as strongly-flavoured as dark rum.
• Spiced rum, like our SLY DOG, is usually golden rum based. Through the addition of various spices (and sometimes caramel) and the ageing process, spiced rums can take on a huge range of flavours. An oak barrel spiced rum will have depth, whilst the spicy flavour can range from fiery and complex to a sweet, rich spiced rum.

Is spiced rum better than other types of rum? Well, it's all down to personal preference. Some people prefer the simplicity of white rum or the depth of dark rum. But honestly, we think tropical spices help bring out the best in this warming spirit. And it also helps that spiced rum production is just that extra bit more interesting...

Reasons why you should give SLY DOG rum a try

If we haven't already conveyed to you the sly deliciousness of our rum, here's a few more reasons why we think you should give it a shot.

Firstly, it's not just us blowing our own trumpet. We won gold in the 2022 World Rum Awards' Traditional Spiced Rum category. The year before that, we won silver at the London Spirits Competition, just a few months after we'd started trading.

Secondly, trying our premium rum doesn't have to break the bank. Our 20 cl size bottle comes in at just £15 - the best spiced rum under £20 you could ask for. It's the perfect introduction to test spiced rum for yourself.

And finally, if you don't yet see yourself as a rum drinker, it's likely you've just not had good quality tipple before. Sip a SLY DOG on the rocks, and prepare to have your mind changed.

How to drink SLY DOG

To really experience the smooth, complex flavour of SLY DOG Spiced Rum, we highly recommend serving it straight up over ice. That being said, it pairs exceptionally well with classic mixers such as cola, tonic, ginger beer and ginger ale (yes, they are different).

And once you start adding SLY DOG to your cocktails, things start getting very devious indeed. Espresso martini fans will love our SLYeye, which involves a dash of homemade Guinness syrup. For something a little more summery, blend up a SLY DOG frozen watermelon daiquiri - or our SLY-tai is the king of Tiki cocktails.

Ready to take your first foray into the best spiced rum UK has to offer? Buy SLY DOG Spiced Rum in a 70 cl, 20 cl or mini 5 cl size. For 10% off your first order, join the SLY CLUB here.

Already a fan? We've also got SLY DOG swag.

THE SLY CLUB

The place to be if you want the latest word on the street, VIP access, promo material and exclusive member discounts. Join NOW and receive 10% off the best spiced rum of your life.