Rum is one of the world’s most diverse spirit categories. It can be light and delicate, dark and molasses-rich, grassy and herbaceous, intensely fruity, heavily oaked or full of aromatic pot-still character.

The 24 Days of Rum Black Edition Advent Calendar brings that diversity together in one international tasting experience.

Inside are 24 individual 2cl bottles containing rum and rum-based spirit drinks from 24 different countries. The selection moves between established producers and lesser-known discoveries, allowing a new origin, production method and flavour profile to be explored every day from 1 December through Christmas Eve.

The set is listed at 41.3% ABV and contains 48cl of spirit in total. It also includes two Spey Dram tasting glasses and two tasting-note folders, making the Black Edition particularly suitable for couples, friends or family members who want to share each daily sample.

Rather than revealing one familiar brand repeatedly, the calendar is designed as a journey through global rum. Molasses-based and fresh-cane styles, pot- and column-distilled spirits, unaged and matured expressions, dry traditional rum and sweeter rum-based drinks may all contribute to an exceptionally varied December.

24 Days of Rum Black Edition at a Glance

• Calendar: 24 Days of Rum Black Edition
• Number of samples: 24
• Sample size: 2cl each
• Total volume: 48cl
• Listed strength: 41.3% ABV
• Origins: 24 different countries
• Contents: Rum and rum-based spirit drinks
• Producer: 1423 World Class Spirits
• Glasses included: Two Spey Dram tasting glasses
• Tasting materials: Two tasting-note folders
• Bottle type: Miniatures
• Closure: Screw cap
• Packaging: Black gift presentation
• Suitable for: Beginners, enthusiasts and shared tastings

The exact daily line-up remains concealed, preserving the surprise behind each door. The calendar instead promises a broad selection chosen to demonstrate different origins, styles and production methods.

What Is Inside the 24 Days of Rum Black Edition?

The box contains:

• 24 miniature bottles of rum and rum-based spirit drinks
• 24 different countries of origin
• Two Spey Dram tasting glasses
• Two tasting-note folders

Each miniature contains 20ml, providing enough liquid for one considered tasting or two smaller shared samples.

The two glasses are an important part of the experience. They allow both drinkers to examine the same rum simultaneously rather than taking turns with one glass or using unsuitable tumblers.

The two tasting-note folders also encourage each person to record an independent opinion before comparing results.

The producer supports the calendar with daily online information during December, including details about the featured spirit and material from its producer. The online element allows each sample to be explored in greater depth after it has been tasted.

Twenty-Four Rums from Twenty-Four Countries

The international structure separates the Black Edition from a calendar focused on one brand, island or style.

Each day introduces a different country.

Rum is strongly associated with the Caribbean, but it is now produced across:

• Central America
• South America
• North America
• The Caribbean
• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• The Indian Ocean
• The Pacific

Sugar cane grows naturally in warm climates, but rum may also be matured, blended or bottled elsewhere. Different legal standards, raw materials, still designs, climate conditions and ageing traditions create significant variation between producers.

A rum from one country may be light, clean and vanilla-led. Another may be earthy and grassy. A third can be full of ripe banana, tropical fruit and fermentation character.

The Black Edition allows those differences to be experienced directly rather than explained only through general descriptions.

Why Rum Is So Diverse

Rum must originate from sugar-cane material, but that still leaves producers with an enormous number of choices.

Under the European definition, rum is produced by distilling a fermented product derived from sugar-cane molasses, sugar-cane syrup or sugar-cane juice. The spirit must retain the recognisable sensory characteristics associated with rum.

From that starting point, flavour can be shaped by:

• The raw material
• Cane variety
• Fermentation length
• Yeast
• Pot or column distillation
• Distillation strength
• Local climate
• Cask type
• Ageing location
• Blending
• Bottling strength
• Permitted sweetening or flavouring rules

Two spirits made from sugar cane can therefore taste almost completely unrelated.

This diversity makes rum particularly well suited to the advent-calendar format. Each door has the potential to introduce not just another brand, but a different approach to producing the category.

Rum and Rum-Based Spirit Drinks

The wording on the Black Edition is deliberate: the calendar contains both rum and rum-based spirit drinks.

Not every sugar-cane spirit product meets the precise legal definition required to display only the word rum.

A product may instead be described as a spirit drink when it contains flavouring, additions or other characteristics that move it outside a particular market’s formal rum standard.

That does not automatically make it inferior.

A rum-based spirit drink may be:

• Spiced
• Sweetened beyond a permitted threshold
• Flavoured with fruit
• Infused with botanicals
• Blended with other ingredients
• Designed around a softer or more confectionary profile

Including both categories gives the calendar additional range.

One day may introduce a dry, traditional aged rum. Another may deliver a richer and sweeter spirit drink with pronounced vanilla, fruit or spice.

The label on each miniature should be checked before making assumptions about its production.

Molasses-Based Rum

Much of the world’s rum is produced from molasses.

Molasses is created during sugar production after sugar-cane juice has been boiled and crystallised. The thick remaining syrup still contains fermentable sugar and can be diluted, fermented and distilled.

Molasses-based rum can display:

• Brown sugar
• Treacle
• Caramel
• Banana
• Pineapple
• Dried fruit
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Baking spice
• Roasted notes

These flavours are not guaranteed simply because molasses was used. Fermentation, distillation and maturation remain equally important.

A highly refined column-distilled molasses rum can be light and clean, while a long-fermented pot-still spirit can be intensely aromatic and fruity.

Fresh Sugar-Cane Juice Rum

Rum can also be produced directly from freshly pressed sugar-cane juice.

These spirits commonly display a brighter and more agricultural profile, including:

• Fresh cane
• Cut grass
• Herbs
• Green olive
• Citrus
• Flowers
• Pepper
• Earth
• Mineral notes

French Caribbean producers are particularly associated with rhum agricole, although sugar-cane-juice spirits are made in several other countries.

Martinique’s protected agricultural-rum system requires the spirit to be made from freshly pressed cane juice under defined regional production rules.

A cane-juice rum can provide one of the clearest contrasts within an international calendar.

Placed beside a rich molasses-based rum, the two may share very few obvious flavours despite originating from the same plant.

Sugar-Cane Syrup and Honey

Some producers work with concentrated sugar-cane syrup or sugar-cane honey.

This material sits between fresh juice and traditional molasses in production terms.

It may preserve more direct cane character than a heavily processed molasses while providing greater stability than fresh juice, which must be fermented quickly after harvesting.

Potential flavours include:

• Honeyed cane
• Soft caramel
• Fresh herbs
• Floral sweetness
• Light fruit
• Rounded sugar-cane character

The precise terminology and production rules vary between countries, making label information particularly valuable during an international tasting.

Pot-Still Rum

Pot stills operate in batches and generally preserve a substantial amount of fermentation character.

Rum produced wholly or partly in pot stills may display:

• Ripe banana
• Pineapple
• Overripe tropical fruit
• Olives
• Leather
• Herbs
• Molasses
• Spice
• Heavy texture
• Aromatic esters

Pot-still rum is not automatically old, dark or high strength.

An unaged pot-still rum may be clear in colour but exceptionally powerful in flavour.

Traditional pot distillation was once universal in rum production before continuous stills became widespread. It remains central to several of the category’s most characterful styles.

Column-Still Rum

Column stills can operate continuously and are capable of producing spirit across a wide range of strengths and flavour levels.

A highly rectified column rum may be:

• Light
• Clean
• Delicate
• Floral
• Vanilla-led
• Easy to mix

A heavier column configuration can retain considerably more character.

Column-distilled rum should therefore not automatically be dismissed as neutral or simple.

The still design, number of columns, collection point and target distillation strength all influence how much aroma and flavour remain in the final spirit.

Many producers combine pot- and column-distilled components to create a balance between weight, aromatic intensity and smoothness.

Blended Rum

Rum blending can involve much more than combining different ages.

A producer may bring together:

• Pot- and column-still rum
• Several cask types
• Different ages
• Multiple distilleries
• Several production marks
• Rum matured in different climates
• Spirits from different countries

The blender can use each component for a particular purpose.

Pot-still rum may add fruit and weight. Column spirit can bring elegance and structure. Younger rum may supply energy, while older stock introduces oak and maturity.

The best blends do not simply smooth every individual characteristic away. They create a profile in which several types of rum support one another.

Unaged Rum

Clear rum is sometimes incorrectly assumed to be neutral or lower quality.

Some unaged cane spirits are among the most intensely flavoured rums produced anywhere.

Without years in oak, the drinker can experience more of the flavour created by:

• Cane material
• Yeast
• Fermentation
• Distillation
• Still design

An unaged spirit may offer fresh cane, citrus, green herbs, olive, tropical fruit or powerful esters.

Other white rums are aged briefly before filtration removes much of their colour, producing a softer vanilla-led style.

The appearance alone does not reveal the production method.

Aged Rum

Oak maturation introduces another major range of possibilities.

Rum may be aged in casks that previously held:

• Bourbon
• American whiskey
• Cognac
• Sherry
• Port
• Wine
• Madeira
• Other rum

Ex-bourbon barrels are particularly common and can add:

• Vanilla
• Coconut
• Caramel
• Cinnamon
• Toasted oak
• Honey
• Sweet spice

Wine and fortified-wine casks can introduce fruit, nuts, tannin and greater richness.

The country of maturation also matters. Rum aged in a hot tropical climate generally interacts with oak more quickly than spirit stored in a cooler European warehouse.

A relatively young tropical rum can therefore display substantial wood influence.

Tropical and Continental Ageing

Warm maturation conditions increase interaction between rum and the cask.

Heat encourages the liquid to expand more deeply into the oak, while evaporation can be rapid.

Tropical maturation may create:

• Strong vanilla
• Dark caramel
• Toasted wood
• Concentrated fruit
• Spice
• A fuller texture

Continental ageing usually proceeds more slowly.

A cask moved to Europe may retain freshness for longer and lose spirit through evaporation at a different rate.

Neither location is inherently better.

Tropical and continental maturation simply produce different relationships between spirit, oak and time.

A calendar drawn from 24 countries can reveal both younger but oak-rich tropical styles and older, more gradually matured continental expressions.

Does Darker Rum Mean Older Rum?

No.

Colour can be influenced by:

• Cask type
• Length of maturation
• New or refill oak
• Toasting and charring
• Wine-cask finishing
• Caramel colouring
• Blending
• Filtration

A dark rum may be mature and heavily oaked, but it may also derive part of its colour from caramel or a deeply coloured finishing cask.

A pale rum can still be aged, particularly where refill barrels were used or colour was removed through filtration.

The miniature label and daily producer information provide a more reliable guide than appearance alone.

What Flavours Might Appear in the Calendar?

The exact line-up is intended to remain a surprise, so no individual bottle should be promised unless it is confirmed on the miniature itself.

Across 24 global samples, the possible flavour range may include:

Light and Fresh

• Citrus
• White flowers
• Vanilla
• Fresh cane
• Coconut water
• Green herbs

Tropical Fruit

• Banana
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Papaya
• Guava
• Passion fruit

Rich and Sweet

• Brown sugar
• Molasses
• Toffee
• Caramel
• Honey
• Maple

Dark and Mature

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Tobacco
• Leather
• Raisins
• Toasted oak

Spiced and Aromatic

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Clove
• Ginger
• Pepper
• Star anise

Agricultural and Savoury

• Cut grass
• Green olive
• Earth
• Herbs
• Brine
• Fermented fruit

The most rewarding part of the calendar may be discovering how quickly these profiles change from one country to the next.

Why the Set Includes Two Spey Dram Glasses

A suitable glass can make a substantial difference when tasting small amounts of spirit.

The Spey Dram shape concentrates aroma towards the nose, making it easier to identify delicate fruit, cane, spice and oak.

A wide tumbler is comfortable for mixed drinks but allows subtle aromas to escape more quickly.

The supplied tasting glasses make the experience ready to begin immediately and avoid the need to purchase specialist glassware separately.

Two glasses also reinforce the shared nature of the calendar.

Each 2cl sample can be divided into two 1cl tasting portions, allowing both people to:

• Nose the rum together
• Taste it at the same time
• Compare first impressions
• Discuss production clues
• Score the sample independently

The 24 Days of Rum producer specifically describes the two-glass format as ideal for sharing.

Are 2cl Samples Large Enough?

A 2cl sample contains 20ml.

For one person, this is enough for several small sips and a careful tasting.

For two people, each receives approximately 10ml. That is a small serving, but it remains sufficient to compare aroma, arrival and finish.

The calendar is designed for discovery rather than generous mixed drinks.

A larger serving would make it more difficult to include 24 countries while keeping the box practical and affordable.

The complete set contains 48cl in total, equivalent to more than two-thirds of a standard 70cl bottle.

Its value comes from receiving 24 different spirits rather than one large quantity of the same rum.

How to Taste Each Rum

A consistent routine makes comparisons easier.

Look at the Colour

Hold the glass against a light background.

Consider whether the rum is:

• Clear
• Pale gold
• Amber
• Copper
• Dark brown

Colour can provide clues but should not be used to judge age or quality.

Nose from a Distance

Start with the glass below the nose.

Rum at more than 40% ABV can produce strong alcohol vapour when approached too closely.

Look first for broad categories:

• Fresh cane
• Fruit
• Sweetness
• Spice
• Oak
• Fermentation character

Take a Small First Sip

The first sip prepares the palate.

A second taste often reveals more detail and texture.

Consider the Mouthfeel

Is the spirit:

• Light
• Creamy
• Oily
• Dry
• Syrupy
• Full-bodied

Texture can provide clues about distillation, maturation and sweetening.

Examine the Finish

Does the flavour disappear quickly, or remain for several minutes?

Does the finish become:

• Sweeter
• Drier
• Spicier
• More fruity
• More oaky
• More herbal

Add Water Carefully

A few drops can reveal additional aroma in stronger samples.

Water may soften oak and alcohol while bringing forward fruit, vanilla or fresh cane.

Blind Tasting the Black Edition

The calendar can be turned into a daily blind-tasting exercise.

Avoid reading the miniature label until after tasting.

Try to identify:

• Molasses or cane juice
• Pot or column still
• Aged or unaged
• Dry rum or sweeter spirit drink
• Tropical or continental maturation
• Dominant cask influence
• Approximate strength
• Possible region

Correctly naming the country is less important than forming an independent opinion.

Brand reputation and packaging can strongly influence expectations. Blind tasting allows the spirit to be assessed before those expectations take over.

The two tasting-note folders make this especially effective for pairs.

Each person can record their ideas separately before revealing the product and comparing conclusions.

A Simple Tasting-Note Format

Each sample can be recorded under six headings.

Country

Complete this after the reveal.

Appearance

Clear, gold, amber, copper or dark.

Nose

Record the first three aromas.

Palate

Describe sweetness, fruit, texture and spice.

Finish

Note length and the final remaining flavour.

Verdict

Use a simple five-point scale:

• 1: Not a personal favourite
• 2: Interesting but unlikely to revisit
• 3: Enjoyable
• 4: Strong full-bottle candidate
• 5: One of the calendar’s highlights

By Christmas Eve, the folders should provide a useful personal guide to future rum purchases.

Exploring Rum Without Regional Stereotypes

Rum is sometimes divided into English-, Spanish- and French-influenced styles.

These historical groupings can provide limited context, but they should not be treated as strict modern categories.

One small country may contain producers using:

• Pot stills
• Column stills
• Molasses
• Fresh cane juice
• Long fermentation
• Short fermentation
• Tropical ageing
• Unaged bottling

Production method often explains flavour more accurately than colonial language history.

The Black Edition provides a chance to assess each rum individually rather than assuming that every bottle from one region must taste the same.

The 24 Days of Rum Online Experience

The calendar continues beyond the physical box.

Throughout December, the 24 Days of Rum website releases additional information about the daily spirit and may include producer videos.

Drinkers can learn more about:

• Country of origin
• Distillery
• Raw material
• Still type
• Ageing
• Brand history
• Serving suggestions

The community element also allows participants to rate the daily sample and compare opinions with other rum enthusiasts.

This makes the calendar more educational than a simple miniature collection.

The tasting comes first, followed by information that helps explain why the rum tasted as it did.

The Story Behind 1423 World Class Spirits

The Black Edition is produced by 1423 World Class Spirits, a Danish spirits business with a strong focus on international rum.

The company’s journey began in 2008 and developed from a small enthusiast-led project into an importer, distributor and independent bottler working with spirits from numerous countries.

Its wider rum portfolio includes:

• Single Barrel Selection
• Origin Selection
• International producer brands
• Independent cask releases
• Rum tasting boxes
• 24 Days of Rum calendars

This global experience makes 1423 particularly well positioned to assemble a calendar covering 24 countries.

The company is not limited to one distillery or one national tradition. It can select samples according to flavour and educational value across a much wider international network.

Black Edition Versus the Mocha Edition

The most direct alternative is the 24 Days of Rum 2025 Mocha Edition Advent Calendar.

Both calendars share the same broad concept:

• 24 x 2cl samples
• Rum and rum-based spirit drinks
• 24 countries
• Two Spey Dram glasses
• Two tasting-note folders
• International production styles

Black Edition

• Black presentation
• Listed at 41.3% ABV
• Separate curated line-up
• Distinctive dark gift design

Mocha Edition

• Mocha-coloured presentation
• Bottled for the 2025 season
• Listed at 41% ABV
• Newer separate selection

The editions should not be treated as identical boxes in different colours.

Each offers its own curated journey, allowing established fans to explore another group of countries, brands and production styles.

Black Edition Versus the Premium Rum 12 Day Calendar

The Premium Rum 12 Day Advent Calendar provides a shorter countdown.

It contains 12 wax-sealed 3cl samples sourced from international rum producers and is listed at 41.1% ABV.

Black Edition

• 24 days
• 2cl samples
• 48cl total
• Two tasting glasses
• Two note folders
• 24 confirmed countries
• 41.3% ABV

Premium Rum 12 Day Calendar

• 12 days
• Larger 3cl samples
• 36cl total
• Wax-sealed drams
• Shorter festive tasting
• 41.1% ABV

The Black Edition is better for a complete 1–24 December countdown and shared tasting.

The Premium Rum 12 Day Calendar suits someone who prefers fewer, larger samples or wants to open one dram every other day.

Black Edition Versus the Rum 25 Day Calendar

The Rum 25 Day Advent Calendar contains 25 wax-sealed 3cl samples, extending the experience through Christmas Day.

Black Edition

• 24 x 2cl
• 48cl total
• 24 countries
• Two glasses and two note folders
• Ends on Christmas Eve

Rum 25 Day Calendar

• 25 x 3cl
• 75cl total
• Larger measures
• Includes Christmas Day
• Drinks by the Dram presentation

The 25 Day calendar provides considerably more liquid.

The Black Edition offers the stronger shared experience and explicitly guarantees one country per sample.

Black Edition Versus Dead Man’s Fingers

The Dead Man’s Fingers 24 Day Rum Advent Calendar contains 24 full 5cl miniatures of flavoured and spiced rum at 37.5% ABV.

Black Edition

• 24 international countries
• Several producers and styles
• 2cl samples
• 41.3% ABV
• Education and comparative tasting
• Traditional rum and rum-based drinks

Dead Man’s Fingers

• One brand
• Flavoured and spiced rum focus
• 24 x 5cl
• 120cl total
• Lower 37.5% ABV
• Larger servings and familiar brand identity

Dead Man’s Fingers is the stronger choice for established fans of flavoured and spiced rum.

The Black Edition is more suitable for anyone wanting to understand the wider international rum category.

Black Edition Versus Project #173

The Project #173 12 Day Rum Advent Calendar concentrates on flavoured and experimental rum from one range.

Black Edition

• 24 countries
• 24 different origins
• Traditional and contemporary styles
• Designed for comparison and discovery

Project #173

• 12-day countdown
• One producer family
• Greater emphasis on flavoured rum
• More confectionary and fruit-led profiles

Project #173 suits drinkers who already enjoy flavoured rum.

The Black Edition offers considerably broader production diversity.

Black Edition Versus a Mixed Spirits Calendar

The Mixed Spirits Selection 24 Day Advent Calendar moves across several spirit categories.

Its doors may contain whisky, rum, gin, Cognac, tequila, vodka or liqueurs.

Black Edition

• Rum-focused
• 24 countries
• Allows detailed comparisons within one category
• Best for dedicated rum drinkers

Mixed Spirits

• Several spirit categories
• Greater day-to-day contrast
• Broader gift appeal
• Less detailed exploration of rum

The Black Edition is more educational for someone who wants to understand sugar-cane spirits.

Mixed Spirits is better for a recipient who values maximum variety and does not want rum every day.

Is the Black Edition Suitable for Beginners?

Yes.

A beginner does not need to understand pot stills, fermentation or cane varieties before opening the first door.

The calendar allows those subjects to be learned gradually.

By the end of the 24 days, the owner should have a clearer understanding of whether they prefer:

• Light or full-bodied rum
• Dry or sweet profiles
• Molasses or fresh-cane character
• Pot- or column-led spirits
• Unaged or oak-matured rum
• Tropical fruit or dark caramel
• Traditional rum or flavoured spirit drinks

The tasting glasses and note folders make the experience structured without turning it into a formal course.

Is It Suitable for Experienced Rum Drinkers?

The Black Edition also offers strong appeal to enthusiasts.

Even someone with a substantial rum collection is unlikely to own bottles from every country represented.

The calendar can provide:

• Blind-tasting practice
• Lesser-known countries
• Samples from unfamiliar brands
• Comparison between still types
• A chance to explore rum-based spirit drinks
• Full-bottle buying ideas
• Shared discussion with another enthusiast

Experienced drinkers may prefer to taste each sample blind before using the online information.

Is It a Good Gift for Couples?

The inclusion of two glasses and two folders makes this one of the strongest shared advent-calendar formats.

Each person can record:

• First aroma
• Favourite flavour
• Estimated origin
• Production guess
• Score
• Full-bottle interest

The scores can be compared at the end of each week or on Christmas Eve.

The small shared measure also encourages responsible tasting. The calendar is about discovery and discussion rather than consuming a large drink every evening.

Can the Samples Be Saved?

Yes.

The miniatures do not need to be opened on their numbered dates.

They can be saved for:

• Weekend comparative tastings
• Christmas gatherings
• New Year
• A future rum evening
• A country-by-country tasting
• Blind-tasting practice

Unopened screw-cap miniatures should be stored upright in a cool place away from direct sunlight.

Once opened, the small volume is more exposed to oxygen than a nearly full standard bottle. Any remaining rum should therefore be consumed reasonably promptly.

Can the Rum Be Used in Cocktails?

Yes, although each 2cl bottle is better suited to tasting than a full mixed drink.

A 20ml sample is not large enough for many standard cocktail recipes without reducing the other ingredients.

Possible approaches include:

• A miniature Daiquiri
• A small Rum Old Fashioned
• A tasting-size Cuba Libre
• A split serve shared between two cocktails
• Adding a few drops to compare cocktail performance

The best approach is to taste the rum neat first.

Once its character has been assessed, the remaining spirit can be mixed if enough is left.

Food Pairings for a Rum Advent Calendar

Because the styles vary every day, one food pairing will not suit the complete calendar.

Flexible options include:

• Dark chocolate
• Milk chocolate
• Dried pineapple
• Fresh mango
• Banana bread
• Salted nuts
• Ginger biscuits
• Christmas cake
• Mature cheese
• Charcuterie

Light Rum

Pair with:

• Fresh fruit
• Coconut
• Mild cheese
• Citrus desserts

Rich Aged Rum

Pair with:

• Dark chocolate
• Coffee desserts
• Toasted nuts
• Fruit cake

Cane-Juice Rum

Pair with:

• Olives
• Goat’s cheese
• Citrus
• Herb-led food

Spiced Spirit Drinks

Pair with:

• Ginger biscuits
• Mince pies
• Cinnamon desserts
• Caramelised nuts

The rum should be tasted alone before food is introduced, especially when the sample is only 2cl.

When Should the Calendar Be Ordered?

Rum advent calendars are highly seasonal.

Demand tends to increase as November and December approach, while individual editions may not be reproduced once the available stock is sold.

Earlier ordering provides:

• Greater availability
• More time for delivery
• Reduced risk of courier delays
• Arrival before 1 December
• Time to wrap or forward the gift

The Black Edition can still be enjoyed outside December, and the producer describes it as a wider rum tasting box as well as a festive countdown.

Is the Black Edition Collectable?

The calendar is primarily designed for drinking and discovery rather than long-term investment.

Collector interest may nevertheless develop around:

• Different annual editions
• Black, Blue, Green and Mocha designs
• Sealed older calendars
• Complete 24 Days of Rum sets
• Changes in country and brand selection
• Discontinued presentations

The included spirits are miniatures rather than standard bottles, and their identity is tied to the complete curated box.

Its strongest value remains the experience of opening and comparing all 24 samples.

Responsible Enjoyment

The calendar contains 48cl of spirit at a listed strength of 41.3% ABV.

There is no need to finish every sample on the evening it is opened.

Each dram can be:

• Shared between two people
• Tasted over two sessions
• Saved for the weekend
• Kept for a later comparative tasting

Water should be available throughout each tasting.

The calendar is intended only for adults of legal drinking age and should be stored out of reach of children.

Is the 24 Days of Rum Black Edition Worth Buying?

The 24 Days of Rum Black Edition Advent Calendar offers considerably more than 24 small bottles hidden inside festive packaging.

It creates a structured journey through one of the world’s broadest spirit categories.

Each country brings its own combination of raw material, fermentation, still design, climate and ageing tradition. A fresh cane-juice spirit can be followed by a rich molasses rum. A lighter column-distilled expression may sit beside a powerful pot-still sample. An unaged rum can reveal direct fermentation character before a mature cask-led bottle introduces vanilla, caramel and oak.

The two glasses and tasting folders turn those contrasts into a shared experience.

Beginners can use the calendar to identify the styles they enjoy. Experienced drinkers can taste blind, test their assumptions and discover origins they might otherwise overlook.

At 24 x 2cl, the measures are intended for careful tasting rather than generous cocktails. The format allows 24 countries to be explored without the cost or commitment of purchasing 24 full bottles.

For a rum enthusiast, an adventurous spirits drinker or two people looking for a shared December ritual, the Black Edition delivers an unusually complete festive tasting journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 24 Days of Rum Black Edition?

It is a rum advent calendar and tasting box containing 24 miniature rum and rum-based spirit drinks from 24 different countries.

How many samples are included?

The calendar contains 24 individual miniatures.

How large is each bottle?

Each miniature contains 2cl, equivalent to 20ml.

What is the total volume?

The full set contains 48cl.

What strength is the calendar?

It is listed at 41.3% ABV.

Individual products within the calendar may vary in strength.

Who produces the Black Edition?

It is produced by 1423 World Class Spirits.

Are all 24 samples rum?

The box contains both rum and rum-based spirit drinks.

The exact legal classification appears on the individual miniature.

Why are some products described as spirit drinks?

A product may fall outside the strict rum definition because of flavouring, sweetening or other additions.

Are there 24 different countries?

Yes. Each sample represents a different country.

Does the box include glasses?

Yes. It includes two Spey Dram tasting glasses.

Are tasting notes included?

The set contains two tasting-note folders.

Additional daily information is available through the 24 Days of Rum online platform.

Is the exact line-up revealed?

The contents are designed to remain a daily surprise.

Each bottle can be identified and researched once its door is opened.

Can two people share the calendar?

Yes. Each 2cl miniature can be split into two 1cl tasting measures.

The inclusion of two glasses and two folders is specifically designed for sharing.

Is 1cl enough for a tasting?

It is a small sample, but enough to examine the aroma, take several small sips and record an impression.

Is the Black Edition suitable for beginners?

Yes. It introduces different countries, production methods and flavour styles without requiring the recipient to purchase full bottles.

Is it suitable for rum collectors?

Yes. Enthusiasts can use the selection for blind tasting and to discover less familiar origins.

Does it contain white rum?

The exact contents remain part of the surprise, so individual colours and styles should not be promised in advance.

Does it contain aged rum?

The producer describes the ages as varied, indicating that the selection is not restricted to one maturation style.

Does it contain spiced rum?

Some products may be rum-based spirit drinks, but the exact number and style are not publicly confirmed on the HTFW page.

Does it contain rhum agricole?

The calendar represents varied production methods, but no specific agricultural-rum inclusion should be assumed until the daily bottle is revealed.

Are the rums made from molasses?

Rum can be produced from molasses, sugar-cane syrup or fresh cane juice.

The raw material will depend on the individual sample.

Does the calendar include pot-still rum?

The official product information identifies both pot- and column-still production within the tasting experience.

Can water be added?

Yes. A few drops can reveal additional aroma and soften stronger or oakier samples.

Can the samples be served over ice?

Yes, although the small 2cl measures are best tasted neat first.

Can the samples be used in cocktails?

Yes, but 2cl is smaller than the rum measure used in most full-size cocktail recipes.

Can the calendar be used outside December?

Yes. It works equally well as a general 24-dram tasting box.

What is the difference between Black and Mocha Edition?

Both contain 24 samples from 24 countries with two glasses and two note folders.

They have different presentations, separate selections and slightly different listed strengths.

What is the difference between this and the Premium Rum 12 Day Calendar?

The Black Edition contains 24 x 2cl samples and covers 24 countries.

The Premium Rum calendar contains 12 larger 3cl wax-sealed samples.

What is the difference between this and the Rum 25 Day Calendar?

The Rum 25 Day Calendar contains 25 x 3cl samples and continues through Christmas Day.

The Black Edition includes two glasses, two tasting folders and a confirmed 24-country structure.

What is the difference between this and Dead Man’s Fingers?

The Black Edition contains international rum from several producers.

The Dead Man’s Fingers calendar contains larger miniatures from one flavoured and spiced rum brand.

Is the Black Edition a good Christmas gift?

Yes. It provides 24 individual tasting experiences, two glasses and two tasting folders in one gift presentation.

Where can I buy the 24 Days of Rum Black Edition?

The 24 Days of Rum Black Edition Advent Calendar is available from Hard To Find Whisky while stocks remain.

Twenty-Four Countries, One Rum Adventure

Rum cannot be understood through one bottle.

Its identity changes with the sugar-cane material, fermentation, still, climate, cask and traditions of the country in which it is produced.

The 24 Days of Rum Black Edition turns that global diversity into a daily December experience.

One door may reveal clean vanilla and gentle oak. Another can introduce grassy cane, tropical fruit or powerful pot-still aromas. Later samples may move towards molasses, chocolate, coffee, dried fruit or warming spice.

The two glasses allow every discovery to be shared. The two tasting folders preserve each opinion, while the online material adds the production story after the spirit has been tasted.

By Christmas Eve, the owner will not simply have sampled 24 drinks.

They will have travelled through 24 countries and gained a much clearer understanding of what rum can be.