Mad River Distillers First Run Rum

Mad River Distillers First Run Rum is what happens when American whiskey thinking meets serious rum craftsmanship. Produced in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, this is an aged, small-batch rum built for drinkers who appreciate structure, oak, and complexity as much as they do cane character. 

The base spirit starts with fair-trade demerara cane sugar, rather than molasses, yielding a deeper, more naturally complex sweetness right from fermentation. That wash is pot-distilled using a traditional approach that preserves character instead of chasing neutrality. The fresh rum then goes into new, charred American oak barrels, the same type of casks used for bourbon and rye. This choice is unusual in the rum world and is key to First Run’s personality: it brings toast, vanilla, caramel, and gentle smoke to the glass while still allowing the cane to shine. 

In the glass, expect a warm amber color with golden highlights. The nose offers brown sugar, vanilla, and baking spices like cinnamon and clove, with hints of toasted marshmallow and cocoa peeking through. On the palate, First Run Rum drinks with a bourbon-like weight at 96 proof, delivering layers of caramel, dark sugar, oak, and subtle dark chocolate, backed by a gentle spice that keeps things lively. The finish is medium to long, warming, slightly dry, and marked by vanilla and baking spice rather than sticky sweetness. 

That balance makes First Run Rum remarkably versatile. It’s a natural sipper on a cool night, either neat or with a single cube, but it also thrives in cocktails. Swap it in anywhere you’d usually use a bourbon or rye: Old Fashioneds, Boulevardier-style drinks, or lean into its rum side in Daiquiris and other stirred or shaken classics when you want extra depth and oak. 

Recognized by major competitions, including strong scores at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and San Francisco World Spirits Competition, First Run Rum is a smart choice for whiskey drinkers curious about rum and rum fans looking for a more structured, barrel-driven pour.